Year 11 GCSE exam support thread 3 - the exam weeks

[HSMMaCM]

New thread for those of us starting the exams.

Keep calm everyone.

Just checking in. Our dd has RE today - it's one of her favourites so glad of that.

Roll on June 19th!!

Can I join?
Dd has her first exams tomorrow but appears to be very calm.She's revised solidly since Christmas and is very well prepared.I 'm nervous today as I also have 2 doing level 2 sats.One is expected to ace them but the other one is Dyslexic and can't spell at all,or write properly worded sentences.
I've bought Dd a lucky Clover bracelet to wear during her exams ( strong Irish heritage).Anyone else bought any good luck charms?
I'm fascinated by the idea of 8am last minute revision sessions but I'm guessing these would be motivational and calming.Dd2's junior school were offering use of the toaster for their SATs students from 8am if you bring your own supplies .

Would like to sign in as well ~ DD1 should have just finished her first exam (RS) by now. She seemed relaxed this morning but with a few nerves as well ~ it's me that seems to have the nerves bigtime!
Wishing everyone Good Luck for the coming weeks.

Good luck to all at MNHQ going through this and hope you are both as OK as you can be Sparkling and Dingit

Hello to everyone new. Canny L2 SATS here too but just one. Had a look at his timetable and hadn't realised till then quite how many exams there are. Assumed as no science that there wouldn't be much But a busy week. I'm hoping his tooth isn't a hindrance this morning, he has 2 papers today.

Just had details of more revision sessions for DD arrive into my inbox and details of leaver's Day. Taking friend out in s bit who has one doing GCSE plus another doing A2 and AS resists, all kicks off for her today and she is very stressed.

We don't have good luck charms but I have put a bit of suncream on her left forearm. I did it for my O levels (no GCSEs in my day) and anytime I felt stressed I would smell that Ambre Solaire Oil (again showing my age) and remember summer was coming, and one day it would all be over. I can still remember leaning my head on my arm mid exam and told dd to just inhale the smell of summer if she started to feel stressed…Just realised that looks weirder written down. Please don't judge:)

Waved ds off this morning and said that I hoped that the RS goes well and asked him whether he was staying late for the biology revision session after school in prep for the exam tomorrow.
His reply "nah, I will have a quick read through tonight, but I wouldn't worry about it biology is one of those subjects where you can just wing it"
Was this meant to reassure me?

Have just had a thumbs up text from DD2. I can't work out if it means she thought the exam went well or if she is relieved it's over. She won't use a word if there is an emoji that covers it.

carrie, that's a good idea, I think I will steal it, if DD is willing.

She just rang, exam "wasn't her best ever" whatever that means. I'm just glad it's over for today. And I will breathe a bigger sigh of relief when French is done.
Indeed, roll on June 19th.

I hate the 'How did it go' conversations. If he says 'piece of cake' I worry he's done it all wrong, if he says 'awful' I will just worry.

I am exactly the same Sparklinbrook!

Oh we might try that idea too carrie.

DD went in a bit stressed but not too bad - she is now addicted to Bach remedies (one for sleep one for stress). She had a revision session all morning, followed by Sociology this afternoon. She likes wearing her own clothes (including nail varnish), and a lanyard like the sixth formers.

We had to buy her a new calculator, as the writing has worn off her old one.

SB if I asked DS I would get no valuable info whatsoever, he can never judge how he did and it makes me very nervous.
DD is usually very spot on.

It wasn't a "how did it go" conversation, rather a "did you like the topics" conversation.

I never know what to do with DD as not asking could also end up with a stroppy teen.

I am SO not old enough to have a child sitting GCSEs. It was surely only a few years ago I sat my own...

DS1 seemed calm this morning but, if I'm honest, I have never seen him worried about anything. I am not sure whether this is good or bad.

That sounds a lovely thing with the smell of summer sunscreen carrie - especially as you did it too so it's a link for her with you which must be nice and reassuring as well. Smells can be very evocative and powerful can't they?

Good luck with winging the biology bebumbas ds. A quick look at dd's biology textbook yesterday had me thinking it was one of the more technical subjects - but then I dropped biology early and have forgotten what little I ever knew. Hopefully he means he's quietly confident and not to worry about him?

Maybe it's unfair on the subject but dd and I both thought that RS could be a lot more wing-able?! dd just back from this and says she quite liked the questions and nearly nearly finished it - just had to write a slightly shorter answer to the last question (a 12 marker out of 100) With today's paper making up 50% of the total. So both feeling pleased and relieved here

I think I might get DD a little something every day as a 'reward' - maybe a bar of chocolate or some lipgloss. I love the suncream idea *CarrieMN"!

She isn't allowed to wear her own clothes, they have to wear full regular uniform. Is that the same for all schools?

I used to HATE my mum asking. Unfortunately I have to pick him up from the bus so there's a five minute drive where I feel I should ask, but generally start with a general 'OK?' and see how it goes.

I don't know whether to ask DS1 or not. He is typically uncommunicative and I expect the answer to be a standard "fine".

I think I shall spray him with my perfume tomorrow so, if he is stressed, he can sniff it and remember he needs to do well in order to escape my clutches and go to University :o

DD2 also had Ethics this morning, and has Biology and French tomorrow. History was last week, and although there's another History paper I think last week's was the more demanding for revision, so I'm glad it's out of the way.

She's been working really hard and I'm so hoping it all goes well for her. Good luck to everyone :)

My DD is lucky - as she goes to the "very strict" academy, with usually the top results of state schools - but they still have study leave (admittedly full of revision sessions in school, including some Saturdays and half-term), and can wear their own clothes (within limits - same as Sixth form). They are allowed only clothes so that they "feel comfortable" and DD got some joggers just for exams - it also means the school doesn't have a stand off about Uniform with someone who's got an important exam (I expect they have a small stash of t-shirts and jogging bottoms for anyone who tries to get away with clothes outside the regulations).

DD has had her art exam. Tomorrow is the first science paper. She has worked so hard and has been for ages. She has finally conceded that she might be OK at the science papers.... but now she is going to fail English If she fails anything there is something seriously wrong with the world!

No study leave here either!

Joining this thread.

My DS had Religious Studies this morning and has French this afternoon. He had quite a few last week and is finding it stressful. Roll on halfterm when, although he'll be revising, he'll at least have a break from exams.

at Soupdragon. I do like the idea of sniffing summer. As DD never uses her phone I am in blissful ignorance and will be till much later. My plan is to be nonchalant on her return, DS's too. Whether I pull this off remains to be seen.

My DS is now on study leave but his exams started a week before his study leave did, which seems odd to me.

He has to wear uniform for exams but I think that could be a good thing. I found wearing uniform put me in the right frame of mind for exams. (Back in the dark ages!)

Checking in. This is child no3 and I go between " she'll be fine " and " cripes should I be micromanaging her and worrying" - as she has never, in her school career needed micromanaging I have no idea why I think maybe she'll need it now I dunno!

Biology starts things off tomorrow then it's at least 1/day till half term.