Year 11 GCSE exam support thread 3 - the exam weeks

[HSMMaCM]

New thread for those of us starting the exams.

Keep calm everyone.

Just found this thread.

Been awake since 5.30 as Ds could not sleep as today is his first exams. He was a bag of nerves in the morning, hopefully the morning revision class would have helped.

Any tips have to help him relax and not worry so he gets a good nights sleep. I am worried this will trigger his migraines.

I'm kind of envious of those who are getting texts from their children after an exam has finished ~ the only time DD texts me is when she misses the bus and needs picking up! So I usually ask a "How did it go?" question and if DD wants to go into more detail she'll tell me but that's it when it comes to questions about exams.

Studly leave starts for DS1 at 3.30pm on Thursday after Leavers Assembly, where they get presented with their Year Books.

Gloria I've banned my DD taking in her mobile on exam days, so I will have to wait until she gets home. I think I'm more stressed for her than I ever was for mine (though I may have forgotten).

Rubyshoes relaxation or mindfullness apps on a phone /ipod to stickon when he wakes in the night and can't chuck those pesky exam failure thoughts out of his head

DD has to wear full uniform. My friends DD gets to wear her leavers hoodie at her school!

DD will have just started her Citizenship exam. I hope!

DD called to say the exam was fine (considering) and when she got home her brother made her favourite sandwich ( cheese on toast with ham, turkey and cranberry jelly).

I'm at work nursing a pot of cottage cheese and feel bloody .

Hope your son doesn't get migraines rubyshoes. That would be awful.

Like the idea of the sun cream on arm carrieMN, but I know my dd might not allow it. Maybe I'll spray some on my arm! She isn't keen on RS, especially the long questions where you have to 'waffle needlessly to gain points'.

No text to say how she got on. When I ask her tonight I am guaranteed to get 'it was fine' which is soooo frustrating.

Thank you Theas18 I never thought of relaxation apps. I am really worried how he will get threw today's exams on 2 hours of sleep.
Think I will also give him warm milk before bed tonight, I have not done that for years .

My poor girl suffering terribly with anxiety. Hospitalised at weekend with huge panic attack. Really feel for her, wish i could do it for her

S1 doing SATS this week too so it's an uneasy house!

We actively discourage exam post mortems unless the DC wants to talk so a "it was fine " is taken to mean " it was fine" . You can't change a thing by dissecting after the event and what you have to do mentally is not let a slip up worry so much you don't get a positive head on for the next paper. It's also good not to linger after the paper but get home as everyone will have done different things differently and that doersn't mean you were wrong

Bluebell that's awful I feel so sorry for her. How can we help our kids realise they are only exams and that, especially at GCSE really nothing can ever go so badly wrong that there isn't a way to sort it out.

Oh Bluebell that sounds horrific for you both.

DD2 has a heart condition made worse by stress and her school have allowed her to sit at the back of the exam hall and ask for 'time out' if she gets stressed. The clock is stopped if she has to leave the room. Would the school be able to put something like that in place for your DD?

After last week's English paper DS and his mates pulled the whole thing apart on FB.

Bluebell ((hugs))

I suppose post-mortems are not helpful. I'll worry on here instead of at home.

Feel really sorry for all those suffering stress, illness and lack of sleep. It is bad enough without all the extra worry.

Oh Bluebell, that sounds awful. Was she kept in?

It sounds like there's a few of us with DD's who suffer with anxiety/Panic Disorders. My DD went to check arrangements with the Exams Officer (she's quite confident at other times) and there is a similar plan to Woollybacks in place. And my friends DD had an unexpected panic attack before her first exam (never having had them before) and her school were brilliant.
I don't remember anyone getting panicky back in the Dark Ages, but then I suppose I wouldn't have noticed them. I agree Theas - there was an article on the news this morning about how stressful the exams are now. Even the SATs which were nothing much at all when they first started out

i'll have to watch for that Sparkling, I can see it'll be a temptation. We are disconnecting the router at night now,something we've never done before as she, of all 3 would be up at 2am " just looking something up"

Checking in.

My son has LD. In the past he was predicted all E's.

They have now gone up to B and Cs.

He managed to get two As for his course work and an A in English speaking and listening. He has worked so so hard and he is very determined. He wants to be a chef and starts college in Sept. My fear is that he won't do as well in the rest of his exams if nerves set it. I am so proud of him for achieving what he has already but he wants all Bs and if he doesn't get them it will come really hard to him.

We have had teachers cry when they have talked to me about what he has achieved. Especially as his father died last years so he has had a really hard time of it. I feel like all the praise he has got has kind of gone the other way and put him under more pressure and he has talked about being worried about letting everyone down.

I tell him I am proud of him. He has SN and has been determined to work to the best of his ability and that is all anyone can ask of him and I would be just as proud if he got Es as I know he does the best he can but I fear getting lower results will really depress him.

He finished a 12 hour art and photography exam last week. Science tomorrow.

Bluebell

U2

reading that I proud of your son :). That is amazing!

He sounds amazing U2. What grades does he need for his chef course?

U2 that sounds absolutely brilliant that he has worked so hard, especially given all he has had to contend with

Sparkling, we have told and keep telling DD not to listen to anyone else says about the exams (as in after they have done one) - it is totally unhelpful to go over them, what's done is done. However, it's not always easy to avoid the chat in RL or online.

U2 he sounds fantastic what a determined young man.

Rubyshoes3 is your son too big for hot chocolate with squirty cream and marshmallows?
Failing that Camomile tea and Kalms herbal tablets are sleep-inducing.Or a long soak in a hot bath.
Love the sun cream idea Carrie!
Bluebell its a difficult time isn't it?I feel really uneasy today - actively ill and feeling awful.Whereas Dd1 is calmly revising in the sunny conservatory next to dc4 ( off sick today) and the dog ( all on one sofa).I've still got to do this 3 more times .

Claiming my place!

I must remember to buy shares in printer ink company for the sheer number of past papers Ive printed off for DS1 ...

Biology tomorrow ...