Year 11 GCSE support thread 4 - more exams

[HSMMaCM]

Anyone got English tomorrow ?

Ah, much unhappiness about the maths paper - see link

Someone's a genius, even if not at maths. They're right about the grade boundaries of course.

I was in two minds whether to say "Timing" to dd as a parting last shot, but went with "Good luck" instead.
We did talk about timing at home this morning as well as her telling me which poems she would choose if various topics came up. So she seems well prepared on the whole.
Trouble is she gets quite dreamy and deep when she's thinking about poetry.
Her creative side (along with a dash of dyslexia) could really do with some extra time for this one I think.
But we didn't push for extra time for GCSE's (and school didn't suggest it) because on the whole she's OK with the time given as long as she keeps a good eye on balancing things throughout.
When she was younger she was occasionally given extra time - possibly we could reconsider this for A level?

Just off to collect DS1 from his 45 mins English Lit paper on The Tempest, which finishes at 10am . 45 mins - that's barely enough time to get going, isn't it? This is his last English exam ever: English Language and Literature all finished now. I think there will be a little celebration tonight!

DS2 is apparently "ill" this morning. I think it's skivitus, but have given him the benefit of the doubt. So half-term will be starting early in our house!

DD actually spoke to me this morning :). She's doing of mice and men and Lord of the flies today.

Leavers assembly this afternoon, followed by a bus to nandos and a possible sleepover apparently.

Marking my place whilst waiting for DD to come out of poetry which has just finished.

Just seen Woolly and DD are home, excellent news

DD had a stomach migraine yesterday and threw up in anticipation of today's paper. Had text from friend early this morning, her DD had thrown up as was so anxious.

Another friend on dog walk earlier in AS hell with Edexcel Maths and not dire what board physics. The rest of us urging her to consider options for next year rather than them staying here and restart year 12 potentially. . Poor woman has 3 to contend with.

English Lit "good" apparently. DD said there was plenty to talk about for the unseen poem but she was disappointed that there wasn't a chance to talk about Sonnet 43, which was her favourite of the 'seen' poems. She wrote about Manhunt in the end.

Yes, English lit was fine, they both said (and I think the maths video is very funny above but not everyone will like it - teenager school boy/ girl humour).

DS just texted me, English went better than he could have hoped for. He was doing Shakespeare. Amazingly one of the passages he did last night whilst studying came up so he had points and a structure already formed. "This studying lark pays off" I said, he replied "who'd have thought!" Lol.

At least it was better than the edexcel maths paper yesterday! Like the you tube clip posted by Lotus, that's exactly what DS and his friends think. They are all well pissed off with the edexcel maths and science papers and this is a bunch of A* students.

I think dd was ok with her eng lit too. She also chose 'manhunt' - the question was something about damaged relationships. She would have hated one on that sonnet!

She's already back at her desk with some maths which for her at the moment is almost relaxation after having to immerse in poetry.

DD happy with WJEC board English today. Much preferred it to the first one, so hope it evens any bad marks out a bit.

Even happier that English Lit is over. Shame really. The exam system puts them off English and reading which can't be the intention. It needs a re-think.

Eng Lit went surprisingly OK - answered both questions!
(though not sure how many marks for each, does anyone know? Edexcel poetry exam)
But now she's decided she needs to hand some art in today before half-term so a bit stressed about that. Said something like "typical that it's not over after all"
I was going to meet up with some friends this afternoon but looks like that's on hold now!

DD was quite happy with the lit paper. She thought the unseen poem was quite sweet and was fine with the contrasting two poems question.

She even enjoyed the Maths paper yesterday and answered all the questions. As we have all seen she is a bit of a masochist though

She's perked up a lot since the beginning of the week. She still has a bad headache but is much brighter in herself and she hasn't vommed since Wednesday. She now asks "How are my Mumsnet Aunties" and wants to know what your DCs think of the various exams so she (and I) really appreciate the interaction and support.

Her exam timetable is printed on two pages and I have turned to the second page after today's exam. We are on the home straight in the woolly household. 3 full subjects and 3 half subjects to go.

Dd1 also finished Eng. Lit. today.Paper was OK apparentlyShe's another one very relieved that English is over, as it's her worst subject.I don't know how i've bred 4 children who love Maths and hate English.English was the only subject I adored and was brilliant at.Could not do Maths at all.

  I'm sad though,as she's really good at foreign languages,but isn't taking any for A level.Her school are advising 3 A's only,so she's doing Maths and two sciences( no AS levels in these).Luckily Dd wants to do Chinese GCSE along with some other friends so that will be a good alternative to Sciences.

Its worrying that they have to specialise so early.In some respects I would prefer the IB for a much more rounded education.
Woolly I hope everything's going OK for your dd today.I'm another one ,amazed at your Dd's dogged determination and your positivity ,in incredibly testing times.

Not had any feedback yet on English Lit.

Its leaver's day today so they were to bring in an extra shirt for signing, get yearbooks , sweatshirts etc.

Wondering what state DS will be home in

Engl Lit was ok apparently (AQA) so now it's half term.

DD has two very stressful weeks after half term with non stop exams every day

I know what you mean canny. My parents were teenagers during the war and both left school and went straight to work. I don't think they understood the impact of exams on their children and I certainly thought I was invincible and capable of handling anything at 16.

Now I find myself fretting for my children in a way my parents never understood. Worrying that their GCSE and A level choices are right for them and trying to get the delicate balance between letting them choose subjects that they enjoy and are good at while checking that the same subjects give them enough skills to give them a broad choice later in life. All while trying not to interfere and helicopter parent. It's bloody hard work.

DD was made up that two of the poems she and her bestie studied yesterday came up, although she said the unseen poem was hard (Edexcel IGCSE)

Woolly, so glad to see your DD has perked up - hopefully half-term will do her some good too.

DM passed the 11+ and went on to Teacher Training College and became an infants teacher, but always seemed pretty disengaged with my secondary schooling (also grammar school) Not like us now!

Wooley - so glad that the maths and english went well for your DD and that she's feeling a bit better. Sounds like maybe the drugs are helping and not making her too drowsy? Though possibly she's been compensating with a bit of adrenalin and may need to sleep a lot during the blessed half-term - I think most of our kids will want to do that even if they're in rude health! Was she doing the AQA english?- if I've found the right poem the unseen was Symptoms which does look relatively good. Glad also that she likes the idea of 'mumsnet aunties'!

When she came down for lunch mine gleefully said 'I never have to do english literature again' and actually did a little dance, which is really not her usual style. She's having a break from work by watching some sort of video about space, one of her friends sent her the link on Monday evening (ie the night before her 5 hours of exams in a day) and she's nobly resisted looking at it till now.

She's at 10/22 now, English language is the first one after the hols for her on the Tuesday so she'll be glad when that's over.

Watch out for the flood. Leavers assembly about to begin.

Errol that's the one. She said that she was now a dab hand at describing symptoms . By eerie coincidence I bought the new Hercule Poirot book this morning and the author is... Sophie Hannah. Not quite woo enough for the woo thread, though.

I'm impressed with your DD's restraint. I hope she enjoys the video.

My parents were both teachers too, tilly - Dad taught me chemistry in what we'd now call year 8 and the sixth form which was a bit odd, I pretty much deliberately didn't discuss school much with them but the importance of education was totally understood in our house. DH has sometimes reflected that the exams and then university must have been pretty strange to his parents, especially his mother who as far as we could tell had had absolutely no education in science - one of the many intelligent women whose potential was tragically wasted during those times.

DD was very happy with the poetry! There were questions on her favourite poem and the unseen she had seen before! Teachers are told who the unseen poets are but not the actual poems. DDs teacher had looked at one poem for each of these poets so pupils could get a feel for the style and the one in the exam just happened to be the one they had looked at for that poet! Lucky coincidence!

She is now off to the pictures with a friend. I said she could have a day off as now nearly two weeks before maths and then music. 12 down 3 to go!

Crap, she misread the unseen poetry question.