Year 11 GCSE support thread 5 - finishing off the exams

[HSMMaCM]

Only another week to go for DD, but I know some of you have two weeks.

God yes, Chemistry tomorrow.

I got one of those shower curtains with the periodic table on it and apparently there's something 'wrong' with the classifications. Thank you, Asda.

Ds did calc maths edexcel paper this morning and informed me that the first question involved sweets that's as much as I got out of him.

DS said he thought Edexcel Maths was 'OK'. No word on how it compared to the first one. He's currently chatting to DH about it, so I might get more info later.

Oh dear. Just bumped into a friend whose dd was at Junior school with my dd but they went to different secondary schools - she was saying her dd has been in school from 8.30 - 4.30 every day, plus Saturday mornings, plus the last two school holidays.....staff putting on revision sessions.
Now, whereas I think this is extreme, it's giving me another wobble at how little work dd is doing...... wobble wobble (she's fine - totally stress free)

Also goes to show how much some schools are prepared to put on to give them the extra push compared with others. Some kids won't want to go in to do revision even if they can focus better in their school environment (mine).
I hope the chem paper is not weird like the biol one reputedly was.

There does seem huge variation in revision sessions/study leave. DD's school - which is a GS and gets the best results in the county - had some optional sessions over easter, and I think DD said there might be a couple for FM this and next week (I'd better ask her about that), and they haven't had to stay in school since the exams started. My guess is that they think too much pressure is counterproductive.

She's been working pretty consistently but certainly not all hours - having read through the chemistry revision guide over the weekend, she's been bouncing around rather since she got home after maths (I did at least get her to choose some walking trousers online!) and then has been doing some FM which isn't till next week rather than chemistry.

DS said he thought today's calc Edexcel paper was easier than the non-calc one. I haven't asked him about any of the questions, as I'd rather that both he and I were in blissful ignorance of any mistakes he may have made. The main thing is that it's done now. Another one ticked off the list.. Hurrah. Only 2 exams to go.

Sit. rep. from Chez Gin: - Edexcel calc paper first 20 questions pretty good - last 8 really hard. First time this exam season he's rung his dad at work as he walked out of school and vented all the way to the station!

I think this has shaken him up a bit to be honest - and chemistry paper 2 is tomorrow ! Yikes ...

My sons have not had to be in school since exams started before half term which is fine as they work better at home. the school says boys can go in and there are loads of revision sessions but they've chosen to go to none but one. One has just been invited as one of the apparently top 10 boys in the year to an event thing 5 nights away with another few schools after exams and probably does not want to go. You can lead horses to water but.....

History is going to be good as it's all that's left and they've had 5 days with only that to think about.

Ah yes. Their last day is next week and I have told them they have to let me take a photo as we have taken one every year in September on the door step for the 27 years since their older sister first went to her nursery school aged 3 and in September they won't be in school blazers any more.

Lotuslight - lovely idea. I hadn't thought of it, but will get a pic of my DS on his last day in uniform to compare to the first day

What a good idea. I did say to mine that Friday might be the last time she ever wears a uniform again. Our school 6th Form is smart casual - no jeans, so she will probably be wanting more stuff now and will have to get up earlier to out herself together. Oh joy! The worst thing is that I have realised that in 2 yrs I will have her doing A levels and ds doing gcses. Not looking forward to that one bit.

LineRunner love your thought that Gove might be a North Korean mole!!

Simbo would your DD be able to talk through her chemistry with you? My DS occasionally likes to tell me some facts about things as I lie on his bed with the revision guide and then I ask him some questions. He even tried it out on the poor dog last week!

DS said he found today's Edexcel harder than the last Maths paper.

DS is already out if uniform. They were ceremonially stripped of blazers and ties in the Leavers Assembly (they are then given to DC who don't have/have lost/can't afford one) although DS1 had strict instructions to hold on to his blazer for DS2.

They were given their Leavers hoodies as a swap.

Loads of people found both Edexcel Maths papers vile so he is not alone Lynette.

So Gove has been planted by the North Koreans to ensure that no teenager wants to take Maths at A level. Have I got that right?

ono40 - love the idea of going through subject/topic with dd, but little minx doesn't work like that. She seems to think she knows everything in the revision guide, though says that there is not much detail on what is to be covered in the coming paper. I guess we'll just have to suck it and see. She is usually so organised and made lots of revision cards etc, though claims not to have used them. I asked her at dinner what advice she would give her brother for when he does his exams and she said "just guess". Swiftly denounced by me - I did point out her success in picking a Grand National winner on this basis. (It didn't make it).

Yes, Littleham, this is my theory. Gove, the North Korean infiltrator, set out on a mission to destroy British industry and infrastructure by making sure that no British child ever again wanted or was able to study Maths past GCSE.

Special moles within EdExcel steer the exam papers away from the spec given to the teachers, and special agents blackmail the grade-bounderers into despicable setting decisions.

In ten years no adult in this country will know any maths beyond Wrong Bodmas, and all engineering will be imported from North Korea and the Isle of Man.

Made me laugh linerunner

That would explain the sweets question then..... North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un sends one kilo (2.2 pounds) of sweets to every child to mark his birthday each year.

Sweets mystery puzzling whole country has been solved!

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9784811/Kim-Jong-un-sends-sweets-to-children-for-his-birthday.html

Yes, just what is smart business dress for teenage girls?

And I have no idea what bodmas is, but I do have A level maths

DD is basing smart business dress as a combination of what current sixth formers wear and what the teachers wear. She's planning to dye her hair pink and wear black.

at Linerunner's theory!