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.

DD had Biology this morning (Edexcel I think it is) and said it was fine apart from one question that stumped her a bit (can't remember what she said it was, purification or conversion or something).

She was quite perky when she got home though and had a surprise delivery from New Look with some new clothes I'd ordered for her, along with a clutch bag for Prom on Friday. That cheered her up

She wants to do English, Drama, Psychology and Sociology for A level. We had an email this morning about the forthcoming Transition Day at 6th form so that makes it even more real!

The end is in sight... Good luck to all our children for the rest of the week. We're singing The Final Countdown here too!

DD is in a state. Further Maths (AQA) was incredibly hard. She said there was a general atmosphere of "WTF was that?" afterwards, and tears.

Oh no. What a nice finale. Another FM on Friday.

AD sorry to hear that - magic words must be 'grade boundaries'. Was it this further maths 'certificate':

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/aqa-certificate/further-mathematics-8360

I think that's what DS sat this morning.

I'm in that 'it's almost over and I'm sure that I've forgotten something important' kind of slightly anxious state. DDs worked v hard but has come back from all exams seeming pretty chipper, and In some cases has finished early. Just like the mocks. Except the mocks didn't go so we . Just keeping everything crossed that she gets the grades that fit the slog and that she's not being over optimistic.
At least she has a guaranteed place for the next school so we know exactly where she is going....that's a relief ! Now all we have to do is prepare her for a totally new commute (via Clapham junction so will need to do a trial run) and a totally new environment (she's off to a performing arts place). All change please, all change.

Mellifera, that is exactly same as friend's DD, could hear it all down phone earlier.

You wouldn't think DD is finished, she's feeling ill again amd very snappy. Think it is just exhaustion.

Sugar if they don't get a C they get a U. It says they won't get a qualification certificate.

My class said the further maths paper this morning was horrible.

Oh dear that won't cheer her up, thanks Noble, much appreciated.

Apologies, can I ask again - If it isn't certificated then it doesn't need declaring on UCAS form as effectively it doesn't exist ? Or am I talking bollocks again?!

I think thats the one Bearleigh. The concensus seems to be it was a very hard exam so yes, lets hope the grade boundaries are nice

DD said all her friends thought the fm maths was horrible too. She actually seemed quite happy with it - said it was 'nasty but good' in that while it was difficult and there were 2 or 3 questions she couldn't do, she thinks she did enough to do ok. Results day will tell, but I think she's right about the FM in particular, the low grade boundaries make it a matter of doing the parts you can and don't despair if you can't do the whole thing. This maybe is harder for the kids who've always aced maths tests - she had a dodgy year 9.

BTW, for noblegiraffe - we do appreciate you keeping an eye on this thread and providing so much information.

Yes agree Errol, Noblegiraffe we really do, thank you You were very kind and helpful on a thread about DD's Maths a well - resigned to that being a 6th form retake.

DS said Further Maths was vety hard but at least he was expecting it as he hadn't been taught most of it.

He thinks he got 15 marks definitely, a maximum of 28. So maybe 20 being realistic? I think that's out of 70.

So sorry to hear the FM was horrible

Ds came home and said General Studies was boring, I interpret that to mean don't expect too high a grade Mother! He was fairly happy with Further Maths but said the time went way too quickly.
I think he is finding it difficult to remain motivated when most of his friends have finished.

LR, last year's grade boundaries are here - so 15 marks on this paper would pass, so given this one is reckoned harder and he's almost certainly got more than that he should be ok.

Noble, do you know about grades for OCR FSMQ Additional Maths? Is that the same as this morning's FM where it doesn't go below a C?

Sorry to hear the FM was grim. I'd personally like to strangle Michael Gove and the exam boards for changing the goal posts mid-course and ruining the DCs' self-esteem. And of course the next hurdle is negotiating the mess of AS/A2 which affects the Y11 most of all

Meanwhile DS had his no s**t Sherlock moment yesterday when he said "If I'd done more revision I could have done so much better", (really, you don't say?)

Anyway taking someone's tip from this thread, we are off to the University of Manchester open day on Saturday to hopefully inspire and enthuse!

Biology here was considered easy ! Hopefully that's good sign but it is his best subject.

I mentioned uni open days and he just laughed at me and pattend me on the head ( I'm not used to being small) saying mum not happening this year let's just see what grades I get. How is my 15 year old so calm?

Nothing tomorrow but in school for physics and graphics revision both of which exams are Wednesday. Good luck everyone for tomorrow

Ono40, I went to University of Manchester in Jan with DS1 - I loved it! Sadly he didn't choose it, I was quite disappointed!

Thanks again, noble. It really is much appreciated.

Books were returned. Some books to read over the summer for some of the AS levels were listed with requirements to write book reviews in I think economics and was it geography? Presumably to make sure they read the books. They seemed quite impressed by the geography society talk and might join which is unusual as they tend not to join and won't join economics society. I am not sure how they make that distinction but there we are.

OCR Chemistry today - DS1 said this paper was harder than the last; he couldn't do 3 or 4 of the questions. I did an air punch in my head. I don't want to get my hopes up, but he got an A in his mocks, and I think he might get an A in the real thing. fingers crossed, please, please, please

Yes, FM definitely a shocker, worse than the 2012 paper which was deemed hard.
DD said the last 10 minutes you could hardly hear anyone writing. I showed her the grade boundaries, she has calmed down. Last paper - FM Calc - on Friday, let's hope it is a bit easier to digest.

It's the longer Further Maths paper on Friday, 2 hours?