Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

[HSMMaCM]

Good luck to those still taking exams.

Glad things are improving a bit poppy.

poppy, that's great that he was chatty - hang onto the positives

Some hopeful signs there poppy

DD is finally on her way home from Friday's prom. She has a prom crown ... They all have one .

Late to the discussion about the other thread, but I think schools need to be having the Careers talk earlier to make the students more aware of certain subjects being required for their degree choice.

Chem is an excellent subject to have at A level although it is regarded as the hardest apparently. I was surprised that not all Medicine courses required Biology but I was told all of them required Chem.

Fingers crossed for you with DS Poppy.

Tilly, I think one science plus maths keeps science degrees open as well ( or better) than 2 sciences. But doing one science just as another a level choice with no intention of taking it further is probably ok - if you look at the famous trinity college list it looks like many arts courses require the specific subject but then for the 2nd and 3rd a levels the sciences are fine.

That sounds more hopeful, poppy

DS wants to do 'something bio-medical' at university so is looking at A Levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, but not Further Maths.

Prom this Friday. Suit purchased.

HSM, how lovely they all got a crown

Well, DD got up at 6.30 and went to "work" - babysitting a neighbours DS - at 7 this morning in a good mood despite having got back from Wireless about 11.30 last night after a very busy weekend week!

I have altered the "straps" part of the bodice of her dress, but she has yet to see/try it, so don't know if it will meet with approval. Then she needs to get shoes before I can tackle the hem which is both a satin lining and loose chiffon

Tilly, there is a youtube tutorial showing you how to do that

Dd has a Saturday job! She's going for a trial run, then hopefully will start after our holiday.

Mines doing a week of work experience at a Vets.There was much discussion about what to wear on the first day and how to get there.This involves the train followed by bus and walking the last half mile.Dh is picking her up tonight but future evenings will involve a taxi ride to the main train station or she won't get home until gone 7.

Dd's school have advised 3 A levels only unless you get at least 6 A*'s in your GCSE's.Their rationale is the the Alevels are getting harder and they would rather good grades in 3 than mediocre results in 4.Dd's subjects in Maths,further Maths and sciences have no As levels any more apparently though some Arts/humanities still do.Also apparently universities only require 3 A levels for all courses.
I am a bit worried that her school have got this wrong though ( Gdst school).

Poppy I'm glad things seem to be looking up.If only there was a manual for dealing with teenagers ( seems to be masses for infants).

DD just about to head off for induction day. One of the talks is apparently about "making the most of the summer". This is likely to involve sitting in a hot hall on a warm day....... . DD is less than impressed! However, prom coming up soon. Have dress but no shoes, accessories etcetera yet. Looks like a shopping trip is on the cards. Good luck to all deciding A level subjects. It's arts all the way here, grades permitting, so fingers crossed! (Needs at least B's for everything, but better would feel a bit more secure)

DD still sticking to the same A Level choices (hope they are not too difficult).

How many A Levels are your dc taking? At my dd's sixthform they start with four and drop down to three in the A2 year but I'm a bit confused about what is going to change this year.

Induction day in full swing.

Felt very travel sick on bus.. so not a good start!

Was put in pure Maths, when he wants to do use of maths and hated it. Didn;t like physics either.. but he was very much deciding against both of those.

DD is planning on starting with 4 subjects in sixth form Littleham - and most likely dropping one at end of Y12 - which one will depend on how they're going. It is confusing I agree that things are gradually changing this year and some of her subjects may offer an AS qualification and some not - I think!

Plans ATM are Biology, Geography, Maths, and Art, with the last two the most likely contenders to be ditched at some point - Art because it's so time consuming or Maths because it may prove challenging (might be OK though and we both think useful/impressive if manageable - a real facilitating subject especially for data analysis in biology?)

Many thanks also for all the support here getting ready for Prom night last Friday - DD had a great night with her friends and looked lovely (sorry, no pics available yet or allowed!) All the advice here plus the kind invitation from her friend to a pre-prom preparation gathering meant we just about got our mice and pumpkin sorted in time I loved how much she enjoyed it - gave me a a complete run down of the evening sitting on the kitchen floor afterwards!

Same here. Starting with maths physics chemistry and graphic design. If course these could change at induction/ results day. She's already worried physics will be too hard, which will rule out engineering

*of

Littleham, like Juggling, DD is planning to start with 4 and drop to 3 - History, Psychology, Economics and Eng Lit at her first choice, though if she doesn't get in there, she may swap Eng Lit for Fine Art at second choice.

Dingit, I have bookmarked one of the YouTube tutorials! I would rather pay to get it done, but the lovely alterations lady said she needed 2 weeks notice (gets v busy I think)

Juggling, glad your DD had a lovely Prom night.

Juggling. Glad prom went well.

DD is set on doing dance and drama at sixth form, which she doesn't need even if she decides to go into dancing or acting.

The other two a psychology and biology/chemistry. She can't decide between biology and chemistry and the school and I are trying to get her to take both and drop something else, particularly as her backup plan is "something medical".

DS had the induction day today, he was planning on doing Psychology, RE, English Literature and Biology but is now thinking of taking Sociology as he went along to the lesson for that so he could confirm that he didn't want to study it. Hohum. Now he can't choose between RE and Sociology.

Good to hear that your teenagers are taking the same number of subjects. Very reassuring. I really can't guess at the moment which one my dd will drop as she is so unpredictable.

Unpredictable teenagers Littleham? Who knew

Some of them are quite predictable because they are either really arty or hyper sciency. I know for a fact that younger ds will ditch all arty essay subjects.

True. So will my dd. Ditch the essay subjects that is.

Easier here. Dd doing extended Btec diploma (theatre studies-she's going to a performing arts school daaaahling!) and (at my insistence) history a level as well.

So, definitely not doing pure maths but will do use of maths. Liked physics but thinks no point without maths. Preferred graphic deign to product design.

So... Graphic design, use of maths & geography.