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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

End of year 7 exams

46 replies

Lilaclily · 07/06/2016 19:43

Anyone else got a very moody preteen not coping well with revision exam stress
I'm amazed how seriously it is all taken
They've even got a different timetable for the next 2 weeks

OP posts:
merlottime · 07/06/2016 20:04

Me! 5 down so far, many more to go. DD is at gymnastics tonight, it won't do her any harm to take her mind off of it and have a break from revision. Still, I suppose it is good practice for GCSEs!

amidawish · 07/06/2016 20:12

my preteen is moody but not revising!

Heifer · 07/06/2016 20:59

My DD doesn't start hers until 27th June, so just normal homework at the moment and only normal test revision been done..

I will start make noises later this week if she hasn't started any revision but I don't want to put too much pressure on this yet.

I want her to do it herself - or learn that if she doesn't then she won't do as well as she good have, but I know I will end up nagging if needed because she needs to do well enough to stay in the top sets, it's important for her. They have been told if they don't do well in these exams them they could be dropped down a set. I think once she starts she will be fine, it's just the starting.....

Good luck to all your Yr7s, guess this is all new for them. Although they had SATs last year they didn't revise as such.

NewLife4Me · 07/06/2016 21:02

I wish mine had been slightly bothered to revise tbh.
We tried last week during half term but only got the bare minimum from her and she's back at school now.
If you can get them to sit down and look at their books you've pretty much cracked it, I think.

GinandJag · 07/06/2016 21:07

Two weeks of exams is excessive.

At my school, Year 7s have exams Monday - Thursday next week, mornings only. I'm a bit gutted as I teach them in the afternoon Monday, and on Friday.

I think it is really important that they learn how to work in exam conditions from Year 7. It's not that big of a deal to have unlabelled water bottles and clear pencil cases. It is important to collect as much info as possible for access arrangements.

TheSecondOfHerName · 07/06/2016 21:11

I've got two Y7s at different schools, so it's been quite interesting to see the different approaches to the end of Y7 exams.

DS is my third child at that school, so I knew what to expect. A couple of the teachers provided a list of topics but no advice on how to revise. He did an hour a day over the half-term holiday. The exams themselves lasted two days and were fairly formal.

DD was given much more information on revision styles and exam technique. Taught how to mind-map and how to draw up a revision timetable. Given lists of what to revise for every subject. She did about two hours a day over half term. The process seems to be set up to familiarise them with public exams. They've each been given a candidate number and an exam timetable printed in the same style as the GCSE one. The exams themselves are very formal: clear pencil cases only, no labels on water bottles, reminders about no mobile phones in the room.

NewLife4Me · 07/06/2016 21:14

Gosh, mine has nothing like this. Although she does have a timetable.
The tests are just in her normal lessons and no extra prep for them.

Are these state schools? I'm Shock at the formality.

Honeyandfizz · 07/06/2016 21:15

Mine hasn't even mentioned exams! ShockConfused

TeenAndTween · 07/06/2016 21:24

DD didn't even have 2 weeks of exams for y11 mocks!

TheSecondOfHerName · 07/06/2016 21:50

Are these state schools?

Was that question for me or the OP? Mine are at state schools. I was quite surprised at how formal the internal exams are at DD's school, but she seems to be taking it in her stride.

NewLife4Me · 07/06/2016 21:55

It was to anybody really.
I'm trying to make comparisons because I'm boring and it interests me Sad
Two of our dc were state educated, very poorly and never any exams, maybe a couple of tests in core subjects. Many years ago.
My dd is private/ boarding and still no fuss, I believe.
You never know though as she doesn't say much.

A question if OP, doesn't mind.
You are all obviously interested parents/ teachers to post on the thread.
can you make somebody want to push to do well academically.
I mean when you have tried everything else?

eyebrowse · 07/06/2016 22:19

They are putting more of an emphasis on exams as Michael Gove got rid of coursework

Kitla · 08/06/2016 00:23

Another one here to empathise.

DD has got her end of year 7 exams... Just a week for us, thank goodness. But yes, we've had the moodiness and a bit of stress (partly caused by my not realising this week was exam week, and booking a holiday for the whole of half term!)

Still, it's almost over... And at least it doesn't really count towards anything.

Kitla · 08/06/2016 00:23

Forgot to say DD is at a state school too.

Original poster
Lilaclily · 08/06/2016 06:58

Yes state school
I think know there's quite a lot of pressure , ds doesn't want to fail, do worse than his friends, that kind of thing
He was in tears at bedtime saying new didn't know anything , I kept telling him these exams don't matter just to get him into bed but he was distraught , he had wound hi mself up I think

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 08/06/2016 07:35

Can you make somebody want to push to do well academically. I mean when you have tried everything else?

In my experience so far, the motivation needs to come from the student. A parent can help with some things: providing a suitable place to study, finding specifications and past papers, breaking down a large amount of material into small chunks to make it manageable. The student still needs to put the work in though.

For students who aren't naturally motivated by wanting to do well for its own sake, it can be useful to think about what they want to do after this stage in their education, and what they need to achieve to get there.

teta · 08/06/2016 10:27

I also have Two year 7's at different schools.One had a week of exams before half term.The other is now doing a week of exams now.Dd organised herself and revised intensively and has done brilliantly ( apart from Geography - family failing ,so far).Apparently they're going to be set for everything which is a new thing.So I guess this is an effect of the new Gcse's.

Ds revised for maybe 2-2.5 hours a day over half term.He's Dyslexic,disorganised and resistant to advice.Revision kept on making him feel sick!He says the exams have gone ok so far.Given that he needs to pass an exam next year to get into his school of choice I'm not sure he will.
deepdarkwood · 08/06/2016 10:33

Another one signing in here - ds is at a (reasonably high performing, but non selective) state school and school are suggesting 2 hours revision per night (& recommended 3 hours/day over half term...) Seems like a lot to me! Most subjects have been brilliant about sharing clear and detailed summaries of what needs learning - with a couple of notable exceptions (History, I'm looking at you!)
Ds had a epic 2 hour melt down last night about it - then spent half an hour going over French with me ... only to remember at bedtime that he's got Spanish writing test today and French isn't until next week! He's dyslexic too - and I suspect high functioning autism, and gets pretty anxious, so I'm putting a low stress/high reward system in place this evening!

TheDailyMailareabunchofcunts · 08/06/2016 10:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lilaclily · 08/06/2016 12:48

Ooh can you explain more about utting a low stress/high reward system in place

I think ds needs this !

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilaclily · 08/06/2016 12:49

Whereabouts are you dailymail^

Your Sch sounds like ours !

OP posts:
TheDailyMailareabunchofcunts · 08/06/2016 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lilaclily · 08/06/2016 12:55

For some reason I can't get messages on much one so will check later Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilaclily · 08/06/2016 12:56

On my phone !!!

OP posts:
deepdarkwood · 08/06/2016 13:05

Bear in mind ds finds concentration very hard - so this is a struggle for him. This is the plan we came up with together:

  1. 30 mins slots max - with 5-10 mins OUTDOORS between slots
  1. One 'melt down'/lack of focus get out of jail card a night: straight out for 5-10 mins walk
  1. Reward for each 30 min slot: in our case, in the form of treat foods and cash (he's saving for a big scout trip this summer)
  1. Once agreed number of 30 mins slots completed (in our case, 2-3, I ain't aiming any higher): unlimited (gulp) TV/screen time until 8.30

My key aim is for him to feel that revision has a value to HIM: realistically, it IS boring, mind-sapping stuff, and whilst I get the idea that ds needs to find his own motivation (he is bright and a very, very well behaved nerdstudent) actually he quite gets into it once he starts, but finds it massively overwhelming to start...