Yr 11 support thread - the scaffolding is holding up well

[pointythings]

Because we need a new thread now that things are really hotting up!

My DS doesn't think ambition is that easy. I think mad Lady Macbeth would be easier.

Piggy it is more that the extract had little language to analyse and that is not what schools were led to believe, just compare the language in the Macbeth/ Much Ado/Tempest extracts.

There can be instructions to adjust marking expectations for individual texts though if deemed necessary. For example, if many students appear to be doing badly in The Merchant of Venice, new instructions will be sent to examiners in terms of what to reward.

Oh good! DS home now and said he hadnt ever analysed the extract they were given for Merchant. ( it was the bit before the court scene where Portia and Nerissa talk about dressing up as men). He says he panicked a bit but talking it through I don't think he made a bad job of it.

Hmmm.. red , it's all rather muddy waters. I have ben told they should move away from the extract as soon as they can. It's not very clear, so I am sure markers will receive good advice from team leaders... she say optimistically.

Ds was told that too- refer to the extract at least once but move on quickly.

Mmmmm mixed messages, don't want to out myself so not commenting any further. Good luck to everyone's DC.

I thought it was 50% refer to/answer on extract, 50% on reference to rest of text.

Guess no one really knows!!

I prefer the no passage format of Animal Farm/ AIC myself.

Checking into the new thread!

Dd also has a day 'off' tomorrow, I've just booked her an hour with a Maths tutor for some last minute confidence boosting before the first Maths paper on Thursday.

Does anyone else's dc have the second English Lit paper on Friday?

I think it depends which exam board you're with. Edexcel has 2 separate Shakespeare questions, part a is 20 marks for an extract analysis, and part b is 20 marks for analysis of the names theme elsewhere in the play (mustn't refer to the extract). Aqa on the other hand has a 40 mark response where the extract is just the starting point for a broader essay.

Redsrule I am not allowed to see the paper until tomorrow

The rules have changed, you're allowed to see the paper as soon as all the kids at your centre have sat it now. Come Thursday I'll be grabbing the maths paper as soon as I can get it!

Laniakia, I am an exam invigilator. It is absolutely not the case that students are persuaded not to use extra paper. Please do reassure your child that it is absolutely fine to use extra sheets

Dancegirl yes DS has another English Lit exam on Friday, Prose and Poetry WJEC again. Physics Wednesday and Maths Thursday. This week can't go fast enough...

You've all lost me with the level of detail regarding the exam today. I am blissfully unaware of what the requirements are. Today I was happy with "English Lit was easier than I thought and Geography was hard but I think I did ok".

Tomorrow DS is off "sick" as I think he'll study better at home rather than at school and there aren't any important lessons in his planner.

I think that's what DD thought odd, not the question but the extract in ruelation to the question. She felt it wasn't one of the obvious quotes.

DS has been told that higher ability students should make points about the extract and refer them outwards to the rest of the text as they go along. Lower ability are told to work through the extract and then make links with the rest of the text at the end. ( This is AQA).

He has his second Lit on Friday. Blood Brothers and poetry ( power and conflict).

I absolutely do not have this level of knowledge of any of his other exams 😀

Ds has Media Srudies tomorrow. It might as well be Greek. And for complicated reasons I had to take Greek I first year at university. I failed so spectacularly that my tutor offered me a cigarette before we talked about it.

Bertrand, Ancient Greek is on Wednesday if you fancy having another go with my DS and his mates followed by physics. Latin tomorrow and maths and Latin verse on Thursday. The week is rounded off nicely by the final two English lit exams. Roll on half term ! This is brutal.

Hello all. Someone mentioned problems with Christmas Carol. My DS does not have a clue and said it was ok and no teachers mentioned anything wrong.

What was the matter with the paper, how will this affect his grade. I am worried now

Snowchaser- the very thought has caused me to break my no weeknight alcohol rule............

Snowchaser, your DS and mine have exactly the same line up except mine isn't doing Greek.

Bertrand, I too broke my no weeknight alcohol as of about an hour ago 🍷 😀

If it was the AQA paper minesawine and the question was on the Cratchits/poverty, the paper stated the extract was from a 'chapter' rather than a 'stave'. This was the exam board's mistake and shouldn't affect your DS's essay. I wouldn't worry about it at all

Ontopofthesunset, your DS and my DD have exactly the same lineup this week. We'll be going in to half term with 10/24 papers done.