Yr 11 support thread - the scaffolding is holding up well

[pointythings]

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

AQA maths here. DS was changed to Foundation at the very last minute by the school as he was deemed borderline. He finished the paper today with 10 mins to spare and found it 'really easy'. Will be annoyed if he's been limited to a 5 when he could possibly have got a 6. Having said that, his maths department, like the rest of the maths community, were in the dark re grade boundaries and at a loss as to the best route to take, so decided to play it safe. As I have said many, many times on MN, Gove is an utter wanker. Yes you Gove! I'm talking to you!

Have just had a call from DS (Edexcel, he of the hoping-just-to-pass level) - he thought it was "yeah, not too bad"!!! I am staggered, but relieved - not that I think he has actually done more than just enough to pass but he said he had attempted all questions except the last one (an achievement in itself for him!) so I am happy that he can move on to revision for Biology without it playing on his mind this afternoon. He is walking home with a friend however who is predicted a 9 for Maths who thought it was "really hard". I suspect this is a more accurate indicator of the level.

Pity they won't be making such concessions for the unfortunate year 10s.

AQA maths hard but much better than previous paper. DD hated the last one.

DS, Edexcel, has just texted to say it was hard, with the last few being horrible. Oh well, if they are all in the same boat then the boundaries will be low.

DS said maths was really difficult (it's his strongest subject and he is usually unfazed and confident) he looks really worried and quite rattled.

Can't stop for too much reflection though.....Biology unit 2 & 3 tomorrow....

This years only one being aligned to last years as far as I can make out. Sure that was what education sec. Said about 2 months ago.

DD, Edexcel, said it was hard , she preferred the first paper. She is hoping she might be able to even out with the next paper.

I am waiting to hear from ds how he thinks maths (Edexcel) went. From other comments I am not optimistic that he will be a happy bunny. I find it hard to understand how half of the paper can be 7-9 questions when some of those doing higher will only have properly covered up to level6/7. Seems wrong, somehow, and quite a different balance from what dd did a couple of years ago.

I invigilated Edexcel Maths today. General consensus was that it wasn't too bad except for tge final question. (I didn't whisper or laugh with another invigilator either - promise).

Edexcel Maths higher paper here. DS said it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be, whereas he found the previous paper horrible. He said this one suited his brain better. Can't wait until it's over for them all.

namefail same here. DS wants to do further maths A level so needs an 8 & was very downhearted.

namefail same here. DS wants to do further maths A level so needs an 8 & was very downhearted.

Edexcel Maths, DD has just come home. She reckons it was no worse than the last paper and it was only hard because she find's maths hard.

DS said Edexcel was ok but that he didn't finish it. I am just hoping that the questions he missed were ones he wouldn't have been able to do anyway and that he spent his time wisely. Hard to gauge as he is so blase about exams.

pulling my hair out with dd ... no 6600 million is NOT 6.6 million and 0.04 is NOT 'basically the same' as 0.4

and she's far more interested in the new urban decay eye shadow pallet than learning biology.

DS can't be bothered to do any biology for tomorrow.

Which is a bit of a shame as he is planning on doing it for A level and needs an A, which because of a poor ISA result means 2 A*s and 1 A over the three papers.

Not an easy task for him but apparently he isn't going to learn anything else by working tonight. I know he's knackered but grrrrrrr.

"I'm assuming you're not going to Youth Theatre tonight because of Biology tomorrow?"
"Of course I am- why wouldn't I?"

'Yeah Maths was fine.'

'Oh good I'd heard it was a hard paper.'

'Well the last few questions might have been I didn't read them as I ran out of time. What I did was OK though.'

Dd says edexcel was hard and horrible. Everyone came out deflated

Yep tiggy is only for first year. My gdd was told that by her math teacher a few weeks ago. Top set really upset because there won't be many getting that 9 next year as its capped to 3%. What my worry is will they be judged on keystage 2 results as my gdd got a 5 in keystage 2 for maths but is predicted a 9 since year 9 when really she would only be expected to get a 7. Does anyone know if keystage 2 is took into account?