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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSEs 2018

998 replies

DoNotBringLulu · 12/08/2017 16:19

Hi all, I am sure many of us with dc going into year 11 this year are trepidatious about teachers and pupils thrown in at the deep end due to the new GCSEs.

There is one thing I can do which I hope will help my ds (even though he thinks I'm mad!), which is to get hold of this year's GCSE English Language and English Literature papers, read the books and work through the paper myself - I studied English Lit at university over 20 years ago. I will know for myself after I've done this how difficult the exam papers are at least - I'm not sure who I can ask to mark it for me though!

Can anybody tell me how challenging the Maths and English papers were for their dc? I understand these were the two subjects introduced with the new format.

OP posts:
Stickerrocks · 14/10/2017 08:27

Wishful DD is taking further maths now, but will drop it at A level. I was the final year of the O level generation, when 3 A levels was standard and you only tended to take further maths as a 4th. So many colleges now do "enrichment activities" and extended projects that there seems to be little benefit in cramming in an extra subject. I teach at post grad level and 3 good A levels are definitely better than 4 spread too thinly.

AlexanderHamilton · 14/10/2017 08:52

Dd's school only allows 9 GCSE's. In exceptional circumstances a 10th can be taken as an after school option. Her school don't make kids take ebacc subjects.

I think 9 is a good number as many 6th forms ask for 8 good grades so taking 9 accounts for the fact something might go a bit wrong in one subject.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/10/2017 10:04

DS2 is taking 10 GCSEs plus the level 2 certificate in F.Maths. There wasn't an option to take fewer subjects. Everyone in the top four Science sets takes three sciences. Everyone in the top two Maths sets takes Further Maths.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/10/2017 10:06

He wants to do these at A-level:
Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Further Maths

As the reserve he wants to put Biology.

TheSecondOfHerName · 14/10/2017 10:12

Sadik DS2 has a similar dilemma to your DD. He is fairly sure he wants to study Physics at university, but also finds Biology interesting, especially Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering.

When we looked at the entry requirements for the different courses, the Maths/Physics/Chemistry/F.Maths combination seems to leave the most doors open. In many Natural Science courses, students can follow a Biological Sciences pathway without Biology A-level, so long as they have Chemistry and Maths.

notsomanky · 14/10/2017 10:21

DS is unsure about his A Level choices - he keeps dithering as he really wants to be a football referee so wants a career that will allow him the flexibility and funds to do this at weekends and evenings until he is further up the progression ladder.

He knows he wants to stay at his school for 6th form, although it is smaller and only offers A levels . I've insisted he looks at other options just so he is aware of the other choices out there. His school sixth form is far stricter than other colleges, but this might suit him. His school is an all boys school, but for 6th form they accept applications from girls, so although there are not a lot of girls he will mix more with some.

He is considering Maths, History, Governments and Politics, Business Studies and Physics at A Level; he has discounted further maths and biology, and after discussing Physics with the head of the department at the open evening I think he may discount that too!

We had talked about sports science but he isn't keen on continuing with Biology, and he really isn't sure what to do next, although he is considering accounting!

We have spoken about apprenticeships, and he is going on a school organised trip to an Apprenticeship roadshow next week (under duress) - but I think it's important for him to look at all the options.

If he does stay at school he can choose 4 A levels, and if he copes with the workload will be able to continue with that into the 2nd year, or drop to 3.

GCSE wise he is doing 10 - 2 x English, Maths, French, Triple Science, Business Studies and History, and all his set had to do Statistics for some reason.

We have had no progress on the revision front- he has tests next week and any mention of revision has him up in arms.

WhatHaveIFound · 14/10/2017 10:32

DD is sitting 9 GCSEs next year and has done Maths already. She wants to do Music & Geography at A level but is completely undecided on the others. They start with 4 in Y12 and can drop one in Y13.

lljkk · 14/10/2017 14:06

DD is wavering about medicine & now is pondering... astrophysics.
I have a bit of a WTF feeling about that change, but still glad something shook her obsession with medicine.
I think medicine is too formulaic in practice & she'd be happier with something more intellectual.

That said, DD is very materialistic & definitely will go with the money... whatever career has best salaries is what she wants. I am trying not to let her know, that may not be science.

KingscoteStaff · 14/10/2017 14:08

DS also planning to start with 4 A levels, with the possibility of dropping one.
Any combo of English, History, Economics, Politics, Philosophy, Theology.
Lots and lots of lovely essays...

WishfulThanking · 14/10/2017 14:38

@lljkk why are you not telling her science isn't generally highly paid?

lljkk · 14/10/2017 15:43

In the BMJ, the starting salaries are all £70k. DD thinks that might be too low for her.

Sadik · 15/10/2017 08:17

TheSecondOfHerName I think dd is probably leaning towards the view that maths/physics keeps more options open. She really loves biology though, so would be very sad to give it up. (But she also loves physics & maths . . .)

I do agree that too many GCSEs is crazy - but I know dd regrets that she couldn't continue with any of the humanities (3 options including triple science, and she really wanted to take French & Drama).

They just have to narrow down their future options so young, it seems a real shame. At least here (we're in Wales) starting with 4 A levels still seems to be considered fine particularly in the STEM subjects as there haven't been the same changes as in England.

Sadik · 15/10/2017 08:24

lljkk, perhaps your dd should be considering economics? Lots of seriously high paying options there. This link shows half of the 10 best paying courses 5 years after graduation are economics.

(It's also an endlessly fascinating and enjoyable subject - I know lots of middle aged medics/lawyers who regret their choices, but economics will never let you down Grin )

drummersmum · 15/10/2017 15:21

In the BMJ, the starting salaries are all £70k
WOW.

mmzz · 15/10/2017 17:49

What's the consensus on studying for mocks at half term? DS needs a break, I feel, as though he has worked harder these last few weeks than ever before. He's beginning to feel the strain of having so much to do.
It's tempting to advise him to take the week off, but if he does badly in the mocks, then his self confidence will be on the floor.
So, I don't know what to suggest.

lljkk · 15/10/2017 18:11

When are the mocks, mmzz? I wouldn't expect them to study now for mocks in January.

Maybe start revising 3-4 weeks before a mock? I think that's how DD tends to function, and she is a super hyper-over preparer.

TheSecondOfHerName · 15/10/2017 18:23

DS2's mocks are at the beginning of next term. He's planning to do 1-2h per day over half term then step it up during the Christmas holidays in preparation for the mocks.

TheSecondOfHerName · 15/10/2017 18:25

It's tempting to advise him to take the week off

There's a middle ground between several hours of study a day and taking the whole week off. Perhaps he could try doing an hour each morning then have the rest od the day to himself?

mmzz · 15/10/2017 18:26

The mocks are In early December.

mmzz · 15/10/2017 18:31

The problem with DS is that he currently thinks he will average 7s in everything except maths. That's based on how he did in some year 10 exams last year that were graded before the gcse grade boundaries had even been published. He got mostly 7s then so he thinks he's a 7 now.
If he gets poor mock results, then he'll think that's what he should be aiming for.

For a bright boy, he can be very irrational at times!

Stickerrocks · 15/10/2017 18:59

We're going away for half term to a cottage with good WiFi, a hot tub and sauna. Mock are at the beginning of November, so DD plans to get up & work in the mornings, then potter about a bit in the afternoon. Sadly, we'll be taking work with us too, but at least It's a change of scene.

Hulababy · 15/10/2017 19:13

DD's mocks aren't until January. So we are away for half term and won't be taking work with us. She will due the bulk of revision over her 3 weeks off over Christmas, plus general revision next half term.

TheSecondOfHerName · 15/10/2017 19:27

For mocks in early December, I think it would be reasonable to do a couple of hours of revision each day during the October half-term. However, not all teenagers are the same, and you know him best.

lljkk · 15/10/2017 19:31

Does he know what his grades mean for sure now that the grade boundaries have been published?

DD got results for her science mocks that are the real deal as much as any mock can be ... they came with definite grade boundaries, I mean.

DD is prone to burning out (she works very hard) & I don't want her to start revising more than 4 weeks before any mock or exam.

mmzz · 15/10/2017 19:37

I think I'm getting to know him! He has never been worked hard before and he's pushing back against it.

It's not that he has more than he has time for, it's just that it's every night for a couple of hours and seven or eight hours at weekends (over 2 days, not per day). It's probably only a 42 or 43 hour week, not including breaks.

I can't make him study. I'll try to persuade him to do a couple of hours but unless the teachers say it loud and clear, I think he'll pretend to consider it but end up not doing anything.