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Secondary education

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

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:
Littledrummergirl · 30/10/2017 14:37

Lulu- ds2 planner is in half hour slots, so there is a clear plan for revision. Half hour study, half hour break. I think this will work well for him.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 30/10/2017 15:04

Thanks for suggestions it's a relief to have some more ideas suggested. Mrzz you have given me an idea re typing - I am wondering about rigging up some cards on Word so he can type them. Sticker I am hoping to get him to communicate a bit more, he is convinced he is not cut out for studying and has only embraced cards. Even though he has OK predicted grades and is doing higher maths. We have some info from school asking us to help with revision on Eliz I for history with a set of questions to ask which is something I can help with.

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mmzz · 30/10/2017 15:33

About the typing, I was wondering if your DS has dysgraphia since he had dyspraxic tendencies? I was also wondering if there is some sort of slow processing speed? One or the other could account for how long he takes to get through the regular work.

(I am not an expert BTW!).

If there is a SEN other than what is already known, it is unfortunately late to be dealing with it, but better now than later. I feel so sorry for him because it is hugely stressful and frustrating to be held back in this way. It would be extremely upsetting for him.

Does he see the SENCO? Are they any use in helping him come up with strategies to overcome his known difficulties?

Stickerrocks · 30/10/2017 16:50

Our school has been really proactive so far, with extra classes after school each evening for different groups in each subject and drop in sessions. They suggest sticking quotes from the set texts up all around the house in the run up to mocks and have lots of resources like Memorize for languages and interactive science apps for the kids to use. My DD is your traditional girly swot who loves a good revision card, but these apps do seem to make it all a bit more fun.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 30/10/2017 18:07

That sounds really good Stickerrocks - my ds's school had an information evening a couple of weeks ago which was very helpful. Ds does not talk about school very much so I don't know what they have suggested. I passed AS level French by having mind maps up in the kitchen but ds says he doesn't like them. When he's in the right sort of mood I will suggest more resources. He's grumpy at the moment! I agree just writing out cards will get tedious to say the least.

mmzz thank you for suggestions, it's a long story really but school at the beginning of year 10 said he does not qualify for extra help also ds himself thought it was giving him an unfair advantage and told them he is fine - he is mostly, but organising himself with revision is a nightmare. I have been trying to think of ways I can help including going through last year's paper for English; invited some comments on this thread from people thinking I am over invested.

The good news is, he's had a better day and said it very much helped working the way I suggested. I have been at work all day so left him to it, he hasn't mentioned that he's not finished the work so I assume he is ok.

Does anybody's dc do BBC Bitesize?

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LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2017 18:25

DoNot I think Bitesize is good sometimes - I like the revision materials for the poetry anthology and DS1 used to use it quite a bit. I think they’ve been updating it for new GCSEs but I’d say it’s a good start to revision rather than everything you need.
Your revision pattern sounds inspired to me!
DS1 has been deluged with homework this evening so is holed up in his room trying to get through it.

mmzz · 30/10/2017 18:32

I think criticising each other for the way we try to help our DC this year is unfair. I remember your posts. I was on the thread then (or reading at least) and I remember what you describe. However, as the year has got underway, I would say it has become much more supportive.

BBC Bitesize - no not really. What is good are the CGP revision guides. DS finds them infinitely more useful than the stuff he gets from school, especially for science, but also for themes and characters etc in English lit. I am glad I bought them.

Which GCSEs is your DS doing?

LooseAtTheSeams · 30/10/2017 18:54

Another vote for CGP. They do workbooks as well and there’s one with 10 minute tests e.g. for biology that might be quite helpful. Not entirely sure DS has used it. Their annotated literature texts are good.
I don’t know if the CGP book for maths on its own is enough so I got DS a workbook as well but I don’t think he’s used them yet!
Our school has a link to something called CollinsConnect for science - I think the idea is to be able to read around the subject as well as revise it.
The other thing that used to help me with revision was to have music on in the background - if I managed to tune it out it meant I was actually concentrating! Smile

Littledrummergirl · 30/10/2017 20:34

Ds2 has been using bitesize- ds1 went passed his room yesterday and spotted a screen full of ticks so whatever he was doing went well!
His school have also signed up to a revision site that has short podcasts. He listens to these as he's walking to school.

Oddsocks15 · 31/10/2017 08:19

Have no clue what my DD is going, I’m firmly kept at arms length Angry
She has CGP books, I’ve told her about Bitesize and Mr Bruff but whether she uses any of these I don’t know. Extremely frustrating as DD fiercely independent so I have to stand back and watch and worry.

I guess as mentioned up thread at least it is the mocks so DD may learn the hard way about adequate revision and accepting help.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 31/10/2017 08:47

Oddsocks my ds would like to be fiercely independent but he knows support is needed at home.

Does anybody's school have something called 'walk and talk' mocks?

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BlueBelle123 · 31/10/2017 09:08

Its only the second day of mocks and already DS has managed to go to
calculator maths exam without his calculator, missed the bus so I had to take him and was late for work!!!! Roll on Friday!

BlueBelle123 · 31/10/2017 09:37

Pretty sure DS is not doing walk and talk mocks, what are they exactly? Although I think it would suit him as that's how he revises by walking up and down talking to himself and it also seems to have to be with an audienceHmm

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 31/10/2017 10:12

What a pain BlueBelle. Did he manage to borrow a calculator? I am not entirely sure what walk and talk mocks are! My ds's mocks start next week at least thete's this week to do a few chunks of revision.

I agree CGP guides are good I've ordered the RE guide from the school.

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mmzz · 31/10/2017 10:19

AIBU to say RE seems to be the most difficult (most dense) GCSE whilst also being the least respected one? DS is doing Judaism as 1/3rd of his RS GCSE and it is packed full of terminology that he needs to memorise one word at a time. It seems as though to get a good grade in RS, eh'll have to do more work for it than English lit and Lang and French all combined.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 31/10/2017 10:33

Ds struggled terribly with RE in years 7 and 8, he was supposed to revise on RE over half term but is only just finishing his homework....he hasn't mentioned struggling with it lately. I agree it is very hard my year 8 dd had to find an analogy for Brahman very abstract. I am not sure how he will do in the mocks but there are study revision groups he's attended which I hope will help.

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TeenTimesTwo · 31/10/2017 10:38

DDs school did a walk and talk mock for maths last year (not her year though). My understanding is that they did a couple of questions under exam conditions. They stopped, talked through the approach and the answers, and then continued with a couple of more questions, and repeat. The idea was so the kids could pick up tips on approach so they might improve / make fewer mistakes later, rather than just blowing the whole thing.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 31/10/2017 18:18

Like doing worked examples, Teen? I can see lots of good points, getting exam technique sorted, understanding what the examiners are wanting to read and getting to grips with the mark scheme. Only negatives are that it won't give the student a true reflection of how their own revision has gone, and give them the swift kick up the jacksy to take everything more seriously. As a revision technique, though, sounds good.

DS3 and I are attending the school's achievement evening tomorrow by invitation. Can't work out what he might have won. His main rival in maths has beaten him in the last few tests so won't be that. Probably not science, maybe computing? Tell you tomorrow, just hoping it's not 100% attendance, can't get into rewarding avoiding germs...

noblegiraffe · 31/10/2017 18:24

When we do walking talking mocks we do it properly in the hall set up as an exam so the kids get a chance to be in there in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. Some of them really freak out about it or the paper and it's a good chance to take them out of the hall, talk them through calming down and get them back in without it actually being the mock/real exam.

And we have a mic headset so the teacher gets to stand at the front like Britney Spears. Totally embarrassing.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 31/10/2017 19:04

noblegiraffe thanks for explanation. Do you take all of them out of the hall to walk around? Does your school also do something called DEAR? 10 minutes of tutor time all the school drops everything and reads, no kindles allowed which has caused some parents to complain. I have no problem with it, it's been introduced as the new GCSEs have more reading content apparently.

mmzz I forgot to reply to your question of how what GCSEs ds is doing - all the English Bacc subjects - English Lit and Lang, RE as a full GCSE, Maths, Double Science, History, Geography and German. He didn't go to RE revision at lunch time today as he said he'd prefer to have lunch, and said he's doing some revision tonight. In his room now, he'll have to start soon. Maths revision after school tomorrow...he should be going.

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Stickerrocks · 31/10/2017 21:09

DD is doing pretty much the same. Just swap German for Spanish and add in triple science & further maths. She would spend the whole year dithering if she had to do coursework, so I'm pleased she didn't do anything practical or arty like drama or graphics. Her chums seem really bogged down in their coursework at the same time as revising for mocks.

BlueBelle123 · 31/10/2017 21:37

Would really appreciate your thoughts if your DC is doing triple science but their mock papers are all combined, would you have a problem with this?

charlmum60 · 31/10/2017 23:29

Few panic numbers going off in my DD's Maths department following last HT's tests....HOD spoke to all classes saying how disappointed he was with results ...quite relieved to see this TBH because the approach this last HT has been too laid back...although I think the test exposed the learning needs because it included combination questions which the girls felt they had been taught the components but not taught putting the components together - most of the top set only achieving 60% and one of the pupils in the second set achieving 97% (although I think there has been some tutoring because she was in one of the bottom sets a year ago) . The school were expecting all of the top set and half of the second set to get 9's! Pleased that the school has responded well - continuing with clinics at lunchtime and extending to after school classes once a week according to their forecast grade...

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/11/2017 08:38

Charlmum it’s good they’re tackling the maths straightaway. There is still time to make a lot of progress. We had a bit of a nightmare with maths in year 10 - it was sorted out but not until the end of year exams backed up what parents had been saying. It means Y11 maths is a gallop but with an incredibly impressive teacher.
Latest physics test went very well so looks like at least that topic is making sense!

mmzz · 01/11/2017 09:30

@BlueBelle123 DS is doing triple, and, although I had not thought of it before, there's a reasonable chance the school will reduce the teacher's workload by giving the same mock paper to everyone i.e. making it suitable for the combined.

The main problem I would have with it is not that it doesn't test the full curriculum done so far i.e. do what mocks are supposed to do and be a dress rehearsal for the real thing. The main problem I have with it is that it causes confusion for those doing the triple as they weren't given clear direction at the external year 10 exams as to which bits that they've done are not part of the combined. The confusion made revising for the year 10 exams much, much more complicated than simply revising everything.