GCSEs 2018

[DoNotBringLulu]

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.

Can I just say.. it's really frustrating watching DS come up with reasons about how he fully intend to revise, but just not tonight (or last night, or the one before that or the next two nights).

Can I just say.. it's really frustrating watching DS come up with reasons about how he fully intend to revise, but just not tonight (or last night, or the one before that or the next two nights).

One of DD's science teachers has just stuck a rocket up their backsides because the top set's marks were worse than those doing combined science in the lower sets. I don't think I was as sympathetic as I could have been, as DD was coasting after a good set of results from the summer. I think she knew last week that she wouldn't do as well as she hoped, because she announced on the morning of her exam that she hadn't really done any revision, then she said that the exam was unfair for the triple science group as it was in a different format to their real exams. Hopefully this will spur her into action for her 2 remaining exams this week.

Sympathies mmzz.

Some gentle revision going on here. Disappointed that I have to remind him to do some every day. Your sixth form open evenings seem quite early. They are in January here with forms to be in in February with predicted grades etc, so after their marriage ck results. I'm hoping any poor mock results act as the proverbial kick up the backside.

Marriage ck? Weird autocorrect for mock.

we have mocks starting next week, the school are making quite a big deal about them (will be in exam halls etc), but after a mini-meltdown, DD has agreed with me that they're mostly going to be useful for seeing where she needs to focus revision for the summer.

This week though is interviews for the school 6th form (DD's application is already in ) - form previous experience I know they're just a chat about have you properly thought through your A level options, but I'm not letting on to DD, it will do her good to work out how to justify her choices (she's picked one subject which will be very hard work for her, but she does need it for uni applications; she's much more likely to get a better A level grade in a completely different subject, leading to another course she really liked at uni, but that doesn't lead into any particular career). I'm mean like that though .

It's so hard for them at 15/16 having to make decisions which (in DDs case) will affect the next 10 years of their lives. DD1 knew she wanted to do Maths at uni, os her school career was dropping non-Maths subjects as swiftly as she could; DD2 changed her mind totally about what she wanted to do at uni after the first half term of 6th form, when she realised she loved her "fourth choice, drop after AS" subject choice. Poor DD3 has to make a decision between sciences and humanities, and it will be so much harder to switch if she makes the wrong decision of A levels .

Also having the prom dress decision stresses, as if there wasn't enough going on!

What I actually meant to say (before my brain dump there) was that we also have after school sessions, plus rooms made available for private study after school too. DD has been staying at school every day, she finds it easier to go straight into revision/homework, rather than coming home, flopping on her bed, then trying to find some motivation three hours later. There are a couple of days when she needs to stay in town for later activities, so being able to go straight from school is quite helpful. There are several others doing the same thing, so there are some study groups going on too. Although what DD likes best is using a particular room when the teacher isn't around, sitting at his desk (with swivel chair) and plugging her phone into the speaker system . She claims she does get work done, but I'm not totally convinced .

Our school seem most worried about English and Science, the Maths department seem quite chilled about this year's exams. English keep emailing out homework and revision sheets.

Mmzz. my dd was similar about revision on Sunday BUT after we both have had melt downs this last week I think we are now heading in a good direction ....History past paper done on Sunday and 3/4 hr of Chemistry too...last night I did not press DD for any work because she had a Piano lesson (she is not taking music). Tonight she has agreed to do Chemistry again after tea.
I have registered her for an online revision timetable/entered in all her mocks for January and feel that I do need to do this because DD will coast otherwise (even though the school have been amazing with giving the girls lessons on revision).
English Teacher providing some constructive advice ...DT teacher doing the same ...she seems somewhat ahead of everyone with her Computer Science controlled assessment (and is happy in this area having corrected the odd bug).
First Sixth form taster session at a school she was not keen on today and it was a real success ...she loved Politics - although this was not on her list of possible subjects - however because she attends an all girls school and this was Co-Ed she was surprised at how the boys seem to take control of the lesson - food for thought - although I think she has a strong enough character to deal with this - and will need to going forward in the real world.

Some 6th form entries close mid December. One interview out of the way, another in the diary. Perhaps i should start worrying about prom transport?

Stickerrocks - well done to your DD on her offer....

I'm relieved that we don't have to make any decisions or apply just yet...I think if we decide to apply for current school or other fee paying school it will be late applications...the blocks work well for current school so no concerns there maybe more concerns for the smaller school ...our major concern is dealing with spider in dining room so DD can revise [Halo]

The sixth forms around here all seem to be of the same opinion regarding 4 A levels (excluding further maths), that it is not recommended due to the new linear A levels and only those predicted all 8/9's would be considered to be allowed to take 4.

DS still wants to take 4, despite the horrendous workload, but I shall refrain from saying anymore until results day

mmzz, perhaps your DS just needs a little break before getting back to it, are they working them particularly hard at school. How much longer does he have before mocks?

DS2 has parents' evening tomorrow straight after school (for him) and work (for me).

He (and I) may be slightly tired by then...

How can someone supposedly so intelligent be such a muppet

Oh dear The2nd. I think muppetyness is part of the job description of being 15!

Only 3 subjects here as well. I'm from the O level generation, so I've never seen the attraction of taking 4 or resitting a year in 6th form just to improve your grades slightly.

I'm not sure I see the point of 4 A levels either (further maths excepted).

I'm trying to think when having 4 would be helpful - maybe for medicine (maths + 3 sciences?)?

Bluebelle - all DS has is breaks! The problem is he has spent the last week giving himself the day/ evening off and then wasting it by sitting thinking about how much studying he has to do. So, he has the impression that he has spent a lot of time revising when really he's only done a bit of revising and a lot of time contemplating doing it.

We updated his revision timetable tonight and now, at long last, he gets it (I think)! Fingers crossed.

Thanks Stickerrocks
On the positive side, he has done 4 hours of homework and revision this evening, and probably has another 4 hours left before he'll be able to sleep.

Does anyone have any links to revision timetables or videos on how to make them?

I remember making lovely colourful and elaborate ones back in the day. I can't for the life of me remember how or what I did.

Do they use an app these days or is it still a big sheet of paper and some felt tips?

I created one for DS on a spreadsheet. I looked online first but couldn't find one

mmzz I’m impressed at the spreadsheet. My task tonight is printing out the mock exam timetable! To be fair some subjects have had some attention already but I know the ‘just not tonight’ attitude to revision all too well.

I've moved on from mocks & printed out her provisional GCSE timetable.

Now that's plain scary, I daren't go there until the New Year

There is an online site called get revising - which is brilliant - you can add all the appropriate exam boards and i've done one for Mocks and May/June exams for dd....

My own work diary is booked until Dec 18 & I've already had to book time off for a holiday for April 19, so I have to get organised early!

mmzz we're in that boat with you. Suggestions of revision are grinding us both down to the point where I have given up. DS is predicted top grades and wants to take 4 A levels incl FM and I can't decide if he's able to attain all this on minimal revision. He's always got great grades and is never in trouble for late homework (despite doing it last minute). The teachers are full of praise at parents evening. One teacher might have him sussed as she asked him HOW he revised and of course he had no answer. I suppose the mocks will tell. I'm pretty stressed about it.

@spababe I think you must be mother to DS's twin. He's used to being in the top set, sometimes top or the top set without actually doing any work. Until this year, homework was always "finish the classwork" so. DS genuinely has no experience of actually working on his own or stretching himself.
His luck will run out and I think his confidence will evaporate completely the second that he's no longer the person who always does well. This is his chance to learn how to work. He just can't go in and try to wing the mocks.