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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:
Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 16/11/2017 19:15

mmzz do you think it will spur your ds on to put the work in if mocks grade is lower than expected?

According to ds's tutor many results not great; it makes them put the work in.

We get mocks results at parents evening, gives an opportunity to talk about revision etc. Ds was supposed to attend Geography revision today, disappointingly he decided to come straight home as I was unable to collect him...he will be going next week!

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BlueBelle123 · 16/11/2017 19:39

DS came home fuming today, he wasn't particularly happy with his mock score and they were going through the mark scheme in class, he reckons that on a number of questions he had put all the points down but only given a couple of marks. Apparently the teacher couldn't read his writing, both myself and DH have been telling him that his writing is awful and we can't read it, but he never listens as obviously he knows best, I think this teacher might actually make him write neater!!!!!

DS has received all his results bar for 2, he did revise but mainly the sciences however, rather annoyingly his best mark was a subject he only flicked through the night before.........so those of you with DC who aren't revising, mocks might not necessarily provide the boot up the backside they needHmm

mmzz · 16/11/2017 19:43

It might spur him on but more likely he'll be crushed. DS is one of those people who is always waiting to be found out as a fraud. Bizarrely he lacks self confidence and is really shy.

I think the only way he'll do the revision is if I sit next to him encouraging him on, and that's not sustainable. Obviously!!

LooseAtTheSeams · 16/11/2017 22:40

DS is relying on school revision sessions and maths practice at home at the moment. I think he’ll need something a bit more systematic soon, though. Some subjects are getting a lot more attention than others!

WhatHaveIFound · 17/11/2017 09:08

DD has a taster day at her first choice sixth form next week including entrance papers and an interview with the head. She's panicking over what to wear.

One of her friends who's interested in the same school has been asked to wait until after she has her mocks results next year.

I'm taking this as a good sign for DD Smile

BlueBelle123 · 17/11/2017 10:09

DS was in such a mood last night, partly as didn't want to go to a 6th form open evening, that we never went, so despite not having gone to his own school's open evening the decision is made, he's staying where he is......I did try to show him other options but quite frankly I was wasting my time.

There will be no plan B, but entry requirements are well within his capabilities and if something should go drastically wrong on the day, as teachers know him I don't envisage there being a problem.

Now we have parent's evening to look forward to and the last 2 mock resultsHmm

Stickerrocks · 17/11/2017 13:41

Our 6th forms operate in a buyers market, so the offer places to almost anyone within reason, everyone accepts a couple of offers and then they all sign on the dotted line for their favourite in August. None of the 6th forms are attached to schools and they typically have intakes of 500 - 1500.

Are you in selective areas and/or are your 6th forms attached to schools, so they can pick & choose who they want?

BlueBelle123 · 17/11/2017 14:30

The area where we are, 6th forms are attached to schools, its not a selective area and there are no large 6th form colleges, people wanting to do A level would go to one of the 6th forms attached to a school not college. There is clearly not a big demand as the entry requirements are basically the same for all at DS's school you need 5 GCSE's 4's in English & Maths's and the rest 5's and the subjects he wants to do Math's and the sciences he needs 6's, if they asked for higher I think they would have trouble filling the place!!

Stickerrocks · 17/11/2017 14:45

I switched schools myself for 6th form, moving to a private school with around 100 pupils. The 6th forms here are vast by comparison, but it does completely eliminate any grade stress. DD will need a minimum of a 7 if she wants to take maths, but apart from that she just needs to get 5 GCSEs. I'm not sure if they want grades 4 or 5, but that won't be an issue.

WhatHaveIFound · 17/11/2017 15:00

Most of the sixth forms in our area are attached to schools, both state and independent. There are also a couple of city colleges who offer both A levels & BTECs.

DD is applying to move to a (more) selective independent and needs five GCSEs at 6 or above. 7s are needed for the subjects she wants to study at A level which change on a weekly basis.

LooseAtTheSeams · 18/11/2017 16:27

I have gone through DS1’s mock exam timetable and written down a subject to revise every day. It’s not really sufficient but it’s a start! It can only go upwards from January...

TheSecondOfHerName · 18/11/2017 17:42

Apart from one FE college (which doesn't offer A-level courses), the only options locally are sixth forms attached to schools.

KingscoteStaff · 18/11/2017 18:55

Had request for more index cards and pack of 'those really nice triangular felt tips'!!!

Something must be happening...

mmzz · 18/11/2017 19:05

Wilko do good sets of index cards £1. 50 for 100 coloured ones.

Mr Bruff YouTube videos are excellent! I'm learning stuff just by overhearing it!

DS is doing some revision without me standing over him (at long last). I think he has realised that he's running out of time to do everything he wants to.

BlueBelle123 · 18/11/2017 20:28

Ooh asking for more stationery is definitely a good signSmile

It feels like the calm before the storm here, mocks over no tests/exams on the horizon, not a great deal of homework. So not a lot going on, should he be revising or is it too soon?

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 19/11/2017 13:01

I am wondering the same BlueBelle. I think it's a time for planning; revision timetable etc. He gets results from first set of mocks week after next. Perhaps rereading books for English Lit, watching relevant documentaries etc.

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Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 19/11/2017 13:02

mmzz thanks for that I have been going to WH Smith which is pricey.

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BlueBelle123 · 19/11/2017 17:01

lulu how will your DS get his results, do the school try to mimic the real thing ie in an envelope etc? DS's was very low key, just handed back in lessons, hopefully he should get the last one this week. I wish he had them back all at once as it seems to be a very long drawn out process and you just want to get it over with and move on!

Surprise surprise DS has decided to look at some science, I know there is a lot of stuff but he seems to forget he has 7 other subjects!!

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 19/11/2017 20:08

At parents' evening it's treated like a results day. Then we can talk about what needs to be pulled up.

OP posts:
Stickerrocks · 20/11/2017 09:29

Mock marks get drip fed out in class. I think we may get sent a progress check at some point. DD's sets all refuse to discuss their marks in case someone gets upset, so they are none the wiser on how they compare.

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/11/2017 10:50

Ours are the same - given out in class and then a data sheet with predictions.
DS1 has done another geography paper this weekend. He’s now convinced there’s only so much you can do about rivers!

inchyrablue · 20/11/2017 11:29

DD starts her mocks today. They get the results in a mock results day type collect the envelope session.

She looked really worried last night, which isn't at all like her. We had a long chat about not reacting to her (lovely but rather dramatic) friends hysteria. She seemed much happier this morning when she headed off.

mmzz · 20/11/2017 12:01

Are schools giving levels with the mock results? What are they using for grade boundaries?

LooseAtTheSeams · 20/11/2017 12:13

Our school gives levels. It’s a very dark art. English and maths will probably be based on grade boundaries from June. Our school deliberately rounds down so no one gets overconfident.
I think the rest is guesswork to be honest. In addition teachers I know are still verbally referring to As etc despite the new grades - it’s a hard habit to drop!

mmzz · 20/11/2017 12:18

It seems to vary by subject at Ds's school, but a typical one is 90% - 9, 80%-8 etc. Then they lapse into talking in A/A/B/C etc, with 8&9 being A and 7 being an A and 6 a B. I guess 4/5 is a C.
However, the English and Maths grade boundaries in 2017 were nothing like 90% for a 9. And wasn't it something like 18% for a 4??