GCSEs 2018 (2)

[Stickerrocks]

Pre-empting our 1000th post.

We went down the route of saying that they're useful, but the only results which will count are the ones on 23 August, so don't get complacent.

We've discussed with DD that the mocks are important for seeing which areas she needs to work on. Top of the list should be finishing reading her set texts!

At the moment she's adamant that she won't be going to university but i've argued that if she changes her mind she has to have good GCSE results.

Apart from the essay, History is just huge. DS has had several ring folders and they have all broken under the pressure. He now has all the pages in two fat folders and they're full capacity.

History DOES seem huge doesn't it? For most of DS's subjects he has one textbook. For History he has FOUR and then beyond that they are still encouraged to do further reading.

I found out this afternoon that one of DS2's classmates unexpectedly died yesterday.

What a tragic thing to happen. I can't quite get my head around it, to be honest.

So far ds2 is trailing in English and Maths (both under the magic 6 grade) but he claims he has a 7 for History Mock. His papers are all over the place, and he certainly doesn't have binders of stuff; he just seems to know it all from endlessly watching documentaries about Rasputin!! But he hasn't even started one of the topics yet, I think they are going for a whole term of that topic and then hope they go fresh to the exams with the knowledge of most recent topic. He has now gone off on a residential trip, but mostly Year 9/10's I'm hoping he comes back feeling very grownup and responsible..

Dd is waiting for her brown envelope next week (she is at a different school)

Second How terrible for all the classmates, but how much more terrible for the parents, I cannot imagine A similar thing happened in our GSCE year, we were all completely overwhelmed by the sight of the grieving mother when we went to the funeral. It taught us a lot about what we meant to our parents.

I also lost a classmate when I was in Y11. It just seems so sad, at a time when they would have had so much of their life ahead of them.

Sadly we lost 1 a year in the 5th year, 6th form and first couple of years at uni. One passed away in class, then there was a car crash, drugs and a horrific murder. I really feel for your DS. It does put things in perspective.

One passed away in class
How traumatic for everyone present...

This has been my greatest fear, and still is, so much exam pressure that drives young people to end their short lives. I have repeatedly told my dgd that its not the be all end all and that things can be rectified and sorted, that you can only do your best and that as long as you try your hardest it doesn't matter the result. You will never be a failure while you try. But seeing her in tears at every exam or end of year assessments really worries me, though she has been stronger during mocks as I told her it is just an indicator of what you know and don't know. Learn by the results and you will be fine. Jot down weak areas as you do your exams and study those bits more. It seems to have alleviated a lot of stress. I also told her not to get upset if results of mocks aren't what she expects, they will mark more strictly just use it as a learning curve. So sorry for the loss of life you have recounted.

second that's terrible - what a shock for your poor DS. They honestly believe they're immortal at that age.

I will post this on the 'interactive resources' thread, but has anyone found an effective resource for practising verb conjugations? Ideally it would flash up 'I have' or 'You (s) will drink' or 'We were running' and student has to type in the French.

My DD is doing her very best to manage her health and balance revision with plenty of rest after an unpleasant Christmas which saw both of us struck down with norovirus.

She and I have had several conversations about the next few months and that it’s all about doing the best she can do. It’s not about how anyone else does, because they aren’t dealing with the health issues she has. Everyone has their own story. We can resolve any disappointments and find the right path for her. As long as she knows she tried her utmost, that’s all we can ask.

This is all the more poignant because a fellow student killed herself two weeks ago and it’s hit the school community hard.

I’m supporting with tea, chat, cuddles and guidance. She tells me everything and I hope it continues. Her school counsellor has been brilliant, offering techniques for exam anxiety, etc.

But the whole school is reeling from the recent tragedy.

All these dead teenagers. My God. What's going on.

It’s frightening drummersmum. The pressure some of these teenagers find themselves under mustn’t be underestimated.

It really makes me feel sick thinking about the fact that these young people felt there was no other option.

Not all suicides tho??

I remember at that age having days in which it was black or white. That was it. Everything blown to the extreme. I was not allowed to attend a certain concert and life was over. The intensity of the emotion was unbearable.

second I'm so sorry. It must be a shock for the other 15/16 year olds, bit the poor parents!

@kingscotestaff there is a primer available on the Kindle that's all you could ever need! I'll find it and come back with the name. From memory it's only about £2

Second awful news - that must have been a terrible shock for everyone.
I very much agree about the mocks pressure. DS1 is pragmatic about them, luckily. The school really went on and on about mocks so apart from making sure some revision happened I backed off.

Duae Linguae by Celeste N Parker

Ds2 has come back from a residential weekend, lots of rock climbing and prayers He has really enjoyed it, and said he wanted to go to church more I think there were lots of the friendly people from his school, rather than the less friendly ones..ifysim, and plenty of approachable sixth formers too. However, he is tired and "overloaded" now, and picked a fight with his older brother over somethign ridiculous, and is doing a lot of pacing around going Oh Dear Oh Dear..I'd forgotten how he gets like this when overtired, as he is usually not overtired or overstretched. Sixth form interview tomorrow, oh joy..at an unfamiliar school, doesn't help. He is vegging in front of telly atm, having packed his bag for tomorrow, hope he calms down. He still seems obsessed by going to school, I can't miss anything mum..

Dd has read two books over the last week for pleasure and is now obsessively stockpiling ski-wear and trying on old ski trousers and trying to get me to fund new salopettes (not happening as we have very stylish trousers) as everyone else "has them". School ski trip in Feb, 24 hours on a coach Brown envelope on Wed

Can I ask - at your schools do the kids do mocks in exactly the same format/quantity as the final exams, or a reduced version?

DS has the full six science papers (2 for each science) but for English/History/Classics has only half the number of papers. Seems a bit biased towards science!

For DS, every single subject was cut down by one third to a half. Eg English lit just did poetry and one play, ignoring the novel and the Shakespearean play.

ds and dd have done their Mocks before Christmas, takes the pressure off considerably, and makes the Real Thing seem nearer. I am hoping that the results they get will motivate them to do much much better in the Real Thing. I've heard that getting very good grades at Mock level can cause a certain amount of panic at keeping up the pace for another 3 -4 months. [although that won't be the case with mine, both are still doing vital coursework and learning new topics still)

Hi hope I can join this thread. DD in year 11 and mocks begin tomorrow. Xmas hols has been fairly low key and she has spent most days revising.

In terms of exam content will be able to tell more when it's all over but her science exams are all condensed ie only one exam each. Maths also has been condensed. She does add maths and has 2 exams in total for maths rather than 3.