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Original poster

Confusion over everything GCSE related

31 replies

Buck3t · 30/01/2018 23:54

For the record my son is pretty average. I believe if he pushes himself he can do a lot, but he's not necessarily top set material. So that's my qualification on the following.

I've raised concerns with the school about my DS's test results and the stuff they tell me about him. They predicted passes. no 9s but 6, 7 and 8s enough to get to the next level. His mock results have come back and we're looking at 3s, 4s and 5s.

I don't get it because I asked the teachers about this last year when in year 10, cause of my concern about the effort and lack of reward at the other end. He had his version of a meltdown when he got his science results. My query to the school at the time was that questions that required in depth analysis he fell down on. Time and time again. I was reassured that everything is fine. Well I'm concerned. because there doesn't seem to be much in the way of improvement. Is it too late for a tutor (I.e best ones taken?) what literally at this late stage should I be doing. Since support and encouragement do not seem to be helpful thus far.

One question I have is that if there is one subject that he is just not going to pass, can't he just not take it? I'm talking RE rather than Maths and English.

And how does someone pass English Lit and not language? It's your language😣 okay that one was just to get it out of my system.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buck3t · 30/01/2018 23:57

in fact how do you get a better score in Spanish? A language none of us can speak past Muddy levels? And breathe

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 31/01/2018 08:49

What does his school say about the mock results? And crucially - did he actually work hard for his mocks? If not, does he know that he does need to work hard now? And does he know how to revise?

For comparison, my friend's son has just had a similarly disappointing set of mock results, was gutted, and has now admitted that he just thought he could wing it. Hopefully, it will be a wake-up call and he can put the work in between now and the real thing. Which is, after all, the point of doing mock exams.

In terms of whether he has to sit a subject, I believe the entry date is in February. So there is still time to ask the school that question.

TeenTimesTwo · 31/01/2018 08:49

I'm a parents who's DD did GCSEs a couple of years ago under the old system. A few random points.

  • how much work did your DS actually do for the mocks?
  • in science do you think he knew the content but failed on the harder questions due to detail/analysis? In which case looking at example questions and mark schemes to see how to get the marks may help.
  • Spanish, was it the written or the listening (or everything?). Has the oral already been done? There is stuff online for listening practice, the more he does the better he will probably get. The reading comprehensions is about knowing the vocab and the grammar, writing similar, but starting with simple sentences and making them more complex.
  • English language paper is quite technical. They have to know what they are looking for and find it / write about it. So again, can he talk through a question paper knowing what he is trying to do?
  • Generally is he doing enough useful work? Learning facts, practice questions, reviewing against mark schemes?
  • you said '6, 7s and 8s was enough for the next level'. Make sure you have a plan B that covers getting 4, 5, 6. (eg A levels elsewhere, BTEC or apprenticeships). 4s and 5s are 'pretty average' so all would not be lost.
senua · 31/01/2018 08:56

In which case looking at example questions and mark schemes to see how to get the marks may help.
This. It's not just knowing the stuff. It's regurgitating it in the approved manner, jumping through hoops.

Are there any Easter crammers you can sign up for? Does the school run such things?

catslife · 31/01/2018 09:47

I wouldn't make any decisions about dropping subjects yet until you have had a chance to talk to the teachers.

  1. For RE do they have a good amount of teaching time or are they attempting it on just an hour a week. If the former dd increased her grade (old system) from E to B between mocks and the real exams and the difference was exam technique.
  2. for the new 9-1 GCSE Sciences the general verdict across the whole country is that the second set of specimen papers were hard. So the type of grade you are seeing is unusual. No-one is completely sure whether the actual exams will be like this (or not) and what the marks for each grade will be, so try not to panic.
  3. Is it too late to obtain a tutor. Possibly not (depending on where you are). But you need to find one with experience of the new syllabus.
CeeCeeMacFay · 31/01/2018 10:18

In pretty much the same boat here, raised concerns with school many times, told all is fine. My ds was predicted mostly 6/7s and a few 5s, mock results have been 2/3/4s with a couple of 5s. He did work for the exams but not as much as he should, it seems exam technique has let him down.

tiggytape · 31/01/2018 11:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LooseAtTheSeams · 31/01/2018 13:02

tiggytape really excellent post - I wish everyone stressing over GCSEs could read it! You're absolutely right about English. The one thing I stress to my English language students is that you must read the question carefully and stick to the lines or extract that they want you to comment on. Too often students wander off onto something else and don't answer the question that was actually asked!

Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 14:27

@aChickencalledKorma

What does the school say about mocks? Simply that they were mocks, that the kids are still working on the syllabus etc. But good indicator and further mocks down the line.

Did he study? He definitely tried. So we have confiscated his Xbox and blocked sites where he'd usually drift to (as he wouldn't be able to stop himself). We did that last year before stuff got serious, so he'd get used to it. He won't study with anyone else. In English he'll ask me for help. in technical stuff he'll ask his dad. He felt he had geography under control.

Does he know how to revise. I suspect not. I don't either so I'm not much help.

OP posts:
Teenmum60 · 31/01/2018 14:33

Tiggytape - excellent post....

Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 15:12

@Teentimestwo
how much work did your DS actually do for the mocks?

He and DH worked out a timetable. DS would say he stuck to it. I think he gets thrown easily for example school was closed one day because of a boiler for an exam he felt ready for. The day he ended up doing it he couldn't remember tons. And then there was a snow day. That one was maths. Although he passed it, at the time there was a question that he could not answer. Bugged him for ages afterwards. I wonder what else he missed by focusing on something he thought he ought to know.

science I do think that any question that says discuss, analyse etc throws him. Im asking for the exam script, but I've seen how he asked questions before and wasn't sure whether he knew what was being asked. Will check about Mark scheme.

Spanish he was fine. he has a good vocab database. not sure though about the oral.

Is he doing enough useful work? No idea. I don't know what's useful. They say you screw up your first kid. here's to the second😂

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 31/01/2018 15:23

Useful work =

  • past papers then checking against mark scheme
  • tassomai (sp?) for science
  • short bursts of learning from revision guide
  • making mindmaps / cards and trying to reproduce from memory
  • being tested by a parent

Non useful work

  • staring idly at notes for hours
  • any work when being interrupted by phones / social media every 10 mins
Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 15:38

@senua Easter crammers? in school or externally? If external don't I have to check the subjects we need are covered by the same curriculum?

OP posts:
Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 15:43

Teentimestwo

3 out of five. Being tested by a parent? Not even sure how we'd go about doing that depending on the subject.

Definitely haven't seen any mind maps. I feel like I need a GCSE in how to help a child revise.

OP posts:
Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 15:45

Btw Thank you for all the assists. I'm taking notes for discussion. Help Dd get ready for dance and working. So sorry for any abruptness or when I go missing.

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clary · 31/01/2018 15:45

Can I add - explaining to a parent. It really helps your learning to teach someone else.

And just go over and over it till he is fed up! Revision really is just that.

Original poster
Buck3t · 31/01/2018 15:55

Tiggy I have place marked for DH. Will speak to DS. I've just said to him we'll speak to school as obviously he's disappointed but has had a few more days to get used to the idea that he may need a back up plan to his back up plan.

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noblegiraffe · 31/01/2018 16:21

Tips on how to set up a revision timetable and revise linked to from this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2822454-Study-tips-and-websites-for-those-with-children-in-Y11

MaisyPops · 01/02/2018 07:37

The one thing I stress to my English language students is that you must read the question carefully and stick to the lines or extract that they want you to comment on. Too often students wander off onto something else and don't answer the question that was actually asked!
Have you been reading my mock.papers? Grin

Write a summary of thr differences...
one similarity between the two texts is...
Angry
Bangs head off desk.

LooseAtTheSeams · 01/02/2018 21:46

So, this afternoon I tell my class: before you write anything check which extract is mentioned in the question. You can't get the marks if it's the wrong one.
First exercise: I ask them to write one language technique, an example and the effect/explanation for source A. First student eagerly fills it in- from source B.
Gives up.Grin

SuperPug · 01/02/2018 22:02

In the nicest possible way, do you think that his attitude is influenced by your attitude towards some subjects like Spanish, RS etc.? I have been really pissed off at parents' evenings when the minority of parents seem to think particular subjects don't matter and the dismiss the ridiculous amount of work they have to do with him.
If you have his reports etc., has the school not been recording these grades and sending them to you for the last two years.
I don't think you can force some pupils to work. Maybe this has be a learning curve for him. If he can't be bothered, he achieves the lower grades that reflect his effort.
It sounds like you very much want him to improve and do well and that is completely understandable. It is easy to start taking control of his entire revision though, diminishing his responsibilty and from previous experience this doesn't always work out so well.

SuperPug · 01/02/2018 22:03

Amount of work we, not they. Phone keyboard.

SuperPug · 01/02/2018 22:04

Aargh- amount of work we (teachers) have to do with them. Bit of a kick in the teeth after spending numerous lunchtimes helping out some children and getting a response from a parent like that. Hmm

Original poster
Buck3t · 03/02/2018 07:16

Superpug I’m not sure what attitude I’m expressing in relation to his subjects. I know I don’t think anything of RE as a compulsory subject and I won’t lie to him about that. However, and this is very important for him to understand, it doesn’t matter whether you like it, some things in life you have to do. However, it’s natural to put in more effort in things you like. His progress report in RE says he’s on target for a D. Not surprised. But less impressed with a teacher asking if he has all the text books required 6 months before the exam. Waiting for parents evening to try to embarrass him is IMO not the most effective way to buck his ideas up.

With regard to Spanish I think we have a great attitude to it. We’ve always pushed learning other languages. It was why we started with Muzzy as a child, encouraged him to listen to music and radio in Spanish. So my flippantly asking how he does better in Spanish than English language (his first language) is just that, me joking trying not to take so seriously the situation. Hope that makes the situation clearer.

If my tone or any statements have caused you or anyone offence please let me know. As I’m not clear how it did, but know I can be a bit abrupt.

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 03/02/2018 08:22

His progress report in RE says he’s on target for a D. Not surprised. But less impressed with a teacher asking if he has all the text books required 6 months before the exam. Waiting for parents evening to try to embarrass him is IMO not the most effective way to buck his ideas up
There's nothing wrong with then raising that at parents' evening.

At Year 11 they should be responsible and taking care of their own studies. Undoubtedly the teacher will have mentioned revision guides etc ages ago.
(I mentioned text revision guides in y10 and start of y11 for mine and will still be giving a list out on parents' evening to support revision in case students haveb't been organised)

Certainly my approach with y11 is I will do everything in my power to support them as long as they do their bit and put the work in. Not working hard = no extras.

So students who work hard, try their best etc can come to revision classes, i nominate thrm for intervention and so on.

If a student doesn't work hard, coasts along, doesn't put the effort in then there's not a chance I'm putting them forward for the extra when they have 4 hours a week of teaching time to make the most of. Space in intervention is a valuable resource so it goes to those who are working hard and would benefit from support.

I'm always very up front with parents and students about this. Personally, I think in most schools there is a small coasting group of middle ability students who drift by and then in y11 suddenly home and student are all 'but i need a grade 6!' Ok, so pull your weight in class, do your homework and then you'll get extra.