GCSEs 2018 (5 & a puppy, but no kittens)

[Stickerrocks]

Here we go again.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3177476-GCSEs-2018-4-already

Dd has also found CS easy and got an 8 in the mock with no revision. Just hoping school have set boundaries accurately

I've never seen her do cs homework at home and yet parents evening is always glowing. It's a subject I've never needed to get involved in so I don't know much about the content. She plans to do it at A level too.

Having said that mmzz DS has really enjoyed it (its his 'light relief' subject). So if you really like computer science and want to do it I would recommend it and the content is lighter than a lot of subjects. If you 'get' programming', algorithms , maths etc then that makes half the content easy and you just have to learn the other half - the hardware, software and more business stuff. We are just a bit worried that it seems easier than it should be and they are looking for more that DS school hasn't covered or more difficult angles on the questions that they haven't sussed.

Even the NEA debacle was lessened as he enjoyed doing the programming element and learnt from it so not totally wasted although incredibly frustrating. Others though in his group have struggled as they don't get the programming side so if you not a natural at maths or love coding then avoid.

I think the computer science is definitely worth doing but I don't get the impression it's easy. DS finds the programming part easy but it's also the only mock where he lost marks for bad handwriting so I think his teacher's pretty tough! She was the one who came up with a good revision plan, though.
DS chose it as an A level but is planning to switch it for philosophy at the moment - although if he gets a good result in the exam he may stick with it!
Welcome back Sostenueto - hope you get some rest and recovery time at home!

Welcome home Sostenueto - well your virtual home

Ds is also doing CS I think its a marmite subject and DS definitely doesn't like it, he's good at maths so finds those aspects fine, the trouble is with the theory it really is like another language so much terminology that you have to learn and hopefully understand......it has certainly increased his computing vocabulary but he will be glad never to have to do it again!

I think some people take it thinking it s going to be an easy option or not really understanding what it entails and I think grades at DS school will be polarised, Its the same at A level where I was worried that recent results were poor but it seems its because some took it thinking it an easy option and it has low GCSE entry requirements. Current teacher assures me that DS and his friends who can do maths and work hard will be fine so DS delighted that a small core of his comparatively bright mates are taking CS A level with him.

Definitely need to do some practise papers in the next few days though to make sure on he s on track and not missed out loads of stuff.

Its not easy - none of the GCSE's are easy but for DS I think its been relatively easier as he struggles to learn information by rote but retains things he is genuinely interested in and/or understands and the content is less than the new history/biology/rs

I looked at the CS youtube video kindly linked by teenmum60. It's not the most engaging subject, is it? TBH I kept fast forwarding, hoping that it would get more interesting later on (it didn't). It would be good if someone in the family knew what a core processor was though!
I think I'll just get DS2 to find out what the subject really is and then he can decide for himself. Maybe he'll prefer geography, after all.

I've learned something knew; NEA = Non examination assessment (aka "coursework"?)

I looked up what the plans are for the CS NEA going forward. 2018, 2019 following the debacle, the students just have to complete the coursework but they don't get any marks for it (as you all probably know better than me). By 2020, (when DS2 will sit it) they intend to have a new plan, but no one has any idea what it is yet. 4 Saturdays in a row doing the work under exam conditions in the school hall, maybe??

DS2 has enjoyed the Computer Science course, despite the NEA debacle.

4 Saturdays in a row doing the work under exam conditions in the school hall, maybe??

That's pretty much what the NEA was. 20 hours at school under controlled assessment conditions. DS2 had no internet access and was not allowed to bring anything in with him or take anything out.

The issue was that a few students were discussing the task (and possible worked solutions) online in between sessions.

DS3 is also taking Computer Science (started the GCSE course already, will sit the exam in 2020) and so far it's his favourite (and strongest) subject.

DS3 would like to take Computer Science beyond GCSE but (unlike DS2) he does not have a strong aptitude for Maths, and is probably not a suitable candidate for Maths A-level.

DS3 has really enjoyed Computer Science. After maths it's his favourite subject and an A level choice. I think he fits the stereotype well, though. Loves maths and coding, on the edge of the autistic spectrum. DS2 is firmly in the middle of the autistic spectrum and is doing a computing BTEC currently, and will do a computing HNC next year.

DS3 only got a 6 in the mock but is predicted an 8. Who knows where they pluck these predictions from, though? This year it's all finger in the air stuff for most subjects.

Thesecond, DS3's 6th firm is offering a 'core maths' option for all sixth formers not taking maths at A level. Would something like that suit your DS3? I think it's above GCSE but not an AS or A level.

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/aqa-certificate/mathematical-studies-1350

It looks like only some schools offer it.

Yes, Core Maths would be an ideal sixth form course for DS3, and his school currently offers it.

At the moment he says he wants to go to university to study Computer Science, for which he would really need Maths A-level.

I don't want to squash his ambitions, so waiting to see if his Maths improves. Although not gifted at Maths, he is reasonably able (should get a 7 at GCSE) and could possibly be capable of Maths A-level if he is willing to put in a lot of work.

Ellen DS was the same - 6 in the mock and predicted 8 for the exam! So it's anyone's guess but your DS's prediction sounds pretty solid!
DS is likely to get an 8 for maths based on performance so far and where we think the grade boundaries are likely to be but I really am not counting on it and he doesn't love the subject quite as much as I would hope!
I think core maths is an AS level taken over 2 years. I don't think ds' current school does it but his first choice sixth form does.

DD did well in the mock CS with 85% but she said it lacked content and certainly the second paper yesterday she struggled with timing and space to complete answer (one of the papers in brown envelope). I think she was probably answering into much depth when the question mentions state - it can be answered without a full sentence.
She enjoyed the NEA but was disappointed with the course itself ...I think its because she did ICT at Kids Uni and thought it would be similar.

Sostenueto welcome back!

TheSecond, DS1 looked at computing degrees and maths A level was required when computing wasn't. That may have changed now that computer science is more prevalent at GCSE and A level. Only a very few years ago DS1's school only offered IT GCSE. I think a computing degree gets very mathematical, DS1 takes a few computing dept options with his maths degree. If your DS3 is firmly decided on a career in computing there's always the BTEC / apprenticeship route which might side step some of the in depth maths but actually have a bit more industry relevance.

It's easy to get swept along the A level / degree academic route. DS1 absolutely loved A level maths and FM but isn't loving all his maths courses at Warwick. He's doing well but it's a slog. He'll probably end up as a programmer and won't use a tenth of his degree ever again!

Loose, I wouldn't say solid. DS3 is competent enough but doesn't have much of a work ethic. Sigh. He's also likely to get an 8 in maths, at least they have some grade boundaries to aim for there. You really need to be able to get a high 7 or 8 in maths to succeed with maths A level. Being able to get it and actually getting it on the day isn't necessarily the same thing, though.

Teen, I'd think 85% in any of these new GCSEs is excellent!

Sostenueto - glad your home !

Ellen - 85% is good but if my DD says it was content light then it means that the questions were probably as easy as 2+2 ...I think she was somewhat disappointed with the mock because she had revised quite well and none of the questions she expected were in the mock. I did look again at the paper she did yesterday and overall it was encouraging ...we just have to fix fitting answers into spaces -when she rushes with writing it gets bigger because she has poor pencil grip (Its clear writing just takes up a lot of space).

She's doing Physics this morning and then we are going shopping for birthday and prom shoes...then hopefully she can do some more revision later.

@ellen - How is your DS finding Warwick ? It seems to be high on the list of a lot of friends DC.

Have just found out something I thought worth sharing.

If your DC is doing a syllabus/ exam which is new this year (or even last year) so e.g. a 9-1 one, then do check whether the format of the exam paper has changed significantly from the past papers they are doing.

DS has dyslexia, and it especially helps him to know how the exam paper will be presented so that he doesn't waste loads of time having to read and 'make sense' of the navigation (e.g. Do questions 1,2, 3 and 4 OR 5 etc).

I've just discovered that the format of his WJEC Drama paper will be very different this year. In the past there was an answer booklet, with questions and then lined spaces for the answer. This visually helped him, as he could instantly 'see' that a 2-mark question needed a shorter answer than a 6-marker etc.
Anyway, apparently they are now given just an empty answer booklet of lined paper and a separate question sheet, and they will be responsible for labelling which question they are answering e.g. 1 a), 2c)i etc
I know it sounds like a small thing, but it can completely confuse some students - especially if they have a SpLD, and it takes times to process instructions!

Thanks Sad that's a really good point it doesn't take much to throw most people especially in exam conditions!

Sad that's a really good point. DS2 is one of those that likes to know exactly what to expect.

Thankyou Sad for the heads up! My DD is doing the same drama paper, and is also dyslexic so it's something that definitely could have thrown her in the exam. I'll let her know and get her to pass it on to the rest of her drama class.
They had enough drama for the practical exam, (external examiner didn't make it on the scheduled day as he was in a car accident en route. It was then in limbo for 2 weeks and finally rearranged with one days notice!) that class don't need anymore surprises!

A shortage of past papers is one of the problems for our guinea pigs.

Teen, DS1 has really enjoyed Warwick so far. Disadvantages are that it's on the outskirts of Coventry so after the first year on campus students have to move out to either Coventry like DS1, 4 or 5 miles away or many choose to move to Leamington Spa which is a fair distance away, but posher and nicer clubs apparently! 😁

Advantages are that the cheapest campus accommodation at Warwick is among the cheapest in U.K. and Coventry is also cheap. A major consideration for us.