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Secondary education

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Original poster

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

999 replies

Stickerrocks · 22/03/2018 22:48

Here we go again.

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
BlueBelle123 · 06/04/2018 10:24

Oddsocks probably really silly question but as she will be entering herself for higher will she sit the foundation as well? Has she been taught all the content for the higher papers or is she going to cover the extra herself?

Remember she is taking all her stress out on you because she knows she can its testament to your strong relationship it will soon be over....promise Smile

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 10:39

Tbh Bluebelle she hasn’t thought it through. My understanding is that she can’t sit both levels like I could when taking my CSE/ O levels. Not sure if she has been taught the content but I actually don’t think she will get round to sorting out the late entry.

Thanks for the encouragement, going out for a walk while she is at school this morning to clear my head

AlexanderHamilton · 06/04/2018 11:26

You can’t tske Foundation & Higher it has to be one or the other. I gather that if you are borderline it’s best to take Foundation

Sostenueto · 06/04/2018 12:22

Better to get a 4/5 on foundation than a fail or 3 on higher.

Step back oddsocks and she will have to deal with it. That's what I would do. You cannot blame yourself you have done all you could. Just leave her to it. She will realise in the end. She has to feel in control even if you can see she's wrong. Hugs sent to you. It's so hard being a mumSadFlowersWine

mmzz · 06/04/2018 15:32

I know I'm missing the point, Oddsocks, but can your DD do the higher paper now anyway? According to this, the final date for entries was in February, and I don't see anything about a late entry cut off date. www.jcq.org.uk/Download/exams-office/key-dates-and-timetables/key-dates-in-the-examination-cycle-2017-18

mmzz · 06/04/2018 15:36

I do get the point though... it's really brutal watching our DC make mistakes, when we know they see making a mistake but they are adamant they are going to do it, and there's nothing you can do about it. And being a punchbag is awful, no matter who us throwing the punches at you.
Deep breaths, count to 100 and wait for this stage to pass. It's all you can do. Thanks

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 16:03

Alex thanks, I thought that was the case.

mmzz nope you aren’t missing the point, DD just won’t listen Hmm she has it in her head she will late enter and doesn’t matter what internet, teacher or I say Shock

Yes you are right sos but she has her head in the sand... sigh .. as you say, time to step back...

mmzz · 06/04/2018 16:12

I googled a bit more and saw reference to a high late entry fee on the Pearson site. Reading between the lines, you can register late and pay a late fee, but if you register after 22/4, then you pay extra high late fee.
It doesn't state a final cut-off date, the exam board just says that they reserve the right to refuse applications after 22/4, if it's inconvenient for them.
However, it also states clearly that they won't accept applications for both higher and foundation (what Alex said).

Your DD must be feeling really stressed to be coming up with such extreme solutions. She seems to feel like it's her against the world. I hope she's ok.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 06/04/2018 16:35

We've been to watch our rugby team train this morning & DD has lots of photos with international players. Then I ruined it all by mentioning revision!

We both have a thing for lime green and fuschia pink revision cards here.

I have pages of exam technique tips I use with my students, but DD won't even look at them because she is so determined to do things her way. I feel your pain Odd.

OP posts:
KingscoteStaff · 06/04/2018 16:48

But sticker, what do you know?
Nothing, I’m afraid, nothing at all.
I, on the other hand, do know what ‘didactic’ means, according to a very surprised DS who threw scorn on my definition and then looked it up for himself!

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 17:11

Silly as it sounds, it is reassuring that kids of teachers are giving their parents a hard time too stickerrocks (sorry!) I now have revision card envy Blush ours, I mean DDs are pastel shades...

DD not home yet from revision session Hmm she left with purse so guessing she has made a detour to the coffee shop...

mmzz · 06/04/2018 17:21

Bluebelle : How's everyone else getting on as we approach the half way stage of the holidays!!
DS is just over halfway through all the revision he needs to do in total for the exams. Given that he started mid-Feb, he's going to have to work a lot harder over the next two months than the last two months. I am thinking that surely the school will start revising during lesson time now? Geography and maths still haven't finished, but most of the other subjects came to the end just before Easter.
I think the teachers have learned their lesson from this though, as DS2 (year 9) has already started the GCSE courses, (even in the subjects he doesn't intend to carry on with in September).

LooseAtTheSeams · 06/04/2018 17:38

DS has revised sciences as planned. That's actually reassuring because all the lessons when they get back will be revision anyway. He did some computer science, music and a bit of maths, too.
If he can stay as focused next week and keep revision ticking over when back at school I think he's fine. As far as I can tell it's all revision from this point.

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 17:59

loose and mmzz I have something in the back of mind that tells me that DD still has some of the curriculum to cover in at least one of her subjects Confused Hmm

mmzz · 06/04/2018 18:09

Oddsocks I spoke to one of DS's teachers and she mentioned in passing that she'd been to a conference and learned that not being able to finish in time is a common problem this year. She told me that some teachers were describing setting whole topics for homework, just to try to get through it all before the exams.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 06/04/2018 19:17

I'm not a school teacher, I'm paid purely to get post grads through their professional exams. They have around 5 - 10 days for me to teach them everything they need to know, then how to get it down on paper/on a computer screen.

DD hasn't finished physics yet. Their teacher is scrounging time from the other sciences in the hope that they will have 5-6 lessons left for pure revision. They had been using registration, but that's been pinched from them now for other subject intervention sessions. No panic then!

OP posts:
Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 19:18

Yes now you have said that mmzz that is what I’ve heard Shock our poor guinea pig DC

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 19:19

Sorry got wrong end of stick stickerrocks Grin Grin

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 06/04/2018 19:25

www.whsmith.co.uk/products/whsmith-lime-green-record-cards-pack-of-100/36377756
My fave colour.

Don't worry Odd, if anything I'm in a worse position because I can't possibly know ANYTHING about something like a GCSE, because I did O levels & teach post grads, so I just DON'T GET IT!

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RosieLig · 06/04/2018 19:30

Just wondering what you were using for Maths revision? We’ve been using these which I like (the revision guide and corresponding workbook)

www.amazon.co.uk/REVISE-Edexcel-Mathematics-Higher-Revision/dp/1447988094?tag=mumsnetforum-21

But I bought the corresponding practice past papers - they are brutal!!! They have been hugely discouraging for my son. He is hoping for a 6. Has anyone else used them? I thought they were very hard. Couldn’t see many level 4 or 5 questions at all. It was very discouraging for my son. Any thoughts on best resources? We've made a list of topics that he’s particularly struggled with and will focus on them going back to the workbook and revision book I’ve linked to.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 06/04/2018 19:52

DD is simply working through papers set by her school every week. I think the questions are meant to be brutal. The head of maths said at the start of the year that the higher paper was going to be really tough and those aiming for a 5 or 6 would probably find that they wouldn't know where to start on around half of the questions, so they should focus on doing what they could do as well as they possibly could and effectively ignore the rest.

OP posts:
RosieLig · 06/04/2018 19:58

@stickerrocks. Thanks. It’s just so shit for them, makes me cross!

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 06/04/2018 20:01

Are you having a coursework trauma as well? I think I've just read your other thread.

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Teenmum60 · 06/04/2018 20:22

@rosielig I've found the TES site invaluable for resources - most of which are free:
www.tes.com/teaching-resources/gcse-exam-revision/maths

DD has done most her revision within the school because they have been running after-school revision since Jan and they finished syllabus by Feb HT. I have recently bought the Corbett Maths Revision cards (at DD's request - which look really good).

Oddsocks - DD has covered some whole topics of Computer Science for homework because they were behind and have still not finished the course - they have changed the course to 3 years now. Sorry, you are having such a horrid time - no wise words - just hang in there!

Dd worked really hard today we seem to have finally got past the bickering stage of who knows best after having a big argument a few weeks ago ...we are both listening to each other which I don't think we were doing before....so, on the whole, its a fairly chilled household...

We managed to get DD a really nice set of jewelry to go with her prom dress yesterday and will pop out tomorrow to see whether we can get shoes (she tried on the dress again yesterday and looked stunning).

Just need to address the dreaded hayfever now - DD really struggles with both tree and grass pollen - so GP appointment on cards next week!

RosieLig · 06/04/2018 20:28

@stickerrocks -yes, not the best week! But luckily his teacher has come back saying the videos can be submitted after the holidays so that’s fine-phew!

@teenmum60- thanks I’ll have a look at TES. I’ve just looked at some of the sample papers on edexel and they look much better than the Pearson ones I bought so I’m going to print those off with marking schemes and get him going through those. Thank goodness as those papers gave me a real fright- he only got 3 of the first 22 marks in Paper 1! 😱