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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:
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12
AChickenCalledKorma · 06/04/2018 20:37

So here we are, half way though the Easter holidays, which DD1 fully agrees will be a great opportunity to cover the revision that she wants to do to improve her science grades. She loves sciences. She wants to apply for Natural Sciences at Cambridge. She has a very well thought out plan for exactly what she needs to revise to ace these favourite subjects.

Has she revised any science at all yet this Easter?

No she has not.

Every day I go out to work with encouraging words in my ears about how this will be the day she really gets going. Every evening she sheepishly admits to having not quite got round to it. But I'm not too worry, cos she's done some English. She doesn't need to do English. Her English marks are already exceptional.

Aaaaaaargh!

Thank you for letting me let off steam.

TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 22:01

AChickenCalledKorma I sympathise; I have a Y13 like that. He spent today revising Politics (which he already sort of knows). He has not yet looked at English Literature (got an E in the mock).

TheSecondOfHerName · 06/04/2018 22:06

Poor DS2 is coming down with another respiratory viral thing (sore throat, fever, cough, blocked sinuses, fever, aching muscles). This is his third one since the beginning of 2018. He is very stoical, and rarely complains, but I do feel a bit sorry for him.

Oddsocks15 · 06/04/2018 22:30

Sympatise with your DD teen, i remember sitting my exams with hayfever and I was horrid

Achickencalledkorma we are with you Flowers Wine

HesMyLobster · 06/04/2018 23:42

Rosie I Second the recommendation of the Corbett revision cards for maths, they cover a lot of content in exam style questions, but less daunting than doing a whole past paper, or good for when there's a spare 10/20 mins at the end of a session.
You don't have to order the cards though, The website is good too:

https://corbettmaths.com/5-a-day/gcse/

The 5 a day questions my dd has been doing since about January (not every day! Wink) but they do seem to be a good way to focus revision.

DD did very little yesterday except prepare for her party last night, and gossip with her friends on FaceTime about who was going with who and who was going to wear what, and very little today except recover from her party last night, and gossip with her friends on FaceTime about who wore what and who went with whoHmm

Hoping tomorrow might be more productive.

It's the end of the Easter holiday for us though - back to school on Monday.

Most courses are finished or almost finished - except Physics, interestingly, who are planning to steal lesson time from the other sciences.

Original poster
Stickerrocks · 07/04/2018 06:28

A small victory last night when DD cracked on with some Ethics. We had a healthy (!) debate about gender issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stickerrocks · 07/04/2018 06:36

(Whoops, pressed send too soon). When did trans issues sneak into the RE syllabus? Luckily they don't seem to need to discuss gender issues relating to the use of swimming pool changing rooms or elite sporting events or I would find that DD was researching on here rather than focusing on key quotes from Islam and Christianity.

OP posts:
mmzz · 07/04/2018 06:59

Stickerrocks even the Catholic exam has some sexuality and gender issues, alongside a lovely lesson in the acceptable and unacceptable forms of birth control and sex acts.
Apparently, the church is not sexist or anti-women. Oh no, not in any way whatsoever! As long as the students remember that, then they are half way there.

Oddsocks15 · 07/04/2018 06:59

For those of us with you tube obsessed teens, study-tubers

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-43643299/meet-the-study-tubers-the-youtubers-making-studying-cool

mmzz · 07/04/2018 07:18

AChickenCalledKorma isn't that one of the most difficult degree courses in Britain to get on to?

Maybe what DS did a few days ago would work for your DD? He went through each exam topic with a pen, giving each thing a rating between 1 and 5. Then I averaged them out by subject. Then each day, he revises the subjects that he is weakest at and within that the things that are the lowest rated, trying to eliminate the low scores.

Otherwise it is tempting to do what you are already good at because it gives you reassurance that the revising is going better than you think (I'm speaking from experience here - I failed a biology exam because I didn't revise enough due to spending time practicing maths skills that didn't need any practice).

LooseAtTheSeams · 07/04/2018 08:10

A ChickencalledKorma I do sympathise. I'm just relieved DS has put geography to one side for now because it's been the main revision subject for weeks!
Well, it's supposed to be art exam prep this weekend. I'm working most of today so all I can do is leave a list!

Cherryburn · 07/04/2018 08:46

DS is having a revision-free day today. I think he needs a complete break, having really put in the hours since the holidays started. So he'll be watching the football at lunchtime then meeting his mates for a kickabout this afternoon (can you spot the theme?!). I don't expect him to emerge from his pit until just before kick off!

mmzz · 07/04/2018 08:53

Cherryburn add a lengthy Xbox FIFA session in and you've just described DS's day off yesterday. I'm about to wake him up so that he can get started by 10.

I was also thinking that he should have 3 days off next weekend, because a break might be good before going back to school for the final stretch.

Cherryburn · 07/04/2018 08:59

Ah yes, forgot about FIFA on Xbox. That will doubtless feature at some point! I'm impressed that your DS gets up an hour before starting. I wake DS at 9.30 for a 10 o'clock start and he rolls downstairs at 9.53, and grabs some toast to take to his desk!

Cherryburn · 07/04/2018 09:03

And I think a 3 day break is a great idea before school starts. Not sure it will be feasible for DS. Science/maths are going fine (he's just doing past papers/corrections now) but he still has a lot to cover in the 'wordy' subjects. As I've said before, his dyslexia means that it takes him longer to revise them. In his infinite wisdom, he chose History, Geography AND Rs in his options...

Sostenueto · 07/04/2018 09:06

Going back to math. Indeed the exam for higher is going to be tough. Dgd just completed paper 2 given by teacher ( timed) she got all the hard ones right and mucked up a few level 4 ones!?Confused she makes such silly mistakes on the easy ones maybe trying to overcomplicate them or by not adding up properly. Ridiculous really because if you can get the lower grade ones all right without doing the real hard ones you could get a level 6. Dgds excuse for stupid mistakes..." We haven't done that stuff since year 8".... Well jolly well do some practise on basic math then,! Was my swift replyShock

Sostenueto · 07/04/2018 09:09

Dgd was up at 7 am this morning wanting cooked breakfast which I duly did for her and is now revising and I've had my orders not yo disturb her till 12. So me and the pup on settee having a rest from teenage angst.

AChickenCalledKorma · 07/04/2018 09:30

mmzz yes it certainly is! Probably slightly easier to get onto than Medicine, but only just. And it's also grindingly hard work when you get there.

To be honest, I'm not convinced it's the best option for her. But DH and I both studied in Cambridge and she's been there, loved it and wants to have a go. I recently she is academically capable of it. But she does need to acquire a work ethic and it seems to have fizzled out just at the wrong moment.

mmzz · 07/04/2018 09:44

Cherryburn i'm not sure I'd describe Ds as up at 9. More like vaguely awake by 9:10. He's on the sofa now. First thing he does each morning is open his iPad and read some football sites. Then I catch him and force him to have breakfast. Then explicitly remind him to brush his teeth and wash his face. (I learned to demand the face washing thing on Tuesday when he revealed he hasn't washed his face for a couple of weeks!)

TBH I am more than a bit fed up with his lack of taking responsibility for himself. Washing your face and showering are basic.

Cherryburn · 07/04/2018 09:56

mmzz I fully sympathise on the personal hygiene front. I still have to constantly remind DS to wear deodorant....

Oratory1 · 07/04/2018 10:32

DS still got two more weeks off - not sure if that's helpful or better back at school, probably pros and cons. And I agree about building in a break - don't think he's been out of the house (or PJs) for a few days !! He does shower but clothes and fresh air are a different matter.

Teenmum60 · 07/04/2018 11:02

I lay in this morning (although got up at 8.30 and went back to bed)... a note from dD - I win you were still asleep!

We have challenge Biology today where DD has challenged me to also complete a 2-hour biology past paper ...given that I have not studied Biology for 40 years I am almost certain I will fail.

BlueBelle123 · 07/04/2018 17:51

I have finally bought DS a compass, so he'd better not forget to take it to the exam as he's not use to having one!

I've just read DS's English homework and I was pleasantly surprised as it was legible, don't know whether it was any good or not but at least I could read it Smile He's been trying to improve his handwriting since mocks and looks to have finally paid off, just in the nick of time!!

mmzz · 07/04/2018 18:10

I am beginning to feel sorry for DS. He's been working since 10ish this morning with only a couple of breaks. I've just spoken to him and he says he'll be finished by 8:30, if he doesn't stop again (eg for dinner). Several of his teachers have given approx 7 hours each of homework for the holidays, in addition to the revision he needs to do and he's trying to get it all done so he can have a couple of days off.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 07/04/2018 18:16

DS3 is with his dad this weekend. Which at least gives me a weekend off nagging. Wink