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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
Lancelottie · 10/04/2018 14:59

DD is currently in tears about finding coordinates of a point 2/3 the way between two other points.

She has no feeling for whether it should be nearer one end than the other, it transpires, and is blindly following a method in her revision guide without understanding it at all, poor kid.

I am good at maths and poor at explanations. I might get (older) DS to come and help, once I've administered comfort and chocolate.

TeenTimesTwo · 10/04/2018 15:13

x2-x1 *2/3 + x1

y2-y1 *2/3 + y1

The distance between the x coordinates is x2-x1
She wants 2/3rd s of it *2/3
Then she wants to start from x1 = + x1

Same for ys.

Probably doesn't help.

Lancelottie · 10/04/2018 15:25

Thanks, Teen. The thing is, I find that perfectly clear, but she turns out to have NO feeling for whether she wants 2/3, 3/2 or any other combination of it, because it just doesn't seem to make real sense to her.

The death knell was the question that asked for the position of C, where AB:BC was 3:5 (so C wasn't between A and B, and was thus Totally Baffling).

No amount of sketching lines and triangles has convinced her that this is a fair question.

She has flounced off to learn some French.

RosieLig · 10/04/2018 15:26

Yes so basically work out the distance between the ys, calculate 2/3rds of it then add it on. Same for xs. Easier to think of it that way than use a formula I think.

TeenTimesTwo · 10/04/2018 15:29

There maybe comes a time when trying to get something you just don't needs to be abandoned? So just say to leave out that kind of question? 2 hours work trying to understand it for 4 marks maybe isn't worth it?

Lancelottie · 10/04/2018 15:41

I think you may be right, but unfortunately the same applies to quadratics, simultaneous equations and quite a few other types of question.

She isn't planning on maths or science A-levels, but bizarrely needs a 6 in Maths to do English A-level at her preferred 6th form.

I'm hoping that on results day, a 9 in English may mean they ignore a 5 in maths.

TeenTimesTwo · 10/04/2018 15:45

Ah, OK.
I can see that makes it harder to know what to try to learn and what to leave. Good luck.

Lancelottie · 10/04/2018 16:13

Thanks! Next up, heaven help me, is student DS with 'Could you just proofread this report about stress concentrations around asymmetric apertures?'

Shall i tell him my usual hourly rate for that sort of thing?

mmzz · 10/04/2018 21:02

Just catching up.

Teenmum60 how did the interview go?

Sostenueto · 10/04/2018 21:04

I stopped understanding dgds maths in year 8Grin she knows not to ask me anything mathematical as i tend to go into a trance!

Sostenueto · 10/04/2018 21:06

I've tried catching up but internet playing up and 5 power cuts this morning, no idea what's going on.

Sostenueto · 10/04/2018 21:14

5 hours revision today done and an hour on dreaded artwork by dgd think she looks unwell. Tomorrow told her she coming out for a bit of fresh air and light relief as I have her tomorrow. Time for some treats me thinks and a bit of fun. A stroll along the promenade in a quaint town a few miles away, rain permitting, a go on a vintage slot machine a stroll round the high end independent trade shops which make you think its the early 30th century, fish n chips and ice cream just the job

Sostenueto · 10/04/2018 21:14

20th century lol!Grin

Teenmum60 · 10/04/2018 22:59

mmzz - Interview OK...HOSF was not overly friendly, DD felt quite nervous. I was impressed that DD brought up not taking Maths with Physics rather than the other way round, she said the HOSF was really impressed with DD's part-time job ( a few brownie points). DD prefers her current school although she liked the girl who showed her around -oddly enough a couple of the existing teachers asked if DD was new teaching staff (DD is nearly 5ft 9ins and did look incredibly smart).

It will be nice if DD gets an offer ... it's a very good school with traditional values...its evident that DD doesn't want to move out of her comfort zone though (current school).

Sostenueto - your day tomorrow sounds lovely ....all it seems to do here is rain!

Does everyone else feel that time is just disappearing now?

HesMyLobster · 11/04/2018 00:34

Sost that sounds wonderful! Please can I come?!
(Definitely sounds preferable to wrangling year 1 through another rainy day of indoor play times. . . !)

Teen it sounds like your DD presented herself really well, fingers crossed for an offer for her. Even if she doesn't want to go there it's always nice to feel wanted.

LooseAtTheSeams · 11/04/2018 07:36

Teen sounds like she made a really good impression!
Sostenueto think you're right and sounds like a very nice treat if you can dodge the rain!
DS going in for 2 school sessions this morning then a break then revision at home later. He said yesterday afternoon's computer session was very useful so was pleased he went.

mmzz · 11/04/2018 07:41

Teenmum fingers crossed for an offer from the new school. That's interesting about not wanting to do physics with maths. Physics is about 50% maths (or so I'm told) but obviously they are different subjects. I obviously didn't do A levels in either but I did do 1st year in both at university, and maths takes a philosophical turn whereas physics stays practical, so I can see how someone would want to do physics without maths.
Comfort zone - yes, I recognise that too. DS is having trouble giving up his, even though it's far from comfortable. His argument: what if the new school turns out to be worse overall? We've spent hours talking about it, until no one has anything left to say. I just wish he had some idea of what the adult world is like so that he could understand that he cannot hide inside his local comprehensive forever.

Sostenueto that say sounds really lovely. Makes me wish I lived nearer the seaside again. I wish it were me doing that today. Instead I am going to be stuck at my desk all day and it's raining anyway!

BlueBelle123 · 11/04/2018 07:53

Sos hoping you have the one ray on sunshine today, its constant rain here........still good revision weatherWink

DS is now a proud owner of a suit(his first), just needs a tie and apparently snazzy socksHmm and then he will be prom ready. Decided to buy rather than hire as there is very little difference in price, plus no hire places locally!

mmzz DS is similiar as regards comfort zone, I couldn't even get him to go to another 6th forms open evening, at least your DS ventured that far!!

mmzz · 11/04/2018 07:54

Bluebell is it a dinner jacket (tuxedo as DS calls it and DH pales on hearing!) or an ordinary suit? What's the norm?

BlueBelle123 · 11/04/2018 08:03

DS has bought a skinny suit from Next. Can you find out what others wore in previous years at your DS's school, there tends to be a lot of photos posted on school website and local paper.

For DS it seemed to be all about the socks, apparently this year the trend is to wear your trousers so they sit just above the shoe, so everyone can see your socks.......so no room for growing!!!!

mmzz · 11/04/2018 08:03

The thing is Bluebelle, DS is far from happy at school. He feels like an outsider. Says no one shares his interests (the world, history, politics, other cultures, etc) , except football, so he pretends an interest in video games. He says the people he spends time with at school "tolerate" him, rather than like him. I nearly cried when he said that. So,what has he got to lose?

In lessons, the pace of maths is much, much too slow for him. He could have finished the course in year 10 sometime. He finds it frustrating and boring when the teacher continually stops the class so they can all listen to him go over something for the 3rd / 4th / 5th time, when DS got it before he had finished speaking the first time.
We are hoping the new school will be a much better fit academically, but, just as importantly, or maybe more importantly, we hope he'll be happier socially.
DS is so scared though of taking the risk of making things worse.

mmzz · 11/04/2018 08:08

I'll trawl the school website for photos. DS told us a tuxedo is required. I hope it's just a suit, as that would be worth buying in case he can wear it again.

You'd think DS could just ask all the other boys what they'll be wearing, but see my previous post.

BlueBelle123 · 11/04/2018 08:11

Would he be able to start at the selective and if after a month he really didn't like it go back to his 6th form, it might not seem so daunting if he had a possible exit plan?

BlueBelle123 · 11/04/2018 08:15

At DS's school some do wear DJ'S, I guess it's what he feels most comfortable in.

mmzz · 11/04/2018 08:20

I don't know, Bluebelle. I have wondered, but i don't know how to find out as the comp wanted commitment that he'll be staying about a month ago, and we had to give it just in case DS doesn't get the grades for the selective.

The comp is heavily over subscribed too. I suspect all the places will be gone, but maybe they'd make an exception??

Ds is introverted. Half of me wonders that if DS knows that the safe option is still there, then he won't even try to get the courage to speak to people at the new school.

One big upside is that everyone will be new at the selective, and I don't think many will know anyone else, so there won't be lots of closed groups that DS will have to try to muscle in on. That might make it a lot easier.