GCSE 2018 no. 6: stress, struggles and success (hopefully) *Title Edited by MNHQ*

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New thread for GCSEs 2018

whatsfor so sorry to hear that. I hope one day your DS becomes a surgeon and this boy needs a life saving operation and has to apologize to your DS before he's put under

So after two years of drilling our children with rules, rules, rules, prescriptive questions, marks schemes and mocks, here comes the mighty examiner and says their answers are too prescriptive? WTF I'll tell you how he can get less prescriptive answers: ditch GCSEs, foster free independent and original thinking, expand curriculum. He will see what incredible stuff our children are able to come up with.

History exam tomorrow. DS said he'd revised and wanted to play table tennis in the park. So we did. He was fooling around and laughing. I've never seen anyone so relaxed in my life...!

DS also has History exam tomorrow. He's been asking me to test him on and off throughout the day. At one stage I found myself doing an impression of Marlene Dietrich (don't ask). He looked at me as if I was losing the plot. I think I am...

Beat of luck to all the historians tomorrow!

I stopped at the shops on the way home to ensure we have enough 'tasty' food to get DS through tonight and tomorrow morning. For 'tasty' read carbs!

Last minute revision still going on but he seems pretty happy.

In a stroke of good luck I bumped into an old work colleague on the train home who has offered to host DS1 on work experience this summer. Won't say what (too outing!) but it is something DS1 is very interested in!

A good day. Let's hope tomorrow is another good one!

DS said he'd revised and wanted to play table tennis in the park. So we did. He was fooling around and laughing. I've never seen anyone so relaxed in my life...! That's so lovely ...

Best of luck to all the historians tomorrow too and also anyone taking MFL Orals.

DD has some of her last subject lessons tomorrow ...

Good luck all.

I wonder how those taking iGCSEs with the familiar grades will do against the unfamiliar GCSE graded students when applying for jobs & college in the same year group? Could be interesting research.

Marlene Dietrich
sandy may the good luck continue.

Cherryburn 1930s Germany, by any chance?

BRAIN

Good luck to all dc with exams!

stickerrocks I suspect employers may think my DD failed her English and Maths and re-took them because apart from Computer Science those will be the only numbered grades.

Yep, 1930's Germany. Culture and all that. Thought I'd bring her to life. It was like she was in the room. Not.

stickerrocks good question about new vs old grades. I've been mulling that over myself. On the one hand, there is no doubt in my mind that teacher familiarity and having multiple past papers to practice with on the old specs is an advantage.However, at the top end, there is no 9 to identify the really high scorers. And I think the grade boundaries on the new specs will be much lower (quite rightly).
I would hope that colleges/employers would recognise that this year is one of massive change. But who knows?

Korean War and Vietnam here, interspersed with press-ups and planking on the kitchen floor (not sure why it helps, but apparently it does...)

cherryburn I was waxing lyrical on Fritz Lang earlier! Let’s hope that question comes up for both of their sakes!

Thanks everyone. I have calmed down a little.

DS has applied for Physics, Maths and Accounting at the next closest 6th form college. School have said with his predicted graded they will snap him up. The college will get back to him ASAP.

His school is an Academy, not a chain. They said it comes down to funding. But they must have known it was not going to be viable when they sorted the applications at the start of February.

DS has said he did ok in his oral exam, fingers crossed he did.

I hope everyone with exams this week does well!

rumbled glad things look like they are falling into place.

DS also does some exercise in between revising he reckons it clears his brain.....hopefully not totally

Good luck to all those with exams tomorrow I hope they all get a restful nights sleep!!

been I think we can all understand why you were jumping up & down with rage. It's so hard trying to remain calm & reassure DC that all will be well and something positive can come out of the disruption. See if DS can try some subjects which the larger 6th form offers at their 5aster days if they run them, alongside the maths & physics which he already familiar with. Evennifbhe decides to stick with Account I g, that will open h8s eyes to the opportunities a larger 6th form can offer. We only have colleges with an annual intake of 2000-2500 here. There are typically 800 in each year group taking A level maths in DD'S first choice.

Apologies for more terrible typos...

Beenrumbled glad you have a plan now. Really disappointing that the school have messed up so spectacularly. I do think all state schools are under huge financial
pressure at the moment and heads are finding it increasingly difficult to plan.

On the subject of whether this cohort will be disadvantaged by the change in grading I'm really not concerned. DS1 will have a mix of letters and grades but so will lots of other DC who he'll be competing against for uni places and jobs.

The only problem I can see is that some DC have not been prepared well enough for new exams by their schools. That's clearly not fair.

I'm not sure its just the new exams - I think too many schools teach DC to pass exams - rather than educate them - same applies to SATS.

There was a situation in yesterday's French Oral where some of the top set would appear to have been unnerved - the girls had learned the questions and answers but when the questions were rephrased by the teacher in the Oral they were completely thrown .. I'm quite surprised the teacher did rephrase the questions but in my mind she was actually doing what I would expect of a good teacher...rather than thinking of obtaining the best results.

DD was fortunate to have a tutor who hasn't taught GCSE so conversed more on the topics rather than ask DD to memorize questions and answers...a tutor that was passionate about her language rather than having to think about exam results.

Does anyone else keep getting the ‘Need to re-sit your exams?’ ad under this thread? A bit disconcerting... What do they know that we don’t?

rumbled glad it's starting to fall into place.
Whatsforteaa don't worry, revenge is a dish best served cold - vile child will regret those words!
I'm very impressed by the Marlene Dietrich/ Fritz Lang tributes. This is what history is all about! (and a damn sight more exciting than my O level...)

Kingscote ...NO (or at least not yet) - It's probably a company sponsoring Mumsnet whose analytic keywords includes words you may have used in your posts.

just popping in to send best wishes to all Yr11's and their parents and guardians. My dd is in yr 10 so watching with fear and trepidation!

Hi all. Just had a quick read through to see how it's all going as exams begin.
Dd has had her French speaking, which she felt went quite well, and has her Photography tomorrow and Thursday.
Then it's her leaver's ball on Friday and then knuckle down for the exams to begin for her on May 14th.

Thanks Myrtle, that's really nice of you.

The only adverts I'm seeing are for clothing I couldn't squeeze myself into in a million years. What does that say about my search history?!

Anyway, German oral went well here. I heard DD telling her grandma that it was much easier than their mocks, so that's encouraging. Her MFL teacher is one of those rare teachers who really inspires and there's no chance of them getting away with "magic formula" answers. So she's prepared them well.

Good to hear that beenrumbled junior has identified a potential sixth form. Hope the application goes smoothly.

Whatsforteaa - Sorry for missing your post - this must be so tough on your DS....hope the school are receptive and deal with this transphobic child...