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

[mmzz]

New thread for GCSEs 2018

This thread has been busy this evening.

Good luck to all the DC who start tomorrow.

Teaa - I'm sorry the boy was cruel.last thing your DS needs now is that kind of comment.

Kingscote - one word: Adblock.

Sost good to have you back.

I committed a faux pas today. I asked a teacher which are the easier bits of the RE curriculum so Ds can concentrate on banking some marks as it's too late to learn everything. I also asked if there are any external resources that I could sign DS up for cramming. I got quite a frosty reply back saying DS should keep following her plan and keep using her revision aids.

So the day of the first exam dawns! I've been awake since 4.30-am hoping that DS has slept better than me. His parting words as he went up to bed were 'I can't believe my actual GCSEs start tomorrow'. In some ways I'm glad it's History which is his favourite subject and an
A Level and probably degree choice, but the stakes must feel very high to him. I'll be glad when it's over.

mmzz I don't blame you for asking the question re RS. I asked the same about revision resources at DS's last parents evening and got a similar response. I know it's a new spec for you but would it be worth having a look at past papers and mark schemes on the old spec? There must be a lot of overlap on the material surely? DD did this a lot when she was doing the gcse and it seemed to work. I think DS and I are going to do a lot of RS revision verbally ie in the form of Q&A from the past papers/mark schemes, but I'll get him to answer in the right format for the question IYSWIM. No idea if it'll work but worth a try I think.

Good luck to all the historians today.

Good luck to your DS, Cherryburn. Hopefully, he'll have a positive first experience and be on a roll after that.

Have you been awake since 4:30 because you're nervous on his behalf or just couldn't sleep?

I can confirm that DS1 has left the house! He was in a surprisingly good mood.

He says he is probably coming home after the exam but it depends on what is on offer for lunch at school.

Geography tomorrow. Used to be one of his favourite subjects but the joy has long gone.

Cherrybuns have a nice coffee and you'll feel better. I'm thinking today is definitely a coffee on the way to work day....

Good luck again everyone today!

Well, we have a different type of stress today - first date after school..I think the timing of this COULD and WOULD have been better after exams..but at least the boy is also taking GCSE and has high expectations ..(so hopefully they can motivate each other ). Just crossing fingers that it goes well.

Good luck historians!
Commiserations on the broken sleep.

"The first of many" were DS' laconic words this morning as he put on his coat. Mine were "May the force be with you" as he walked out the door.

Same to all the historians today! And to Sandy 's geographer tomorrow!

That's a positive message Brainmelt! I must remember that! I'm sure he'll sail through it.
In another parental failure I let DS eat a Wagon Wheel on the way to school. Must remember to buy fruit.
DS says PE and art lessons are now revision sessions, which is another sign that exams are drawing closer.
Someone mentioned grade boundaries but DS's teachers are quite open about the amount of guesswork involved. DS said his teacher put the boundary for a chemistry mock paper at 60/80 for a grade 8 but then said it could well go lower. He got 59 so is hopeful!

Thanks brainmelt.

I told DS1 that I hoped the questions would ever be in his favour. I thought my little Hunger Games quip was quite amusing, he didn't...,

Sandy another good one! Good luck for geography tomorrow!

Re the early waking, I don't sleep that well at the best of times, so this was enough to set me off. Started thinking about it when I woke up and then couldn't get back to sleep.

DS was really nervous this morning. Couldn't eat his breakfast sausage sandwich (unheard of-he's a human dustbin) so I parcelled it up and sent him off with it. Hopefully he managed to get some of it down before the exam (which has now started-aaaarrrggghhhh)

Hope they all do well. And good luck to the geographers-and the first date!

I think I am nervous for all your DC's today!

Dd said she spent a couple of lessons yesterday doing Tassomai - because they were given the option to revise alone in a couple of the science lessons. It worked well because she had managed to get slightly behind over the weekend because of time spent on French.

It seems to have now got to the point that she would be better at home revising...so just as well they finish on Friday.

Good luck all - its really starting now, I hope all come home happy and calm tonight.

I drove DS to school today - for the first time since Year 7!

I told him to ‘Be Mighty!’

He’s back in lessons this pm, then normal classes tomorrow and Friday. House tug of war at lunchtime.

He’ll be half way through question 2 now. I have everything crossed...

It seems surreal. We've all been contemplating the GCSEs since September. Some of you are now in at the deep end, and swimming, but I'm still standing by the side wondering how deep and cold the water is.

I like the 'Be Mighty' !!

It’s what his grandfather says to him at cricket matches as he goes in to bat!

Welcome back snozzle. Ball! It was in the hall/canteen when I was there! Hope she has fun.

We give a lift each morning to another child who is very glass half empty. DD has asked if we can fudge the lift situation for after each exam so she doesn't get interrogated and has to suffer a post mortem. Trying to think of 4 solid weeks of excuses!

mmzz right now the water seems very cold and deep!

It's 11.30 so DS will be putting down his pen (he gets extra time due to his dyslexia). I so hope it's gone well for him, and all the other DC.

One down...

At least they are still using pen & paper. My class today are doing a mock exam on computers where we rely on the technology to automatically submit each answer for marking by whizzing it off into the ether. At least one script will disappear at some stage today. Bring back ink!

Hi all - sorry an old lurker but haven't been on mumsnet for the last month as was poorly for some time. DD too had her first exam today - history. Got brief message from her that generally was good but maybe answered one part slightly wrong. No further details than that. She is a worrier and she thinks it went ok so I will take that as good.

The stress of all of these exams is going to kill me I am sure. Am sure it's not a coincidence that I have fallen sick at this time.

Sure I read somewhere above about irrational fears. I too am having them. Study leave after Friday and then exams coming thick and fast from the 14th. Best of luck to all the DCs.

Have spoken to DS and he says it was pretty good. The questions were fairly straightforward, particularly one about the peace treaties (his favourite topic).

He's gone home for lunch as he didn't fancy the school lunch.

All sounding positive - well done to your DC's. .

Slinky - sorry your not in good health - hope you feel better soon.

Not heard anything from DS yet but he'd have had to go straight into lessons. Am encouraged by the reports of it being fairly straightforward/generally good though!

Update: apparently it went well!