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

[mmzz]

New thread for GCSEs 2018

That sounds crazy! DS definitely doesn't have any more PE. He's a bit hazy on how things work once exams start, though!

I think the thinking is that the teachers want to run revision sessions and having them in lessons ensure maximum turnout.
As for scheduled PE lessons, the school's view is that they'll be a good chance to clear the mind and run off some of the exam stress. its just that no one has thought through the realities of doing an exam at 9, finishing just in time for PE, getting changed, wolfing down lunch and then doing another exam all afternoon.

DS thinks not going means detention, which in the middle of exams would be completely ridiculous. I don't know how they are going to enforce it. I work from home, so if they are planning to rigidly stick to this plan, then on the PE days DS will be coming home for lunch attending a dental appointment.

HmcAsWas that's good news about the RS.

DS2 is back to his normal self. It turns out that his stress at the weekend was due to his brothers annoying him rather than anything to do with exams.

blue and mmzz I am That's just not right.
cherry good luck to your DS tomorrow. It's a tricky one, especially the word limit if you're handwritting you can't just call up a quick word count. DS also tends to write too much but has been working at keeping an eye on it.

cherry DS is planning to do questions 3 and 4 first (the bullet points and the precis) in 30 minutes, leaving him 1.5 hours for the 'Change the genre' and the language analysis. He's just done 2 past papers (just qus 3 and 4) to finesse the timing. Supper now, then History source stuff.

DD is in the top sets for everything, so her teachers seem to trust them to be in the room but study whatever is their current priority if they feel the structured session won't be beneficial. DD is trying to use the lessons to keep on top of things this week, then focus on RS, biology and chemistry next week before the relevant exam and so on. That means she can top up with things like English Lit quotes in the evenings without feeling that she is neglecting the later subjects.

Good luck for those in exams this week. DS school is much like yours mmzz and bluebelle (ie default is to be in all lessons/games/music commitments even on the morning of an exam) but a quick email from me will get him out of things as long as housemaster and tutor know where he is - ds realises he s reaping some reward for being relativybharf working and well behaved up to now with being given more flexibility. You could try asking. Can see I’m going to have to plan each day with ds tho and may be sending lots of emails !

One of DS's teachers in particular has been saying how they will not be allowed to revise other subjects in her lessons and this has been re-iterated today in the assembly by the HT. Personally I think all departments are now panicking about the amount of content in the exams and so want to utilise every second they have with their classes, I think it's bonkers but I'm sure he'll cope, infact he doesn't seem too bothered by it unlike me

Thanks for the word count sympathy/tips. I think he just needs to get clear in his head what, say, 100 words looks like on average and go from there. That's a good idea to start with the last questions kingscote but I think it might throw him at this stage. Plus, if he motors through them it leaves him more time to go way over the word count in Q1!

mmzz - I would give DS a letter saying he cannot do PE due to an ankle sprain or whatever other reason you can think of ...

I dont understand such a policy although I assume the school must think it works - but maybe just for some.

DS3 finally brought home his official exam timetable yesterday, back from his weekend with his dad. All fine except Chinese, the bane of his life. The teacher had put him down for foundation for the listening test. He got a B in his mock... sigh. Hopefully sorted with his teacher today but I'll be ringing the exams officer to double check tomorrow.

alwayshiding I hope your DD isn't too stressed out by the GCSEs. They seem so important at the time, but are soon forgotten. As long as her next stage placement is aware, she'll be OK. It puts all our worries into sharp perspective, though. I hope she's better soon.

On the subject of PE, DS3's teacher didn't turn up on Friday, last lesson. The whole class just kept very quiet for the whole time. They are bottom set and none of them are that keen.

Good luck to all doing exams today. Dgd has 2 days of art exam starting today. The art teacher must be proud to know that not a single student is ready for their final piece ( so dgd informed me last night) in tears as she stayed on for 2 hours after school along with most of class to try and get things ready before today. on top of that they have to have 3 books full of artwork ready by end of may.. They only have 2 books complete. There will be an email sent to art teacher after exam from me asking why the children were not prepared in time. I spoke to another parent last night who said her ds confirmed what dgd said.

Thanks for comments all on patio
loose still maintaining silence but very hard. Thankfully dd is on holiday for 10 days next week so DgD will be able to revise at home which is better for her and a much needed break for me. So all will turn out OK. I can have a few lie ins too!

Teenmum my dgd an expert on excuses for getting out of p.e! last one was " miss I had hospital appointment and didn't think I would get back in time for lesson"

Sost that was me not loose. I imagine you running around like Spongebob Squarepants at the moment, trying to absorb everything going on around you! Your DGD has shown a great deal of maturity so far & I'm sure art will not phase her.

Good luck to those with exams today....art and Eng lang

What have your DC got planned for after the exams? I have lined up DS to paint the fence and if he makes a good job of it he can paint his bedroom He will be doing lots of his usual sport and also reckons he is going to try and get some voluntary work (won't hold by breath on that one!)

Sostenueto hope it all goes well with art today - I’m sure it will. If it’s any consolation it was quite chaotic at ds’s School. He didn’t have 3 books unless you count the exam prep book (which was admittedly a lot of work!) but there was a third piece - ‘sculpture’. I think it’s quite late to do the exam now, though, and I was glad it was out of the way in April. Part of the problem for us was that the teachers didn’t seem to realise how much more there was to the assessments this year until quite late into the course.

Bluebelle I’m not expecting masses from DS after the exams but he’s got several music things lined up in July, I need to prod him to do something in August although hopefully we’ll actually get round to booking a week away!
Meant to say good luck to all the exam-takers and revisers today!

DS1 up and about - in a surprisingly good mood. Fortunately I reminded him last night that his English Language exam is this afternoon not this morning. I don't think he'd have been amused to turn up 5 hours early!

He probably has a couple of weeks work experience lined up. Add to that two weeks holiday with us, week holiday with DGPs, mountain climb weekend with DH and pre-season rugby training. I think that's plenty!

DH is also going to take him to a Uni Open Day in June - probably overnight.

Apologies stickerocks

Dgd awaiting confirmation of work experience in nuerology dept at local hospital for the summer. Also she needs to get a summer job to earn some money and for her to realise how hard working is

DS still asleep! I'll give him a while longer then give him a prod.

He has a week's work experience lined up, then a holiday with us in July. Also going abroad for a week with friends (and one of friend's parents) and to the south coast (also with friends/parents). Then there's Reading Festival long weekend. So loads of trips.

Clearly, watching the World Cup also features heavily in his post-exam plans. And playing lots of sport.

Sticker

Just been on the beach with pup what another glorious day. And the pup is asleep and exhausted! Oh to be a dog, no worries, no exams, eat, sleep and lots of fun