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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

DD stressed about Y7 end of year exams

12 replies

PollySuki · 01/05/2018 22:48

DD was in tears tonight about her end of year exams. She's only in year 7 but it seems the school take it all very seriously. 2 hours at a time over a 2 week period. She is very worried and despite support she's reluctant to revise. Any pearls of wisdom to get her through the exams?

OP posts:

DinkyDaisy · 02/05/2018 06:13

I think let tutor know how stressed she is. Seems OTT to stress year 7s so much.
Find out how 'important' they really are.
Poor dd- I sympathise.

axiom1 · 02/05/2018 06:17

I don't think this exam is for her benefit, it's another case of schools obsession with data coming before a childs mental health. Have a look at my homeschooling post and let me know what you think.

AtiaoftheJulii · 02/05/2018 07:15

I think schools try to present the exams in a serious light to start getting the kids used to revising, doing exams under proper conditions etc. And so they should be helping and guiding the pupils as to how to prepare for them.

I have to admit, I wouldn't have much sympathy for her being worried but not revising. Sounds frustrating.

Does she have any idea how to revise? Have school talked to them at all about it?

jeanne16 · 02/05/2018 07:37

Y7 exams are taken seriously by schools to try to get pupils used to the whole exam culture that we live in. The idea is that by the time they get to doing their gcse exams, they will take them in their stride. It doesn’t work for all pupils of course.

RedSkyAtNight · 02/05/2018 08:04

Guessing very academic school - this unfortunately comes with the territory.

Personally i'd be stressing that the exams don't really matter, and that a little bit of revision is a good idea (by no need to go OTT). if she's getting this stressed in Y7, I'd be seriously considering whether this school is the right place for her - you have years more of this to come, and it will start to matter!

pipilangstrumpf · 02/05/2018 08:08

if she's getting this stressed in Y7, I'd be seriously considering whether this school is the right place for her

I agree. It might be worth looking at another school for her.

TeenTimesTwo · 02/05/2018 08:18

I would contact the school and ask what level of revision they expect. It may be that they will revise in class and not have to do much extra for some classes.

I would help your DD make up a light revision time table, and help her with techniques. I would explain they are mainly to get them used to revision & exams for later.

They will inform setting for next year probably.

Original poster

PollySuki · 02/05/2018 09:19

Thanks all. It is a normal comp, albeit a good one in terms of exam results. It's all a bit odd as they appear to have spoken to the kids about the exams and we know they are straight after half term but there had been no other info. I started revision with her this week and have drawn up a timetable of 3 sessions this week of 30 mins and 10 min break and then 20 mins. TBH, it doesn't seem enough for a whole years work but I can't imagine she will do any more and I don't want to pressurise. I have told her they aren't important exams but she should try her best as it's good practice. I think she's most freaked out by the idea they are 2 hours at a time. They have two streams, a lower and upper. She's in the top of the lower stream (they call it mixed ability) and doesn't want to go up so that maybe a factor.

OP posts:

Seeline · 02/05/2018 09:21

My Ds are usually provided with topic check lists for most subjects to tell them what to revise.
Also there is often revision stuff on the school website for each year so it might be worth having a look there.

Wheresthebeach · 02/05/2018 09:24

For most schools Yr 7 exams are about getting use to the concept, revising and dealing with the pressure of two or three exams a day. Its good practice, but very daunting in Yr 7.

I'd try and help her with revision, work with her to write the cards, make sure she knows what to do. One step at a time. She may be frozen as she's never had to revise across so many topics before and its freaking her out. Break it down into little pieces so she's not staring at the big picture.

noblegiraffe · 02/05/2018 10:27

If they are straight after half term and the school is only expecting two weeks of revision then you probably haven’t been given any info as they aren’t expecting revision to have started yet.
If you’re wanting to get a headstart then looking back through tests she has done over the year, seeing what she can still remember and making a note of what she can’t would be helpful. Then she’ll have a focus for her revision.

Original poster

PollySuki · 02/05/2018 13:20

That's great advice noblegiraffe. Thank you. I have kept her exams so will start there as it is overwhelming. I have emailed her tutor so will see if he comes back to me. It seems to depend.

OP posts:

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