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Secondary education

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

Original poster

GCSE 2018 (7) [wine][wine][wine][wine]

999 replies

mmzz · 10/05/2018 17:28

A new thread to take us through the exams
Link to old thread

OP posts:
Teenmum60 · 13/05/2018 23:04

Hello Theimpossible. good luck to your DD tomorrow.

Original poster
mmzz · 13/05/2018 23:09

It isn't easy for parents. I think it's because we know the full significance. Never having lived beyond school age, our DC struggle to imagine anything beyond going to school each day.
Saying that, maybe it mattered more in the 80s because it was still normal to leave school at 16 back then. So these would have been the only formal qualifications ever for many children born in the 60s and 70s

OP posts:
Original poster
mmzz · 13/05/2018 23:11

Welcome the new arrivals on the thread! And good luck to everyone's DCs (lurkers too)

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 13/05/2018 23:11

Stickerocks - dd is doing RS & she only has two papers. Both this week.

Alwayshiding best wishes to your dd. She sounds like a little trooper.

slinkyme · 13/05/2018 23:32

Good luck to all DC with exams tomorrow. Much courage and strength to those suffering with other more important issues.

DD is as ready as she is ever going to be for tomorrow. Just really hope she gets some sleep tonight - she does have a history of sleep issues. Wish I had sprayed some bedtime mist on her pillow now.

It's going to be a long week. DH is away so pretty full on week juggling everything here. Think we should all remember to look after ourselves as much as the DC this week. Best of luck everybody

sandybayley · 14/05/2018 05:00

Good (early) morning everyone.

Couldn't get back to sleep after DDog woke me up and need to leave house anyway at 6am to get DD to early rowing session.

DS stayed up late learning Latin vocabulary. He's a great believer in the value of the last minute cramming session. He also finished off all the leftovers from dinner that I'd put on one side.

Hope everyone else got a good nights sleep. Have a rare day off work today so might sneak a nana nap after lunch.

Cherryburn · 14/05/2018 05:17

Morning Sandy! I'm up. Woke early and couldn't get back to sleep.

I'm with your DS on the late night cramming - I always did it before exams. Hope the Latin goes well for him. DD did Latin gcse and A Level. I have to say, I'm glad DS didn't take it; I'm not sure I could face all that vocal and set text testing again!

Good luck today all.

Cherryburn · 14/05/2018 05:34

That'll be 'vocab'...

Original poster
mmzz · 14/05/2018 05:44

I'm up too (thicker curtains required).
I'm feeling really nervous about the exams on DS's behalf because yesterday afternoon, as a final, final thing, I tested him on a Biology test that he didn't do well in the first time. The aim was to show that he now knows his stuff.
He knows the material alright, but he still doesn't think to say it. I was constantly having to urge him on with "and therefore...."so he could get the missing marks on almost every question.

That natural reticence is going to effect every single paper in every single subject. He told me that they've been practicing past papers in school but it has never occurred to him to find out why he drops marks and then try to fix it for next time!

I am now relying on what I said to him yesterday having an effect and exam nerves making him not want to risk leaving marks unclaimed. That's all I've got to change the habits of a life time in a few hours time.

OP posts:
Cherryburn · 14/05/2018 06:20

Does he have Biology today mmzz? DS's is tomorrow so if it's the same for your DS if he has/can get hold of the papers he's done would it be worth him going through them tonight?

slinkyme · 14/05/2018 06:25

Morning all I found with the Biology papers that DD losing marks for the rigid Mark scheme. Have no idea how strict examiners would be. Is quite frustrating you lose marks if you don't use the right words.

Original poster
mmzz · 14/05/2018 06:26

Yes, it's tomorrow. Today is RS. I will try to go through some papers with him tonight but my fear is that in every exam - including today's RS, DS is going to half answer the questions and miss out the bitsv about why this matters, what it means etc.

OP posts:
WheelyCote · 14/05/2018 06:41

ICT exam today

beenrumbled · 14/05/2018 06:51

mmrz DS1 got given a breakdown of all his science mocks, and a colour coded chart of which questions/ topics he lost marks on - its been useful because like your DC, he is not forthcoming with explanations. It really helped target his revision.

He is a bit grumpy today, but he has said they are already adjusting his timetable to reflect upcoming exams - today he has an extra French lesson instead of Statistics, and after school French too - but no extra biology Confused

He is going to do some biology tonight when he gets home, but he plans to go to football training as normal.

So tomorrow its French listening, reading and then Biology. And it's his birthday - poor DS1!

Stickerrocks · 14/05/2018 06:55

Little Miss Independent says she will trot off & investigate the missing RS paper later. I will be furious if she's accidentally been entered for the half exam instead of the full one, but I think It's more likely to be an issue with being moved to a different room at the last minute to have rest breaks if required. I think she destroyed her original timetable (the one in the wrong name) so I have nothing to match it against. Note to self....remind her what She's officially called again!

Aragog · 14/05/2018 06:56

Good luck to all those starting today!

Computing this morning for dd.

Dd is feeling nervous. Think she needs to just get the first one started now, and then once she is in the swing of it the nerves will drop a little.

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/05/2018 07:10

Stickerrocks is it Edexcel? There are 3 papers but looks like schools choose 2 of the 3 for the full GCSE.
Worth checking, nonetheless!

beenrumbled · 14/05/2018 07:19

Good luck everyone!!

Oratory1 · 14/05/2018 07:22

mmzz and sandy - if its any consolation DS is exactly the same on both those things and they won't be the only ones by any means.

I am very nervous this morning, much more so than for DD1 and 2 (and DS is too) but hopefully will pass with the first day out of the way - Computing and RS

adrinkofwater · 14/05/2018 07:23

DS just gone off for day 1. Computer science and RS. The bus was 10 minutes late, so we're off to a good start Hmm

Good luck to you all and your DC!

Teenmum60 · 14/05/2018 07:25

Morning everyone ...DD slept well (thankfully) and seems in good spirits.

Hope everyone's exams go well...DD was quoting some of the comments from twitter - GCSE obviously trending this morning...

adrinkofwater · 14/05/2018 07:25

Meant to say DD (year 13) also has her driving test today, so it's all happening here!

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/05/2018 07:45

Porridge consumed, DS off to school. More of a relief they've finally started, I think!
DS wisely agreed the phone will stay home.

brainmelt · 14/05/2018 08:11

loose great going on the porridge :)
DS off to Latin. Good luck everyone!

LooseAtTheSeams · 14/05/2018 08:27

Good luck with the Latin Brainmelt and everyone else!Smile

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