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

[mmzz]

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

[TheSecondOfHerName]

I find it quite amusing that DS2 will be writing his GCSEs (those he isn't typing) using a Stabilo Easy pen. Luckily he isn't embarrassed about it. The silver lining is that since the start of secondary school, his pen has never been stolen, or even accidentally picked up by another pupil. 😂

[mmzz]

TheSecond DS had one of the easygel versions for years. They were discontinued and I bought up what must have been all the remaining stock in the country!
I researched quite hard to find an alternative that DS could use that gives just as good results and is suitable for the exam machine in the end, i found one that is just a mainstream, cheap pen. I could look up the name from the Amazon order and pm it to you, if you are interested in a different pen for sixth form?

[KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse]

Morning all. Just checking in to the new thread so I don't lose it. Dd has 6 exams next week.

I've just been doing my Sunday night food delivery and I have added so many snacks and treats for her she will struggle to carry her lunch to school!

[Cherryburn]

Thanks for the 'Downfall' link brainmelt, it really made me laugh because it says exactly what DS has been ranting about for the last couple of days! I'll show it to him when he surfaces this morning.

He spent yesterday practising for the second English paper today. He was predicted an A* for Eng Lang but is sure that that boat has sailed after Wednesday's paper and he is now hoping that he can do enough to rescue an A.

AlwaysHiding I'm so sorry to hear that your DD is still struggling. She must be amazingly strong to be persevering in the circumstances.

DS only has 3 exams next week but one is the dreaded RS on Monday. He'll be very pleased when that's over (so will I). 6 exams the week after though.

Good luck to all the English sitters today. Let's pray for a kind paper!

[KingscoteStaff]

Fingers crossed for all Eng Lang-ers today and for dry cricket pitches tomorrow!

[slinkyme]

Just been catching up on the threads from last few days. Gosh this moves fast.

8 or so exams too next week. DD is working very hard. And I think we are getting to the point we want it all over. Next week will be the busiest week of GCSEs with most exams. Hearing about Art am so glad that DD decided to drop it in year 10 When she did. She gets anxiety and it would definitely have been triggered with this and most likely derailed her state of mind for the other exams.

[Teenmum60]

DD used one of the Stabilo Easy pens for a while ..the English teacher apologised to her the other week for nagging her about the way she holds her pen after DD had done her presentation on Hypermobility...

I guess it is the final push on revision this weekend for a lot of the DD's who start their exams next week.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

mmzz if you have the name of the pen that would be helpful. The OT suggested various types, including a Y shaped one that is meant to use the weight of the hand rather than grip, but the stabilo one has been the only one that he has been able to use with any success.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

A Lamy safari sort of works, but he is left handed, and any fountain pen results in quite a lot of ink smearage.

[LooseAtTheSeams]

The Stabilo pens are good.
Best of luck to those taking English today and fingers crossed for a better paper.
DS has amazed me this week by taking my advice on revision planning and asking me to set him English language tests at half term and mark them. I'm not usually allowed to help! I think that's my limit, though. He also sorted the sixth form letter problem on his own initiative so his place is safe if he wants it. (It turns out one of his friends never even got the letter so I think the office was quite busy yesterday!)
AlwaysHiding so sorry you and dd are having such a difficult time.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Well today is the day that DD1 will receive the "letter for success" that all parents were asked to write for their year 11s. Pressure! I'm not sure what I've written was quite what the head of year had in mind, but I'm hoping DD will find it amusing. A good laugh is what she needs more than anything right now!

Can't believe so many head teachers are getting involved in the minutiae of leavers' hoodies. The more I read on Mumsnet the more I think I need to send DD's teachers a big box of biscuits to thank them for being remarkably sane and supportive. In fact, I think I'll do that.

Yesterday, she came home beaming because her Physics teacher provided contraband pizza as a revision aid for those who were motivated to turn up to his extra session.

[LooseAtTheSeams]

No mention of hoodies here. I don't think they happen at our school.
Just got an email about revision classes at half term. Those poor teachers!

[weaselwords]

I’m still here. Weeping in the corner and rocking.

Youngest did Spanish speakers big yesterday. Said it went “alright, but I hadn’t learned my paragraphs well enough “. So what was going on while we were sat there doing them and you said you felt confident then? Ffs.

I bet he’s done fine, really. Just likes winding me up.

[Teenmum60]

I dont think there are any extra revision classes being held at DD's school at all now...the school did say that teachers would be available during what would have been the DC's normal lesson times but I think only the DT teacher was forthcoming with saying she would be available.
DD has worked really hard this week and really got her head down yesterday into a mammoth session of CS...she is at DF's today so just hoping that she stays motivated today (DF very laid back).

[mmzz]

These are the exam pens. They flow as smoothly as I've found and have a rubberised grip which makes a big difference. they are almost as good as the gel pens that he uses for everyday use.

These are the everyday gel pens that DS says are just as easy to use as the stabilo ones.

In the end, the curved grip wasn't as important to DS as the minimised drag, the chunk body and the rubber grip. He still has about 20 of the Stabilo refills in a box in his room, but now DS just uses the energel even when at home, and the uniball ones for exams.

[hmcAsWas]

Yes mmzz, it was sacrilege, and I am not even a fan of dance theatre (my fault for just booking it online witout reading the blurb properly)

Good luck to the English language examinees today

weaselwords - hardly anyone comes out of an exam and says 'it was great, I smashed it'. I expect he's done well but as you say is either having a bit of fun giving you the fear, or he's a perfectionist and was expecting his paragraphs to be flawless and didn't quite pull off flawless (who does?)

Dd is having a 'revision light' day today. She's knackered, so on my insistence she is just working the morning and finishing at 1pm

[TheSecondOfHerName]

Thank you mmzz I'll buy a small pack of those for him to try over the holidays.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

weaselwords when DS1 came out of each exam, the most detailed analysis I ever got was "It was OK".

I reassured myself by deciding that he had used up his quota of eloquence in the exam.

[Sostenueto]

4 exams next week. RE paper 1 Monday, biology paper 1 Tuesday, RE paper 2 Wednesday and chemistry paper 1 Thursday.
The following week busier.
Dgd said she is not giving a thought anymore about the art exam anymore as in her mind it is not important and she's concentrating on what she thinks is much more important to her. I still wish she had chucked art up rather than fail but I think her coursework will give her a 5 anyway as long as she doesn't think the same about r.e and physics I've told her even if she hates a subject she must always give it her all. Gosh can't wait till July I'm just going to borrow mmzzs

[LooseAtTheSeams]

Sostenueto I'm sure she'll be fine on the coursework. And she's right to put it behind her and move on. DS has no idea what he'll get for art but says the lead art teacher liked his photos so I think he's glad he persevered!

[weaselwords]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better. I am off to look at pens.

[stickerrocks]

Today is DD's last "proper" day at school. From now on they will all be in school but dipping in and out of lessons between exams until the bitter end. The school is also going to lay on breakfast each morning if wanted, so they know that everyone has had the chance to eat something decent at the start of the school day.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

DS2 finished Y11 lessons at lunchtime today. With DS1 finishing Y13 in a couple of weeks, I'm in danger of feeling a bit sentimental.

[PickwickThePlockingDodo]

Hello all, I've been following these threads since the beginning and I'm delurking just before my dd takes her dreaded RE exam on Monday (the first of too many).
I wanted to ask you all about food/nutrition before/during exams. I was thinking about getting a takeaway on Sunday night but probably not the best thing to eat the night before .
Any ideas on what I should be putting in my basket to keep her well fed, brain-wise?

[brainmelt]

pickwick Lots of blue fish (salmon, tuna, mackarel, anchovies) Avocados, salads and grains (quinoa, rice, proper granary bread). Nothinf bad about a good steak the night before! Breakfast is the key afaik and DS has: pressed orange juice, cereal with fresh blueberries, toast with a 5min egg and sometimes half a croissant or extra glass of milk... Yeah he breakfasts like Louis XV.