GCSEs 2018 (8) Dozens of DCs, 1 DH and Flashcards in the fridge

[mmzz]

Previous thread

MyVisionsComeFromSoup info is prob more up to date.
When I did Psychology (and I only did it for a year before specialising in maths - Scottish uni system), you needed to be able to collate info and write it up the way you would expect a history student to work. The exams involved essays where you were profiling some research, comparing and contrasting it and describing the conclusions.
Coming from a science background, i found that really challenging.

You also needed to be able to remember a lot of Biology, especially learning how the brain works. there was a lot fo what the GCSE specs would call "Scientific thinking".

Then there were the practicals, and the compiling the data, and testing for significance. This was fairly entry level statistics, but its one of those things that if you struggle with stats then you'll think it a big deal, and if statistics comes easily to you, then you will wonder why some of the other students are making a fuss. So, just like the Arts faculty students must have wondered why I struggled so much with those essays...

Sorry, i know that is not helpful.

Teenmum DD applied for IB at a local college along with A' Level at school sixth form. She got a place but decided against it. I do know 2 people (sisters) that have done/are doing it. Eldest completed IB last summer and is now at Cambridge reading English, her sister is at the end of year 1 of IB, I'm not sure what uni she wants to go to, if at all.

mmzz it's very helpful! Thanks, I can see why DS is so interested in psychology.
Catherine I've posted on Eng lit as well as I tutor in it and teach some of the texts at L3. I 'll dig out the advice and repost it once I find it. It's general exam advice rather than book advice, though.

Sometimes i wish they wouldnt come back and tell me bits about the exam

So dd said i did a plan and wrote the essay but I forgot to put the title but i put the title in my intro so hopefully that will be fine

WELL I BLOODY HOPE SO

And then she checked a PE question and said 'i think they might give me that mark...i put stroke and the answer is heart attack'

And im like ' i dont think they will...they are completely different things'

And she goes 'are they?'

Aaagggghhhhh

Rufus I've had a few conversations with ds this week, just like that!! It is more than slightly concerning, so yes, I'm no longer encouraging chat with me about the questions
PE today...."Okay"

DS isn't very confident of the Edexcel higher writing paper today. 20% of the paper was a translation into French about concern for the environment resulting from a trip to Madagascar to see the animals and birds, and there were a few words he didn't know.
PS Not as bad as someone on twitter who couldn't remember the word for birds, so wrote "les poulets" instead!

How did everyone else's DCs find today's papers?

north

Yeah

Im never saying 'how did it go' ever again

Thank you loose, that's all really useful stuff. I shall attempt to get DS3 to absorb it later.

My worst post exam discussion was when dd was telling me about one of her 10 pointers in history concerning the Munich agreement in 1936 - turns out she wrote about the 1934 Disarmament coference having confused the two. There goes 10 marks in a puff of smoke

We stick to the generalities now!

At least she tells you something Rufus! GCSE PE sounds interesting; I didn't know anything about it. Are they judged on practical PE skills too? My dd may choose it as an option next year.

Bluebelle thanks! You were right also earlier when you said when the exams actually start it will not be quite so stressful...apart from lost paperwork...

Loose thanks for the advice. I will be going through it with ds

Ds is worried about the unseen poetry in the English Lit next week...I will go through a practice poem with him later on this evening.

DS had PE he said some of the questions were really weird and because of the lack of past papers you didn't really know what they were trying to get at......I tried to get him to explain but he just said they were weird and then fell asleep.........good job its the weekend night off is required I think!

Also following loose advise

donot

Practical is about 20% for gcse PE, it's basically sports science with a bit of exercise thrown in

Dd wants to take it at A level

Phew- so many posts to read since I last looked yesterday!
DD did AQA French today and said it was fine.
Hope everyone’s feeling a bit better that we’ve kissed goodbye to a week. Long week coming up for DD with 7 exams and no day off. She’s busy revising Latin atm

Advice not advise

Bloody hell!!!!

DoNotBring for PE my dd had to submit evidence on 3 sports and was marked.out of 20 for each, there was also theory coursework and finally there are two theory papers

Haven't spoken to her yet today so I will ask her about the weird questions Bluebelle

Lulu think very carefully before doing PE, we were told that as DS was county standard in one of his sports he would automatically get full marks for that sport, that has not been the case as he has suffered injuries and was ill on day of assessment, which can obviously happen to anyone. Also I would look very carefully at the results they get this year that will give you some idea of what the teaching is like, at DS's school its been shambolic, even though he loves sport he regrets taking it.

Weird question?

Dd did say that it wasnt easy...wonder what the weird question was

Should add that it's quite hard to get high marks in the 3 sports practicals - helps to be County level

callitwhatyouwill that sounds like a tough week, especially without a day off.

DS2 is doing a paper on Ovid: Echo & Narcissus on Monday, then Latin can join the 'finished' pile of textbooks.

bluebell

I would echo that

Dd didnt have ME when she chose PE and she had to be moderated..we are talking about a child who has to do badminton while sat down

I really hope she does well...she probably won't do as well as she would have done, if that makes sense

TheSecond - which board is DS2 doing? DD finishes Latin by the end of next week too and it’s something she really wants to do well in, as it’s an “A” Level subject (her “fun” one).

Rufus your poor DD, was she allowed to produce medical evidence to show that her performance has been severly hampered by ME?

thesecond DS paper is on The Aeneid. Also on Monday (I think...!)

blue

We had to provide a letter from the consultant

Then the exam board said they needed a letter that explained how the ME affects her

And the consultant was really annoyed and said his letter was more than adequate

Soooooooo

Not sure, the PE department were doing their best for her and they did video her for short periods over a few days so she didnt get over tired

We will just have to see...it will be a disappointment if she doesnt get the grade she deserves but hopefully the exam will pull her through

On the advice of hm we are also hoping to apply for special consideration so hopefully that will help

(Far too many hopes in their)

O my actual god!!!!!!

How did that 'their' get there!!!!!!

I am literate honestly i am