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

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DS3's mocks weren't particularly stellar. He didn't do nearly enough revision though. They did extra mocks in maths and English a couple of months later and his English grades did improve. He has gone up in attitude to learning for English as well. Funnily enough his best ATL grades are for his chosen A levels and now English, which is his least favourite subject.

If he replicates his mocks he won't get in to his chosen sixth form, but I'm hoping he will improve given that he has done some revision this time.

Kick if that's for paper 3 then it might not be a bad idea DS's teacher is trying to cover it in lessons between exams, when invariable atleast someone is not there as taking an exam!

DS was in the position last week of sitting two papers for an exam that he has calulated he needs virtually 100% in just to meet his target......now that to me is ridiculous it was PE so the teachers who are all fully aware of the injury he had sustained and the resulting impact should never have given him just a target, particularly as it is them that assess his performance which they did at two levels below what he was predicted.........

Madly enough, even PE target grades are based on Y6 SATS.

Sorry should also of said predicted grade was same as grade expected at end of y11!!

I know ellen

Ridiculous isnt it

DS plugging away for Terrible Tuesday as I call it but he is calling it terrific Tuesday!

He has 4 exams Edexcel.igcse Eng Lit, 2 2 x CIE igcse Biology papers, followed by OCR gcse Geography paper. The horrors of clashing boards. Then Physics Wednesday and Maths Thursday. He is knuckling down and working away all off his own back thankfully!

Well eng lit all morning then geography and maths this afternoon and evening. Physics in morning tomorrow then eng lit and geography both of which dgd is concentrating on more than physics ( which she finds boring). She wants that 9 badly in geography

DS is currently watching the post match analysis for the football, before that it was the football match itself, before that he did some work and before that he managed to drum up some interest in the royal wedding since it was preferable to revising! Which just shows how much he dislikes revising.

DS has done 2 hours at school, a bit more geography, some maths practice and listened to science with Hazel for biology paper 2 despite the next science exam being Physics 1...
I hope he looks at English tomorrow.
AlltheBest OMG!! Bet you'll be glad once Tuesday is out the way!

Allthebest I thought DS had it hard on Tuesday with Eng Lit followed by a 3 hour Geography paper. But that's brutal!

DS has revised Geog for most of the day (but came down to watch the last 20 minutes of the cup final!) and is now doing some maths. More maths and History tomorrow (and hopefully a bit of Eng Lit). I can't wait for the next week to be over.

I like that your ds is calling it terrific Tuesday allthebest, even if he is being deeply ironic

DD has done physics, maths, English lit, physics and history in 5 forty minute slots. She finished for the day about an hour ago

DS has only done Jekyll and Hyde today for English lit! I don't quite know why he is so unhappy with it, but he has finally declared he is done with it! Hopefully some maths and physics tomorrow.

DD argued with DH over her Geography revision because apparently he wasn't testing her properly, went off in a huff and been sulking in her bed for three hours...don't think there will be any more revision tonight. Feeling a bit down as she is capable of so much but seems to have ground to a halt. Of course if I say anything she jumps down my throat :(

adrinkofwater honestly, try to get him to watch the Ian Rankin documentary. I'm sure it will change his thinking!

Jufusmum - dd gets like this sometimes. Its when they are overloaded and it feels like their brain in saturated and cant absorb any more. You just have to let it go - but I know what you mean, its frustrating because they still have stuff to cover. But then there will always be stuff to cover

Thank you, whoever originally recommended the Ian Rankin doc - DD enjoyed that.

She's now tidying her room to the background of Jekyll and Hyde on Audible. Personally, I think I'd have nightmares.

DS2 recounted the plot of Echo & Narcissus to the rest of the family over dinner, in preparation for Monday's Latin literature exam.

Oh goodness, that brings back memories. We did Ovid's Metamorphoses for A-level.

Yes, it's part of Metamorphoses that he is doing on Monday. The younger siblings were following the plot quite well (even with the backstory of why Echo was punished) until DS2 said "And he stays by the side of the pool for so long without eating or drinking that he starves, dehydrates and turns into a flower."

The look on their faces was somewhere between and

Crickey! mmzz better predicted grades than my dgd Well done little mmzz!
My dgd predicated just 2/9s 5 8s 3 6s ( the English and art). Aspirational gives 4 9s but that won't happen I'll be pleased if she gets what she needs and comes out of exam season in one piece.

Sostenueto ditto - I'll be pleased if DS just gets what he needs and emerges unscathed too. Also, like your DGD, he's unlikely to get the target grades. He struggles with the essay based subjects for a start. He has never got above a 7 for geography, ever (so how the teacher put down an 8, I don't know). RE has been a serious challenge and I think he dropped marks all over the place on the Judaism paper. The sciences were put at 9s by the school, but he doesn't excel at them in the way he does at maths, so if things go well, he might manage 8s.
I think he'll probably get a decent set of grades with a disappointment or two, but mainly I hope that he gets what he needs for the sixth form.

If he doesn't get a 9 at maths, he's going to be really upset. But he's worrying me at the moment because he isn't doing a stroke of work for it outside of lessons. He is not a naturally confident person, but when it comes to maths GCSE, he just thinks it's going to be ultra-easy based on his experience in class over the last few years. I really hope he isn't setting himself up for a fall.

Hmm DS had two 3 s and a 4 in his mocks (missed whole questions out, I thought originally through lack of time but in reality because he didn’t know where to start). If he can crack that and sneak those up to 5 s and keep hold of the rest (5 s 6 s and an 8) then we will be very happy. I know anything could happen though and I really can’t predict this year - different child, mixed teaching and new exams.

And you’re right getting through unscathed is our biggest wish .

Kitties you''re welcome, glad it helps!
For anyone helping dcs revise AQA English Lit - here are some exam tips. please note, this is purely exam technique!
Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th C novel. One question on each, no choice, but you do get an extract. Focus on what the question asks - could be a character or a theme - begin with the extract and expand your points to the work as a whole. There are marks for context - but only where it relates to a point you're making. When selecting quotations, link to character and themes. Be ready to analyse the language. Also, think about how a character/theme develops. All revision books and notes have grids with this information.
Paper 2:

Modern text gives a choice of questions - usually one on character and one on themes, no extract. Relevant context needed.
Anthology - student compares poem given to another from the anthology on the specific topic given. Comparing techniques as well as subject matter - 'voice' of the poem, form, language devices, structure - and comment on why these things are used. Relevant context only. Revision includes working out which poems pair up well.
Unseen poetry - two poems are printed. First question is worth a lot of marks and it is all about the first poem. Stick to what the question asks and focus on how the techniques used by the poet to convey the meaning. Always read the title and last couple of lines to understand the overall message of the poem and start with that in your answer. If it's clearly a sonnet, ballad or dramatic monologue, say so. Look for anywhere there's a shift in focus for structure e.g. from one verse to another.
Talk about the rhyme scheme and meter if you can - explain how they aid meaning or create atmosphere.
The second question is a comparison of the second poem with the first on the topic given and it's just 8 marks. Find three points of comparison (anything!) and say why you think the techniques are used. Don't spend much more than 10 minutes on this question.

Yesterday evening DS was walking up and down in the garden talking to himself.......he has just started learning quotes for Eng Lit........I then typed up one of his essays he had done weeks ago (but hadn't handed in) to email to his teacher for her to mark (apparently she's told them to do this) - his English teacher is an absolute and I hope he gives her a present - if he doesnt get his grades it certainly won't be downto her!!

Thanks Loose your a to!!