GCSEs 2018 (9) Will we get to half term, for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and who is Banquo

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Thread 8

I've been going round for months convinced that DS needs to get at least 93%+ to be highly likely to get a 9. His school have been using 89% as the 9 boundary too.. and all this time it was 79%!!!
DS has only once fallen below 90%. Today he thinks he got 96%+.
I think that's one less thing for me to worry about now!

mmzz yes, I think you're safe to stop worrying I would expect the grade boundaries to rise a little this year...but not by that much!

@mmzz - DS1 used 92% as the mark for a 9 in the mocks so your 93% sounds about right. 80% for an 8.

Sorry meant to say DS1 school used 92%...

sandy it surely can't go to 93% for a 9 on the gcse if it was 79% last year?!

I wouldn't have thought so. I predict around 80-85%

Exactly what I thought alexander.

In mocks and all assessments dgds school always has a 9 pegged at over 90%.

Last years cohort got lots of leeway being first ones to sit the new format. And they were pegged to the year before results too etc. So won't be surprised if it goes over 85% this year especially as exam boards reckon they haven't made the exams so wordy this time. ( could have fooled me)

Fingers crossed for a low boundary. I suspect DS1 school put it at that level to keep everyone working hard.

It's kept DS1 motivated!

Fingers crossed for a low boundary. I suspect DS1 school put it at that level to keep everyone working hard.

It's kept DS1 motivated!

does CIE create a different paper for each time zone sitting the exam?

Yes, they have three time zones. Apparently it's a relatively new thing because students used to do just as one would expect and gave their friends in different time zones a 'heads up' on exam content (not sure if there is any data on how much better ME kids might have done compared to SE Asian counterparts in that situation, but it can't happen now!)

It is also the reason that the few non-IGCSE subjects are so late in our day - they are held at EXACTLY the same time slot as the UK.

Well, it was a good exam for DS3, Edexcel higher maths. But he is pretty good at maths, like a few others on this thread, so if some found it more difficult I wouldn't worry too much.

DS also did Edexcel higher maths thought it was fine and easier than last years paper, so maybe they are trying to ensure the pass mark will be higher than 18%.

DS found Edexcel really difficult. Bit worried as your children all seemed to find it easy He got a 6 in his mock which was an amazing result for him.

Rosie I wouldn't worry there are a lot of DC on this thread who happen to be really good at maths so you won't be getting balanced feedback. How did his peers find it, if similar then hopefully he will do as well as in his mock which was a great result

Thanks. Just feeling despondent as he’s worked so hard (and I have too!). The non calc is always his worst so hoping the other 2 are better....

Anyone's DC do the AQA RS Christianity paper?
DD said the first 4 question were v similar - so she was having to be really thoughtful about quotes to avoid using the same ones twice or more. Aside from that she felt it was a decent paper.

RosieLig I understand how you feel, but its as Bluebelle says, there's a lot of DC on this thread who excel at maths. They are the exceptions, not your son.

RosieLig - my friend's DD found it very difficult too and she is better than average at maths. There are so many kids on here that are aiming for 9's so don't get discouraged - they are a very mathematical bunch.
'normal' or average kids did not find it easy.
Sending you a hug - these exams are so stressful.

Does anyone know that when the DC get their results do they just get the grade or do they get their marks as well?

dD School used 90% for the mocks as a grade boundary for maths. dD has been hitting 94/95 in the practise papers. She thinks due to mishap with last question today best case scenario she has got 95% and worst case 85% so let's just see now where the grade boundaries end up. I really hope they are not 90% plus.

rosielig please don't worry. My DVD may be good at maths but she sure is going to be lucky to make a 5/6 in english language whish she has got to do otherwise she won't get into her schools sixth form even if she's got a bunch of 8 s or a 9! They can't be good at everything! Here's some for you and for your DC!

Edexcel maths hasn't given out marks in the past, just the grade. All other GCSEs my DSs have done have given UMS but I'm not sure if UMS are still used on the new GCSEs as there are no modules anymore. Must investigate.

DD did AQA maths and found it really hard. She got a 6 in last set of mocks and was only 5 marks away from a 7 but she thinks she has almost failed today’s. I told her there are 2 more papers but she isn’t happy.

There is such a lot of pressure. At her school (and I don’t know if this is the same nationwide), you’re only allowed to do the foundation paper if you’re in the bottom 2 sets. DDis in set 1 but at lower end and teacher admittedly at January parents evening that she had been teaching to the top 2 people’s understanding. I don’t understand why there isn’t more basic maths even in the higher paper....long division , multiplicatoin probs etc. Just because they’re good at maths, doesn’t mean they don’t need to show the basics too.

I really believe there should be a general maths paper for everybody to do that gives a pass or fail grade: to show you’re competent. Then the other papers which can be more specific and harder.

There doesn’t seem enough opportunity to get a lower grade/do an additional paper if you don’t do well on the higher paper....other than to retake.