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

[Stickerrocks]

Thread 8

Thanks for that sandy. She's actually not worrying or doesn't appear to be particularly worried - just dogmatic that it was grim. But I do think she counts up the things she got wrong, you're right about that. I was just surprised by the completely different take on this thread about the exam.

DS3 said AQA triple Physics went 'better than well' which might mean anything really higher grade boundaries. Nice boost to confidence before tomorrow's maths. Edexcel maths non-calculator.

@goodbyestranger - was is AQA she did? DS1 did Edexcel so not relevant to compare!

Yes AQA which a pp has said was a 'gift' but the 100% every time students thought it was a tough one too. It's really quite odd but interesting I suppose, to get the different views (although I'd prefer DD was on the 'gift' end of the spectrum!). Still, she's had a reasonable run so far and there's bound to be at least one paper which doesn't go great, that's just how it is.

sandy is that the gcse or igcse?

slinky when DS said it was good I immediately thought 'grade boundaries will be high then' . It also makes me wonder what treats they have in store on Paper 2...

I've been lurking but now joining. DS v cross after Physics - was interrupted during exam, put him off his stride, doesn't think he's done as well as he wanted. He's given the school the info so hopefully they'll do what they need to do. Gave him the pep talk about getting it off his chest and then moving on.

GoodbyeStranger - my dd didn't find it easy, but didn't find it grim either - but then grim to her would be not being able to answer most of the questions; what is grim to your dd and her peers? Thinking they have missed out on an 9/8/7? - you see what I mean? - its about your starting expectations.

Dd's starting expectations was that the exam might well be tricky (she hated AQA Chemistry but found biology okay) and she didn't feel as well prepared as she might have. In the end she concluded that she knew a bit about most things (enough to get the first few marks per question) with the exception of the nuclear fission question (3 marks?) and found a couple of the calculations tricky. She is hopeful of a 6 in that paper

DS did Higher Physics Edexcel, his words "it was so easy", I think paper 2 might be a shocker to even things up!!

Good luck everyone for maths tomorrw especially "lightsattheendof the tunnel" DS, I will be rooting for him as well.

hmcAsWas - that is true, one person's easy could mean they could answer some of the questions, whereas anotehr person's tricky could mean they couldn't answer one of the questions

Oh dear some awful grammar in my post

DD v pleased with how AQA trilogy physics went. Was pleased with the chernobyl questions, only thing she ws unsure of was a 6 pointer at the end but reckins she might have got the method right but the final answer could have been wrong.

Anyway moving on to maths revision now for tomorrow.

cherry I thought the same, paper 2 will be awful then!!

hmcAsWas yes very good point. I think she had hoped for every question to be do-able and that wasn't the case, but the whole bunch of them at school seemed to be mildy re-assured by the general verdict, sitting on the grass. But if the MN verdict is that grade boundaries will be high they might be barking up the wrong street.... Anyhow, interesting to hear about contrasting views. At least I have DS3 starting his history Finals tomorrow to take my mind off GCSEs!

And fish and chips! Always good too :)

I obviously spoke too soon earlier. One little madam decided to cause a scene in the exam room being used by those with extra time etc, because she wasn't allowed to leave before the Triple Science paper had finished. This was clearly explained by the invigilator, but she threw a hissy fit, argued and threw things. A formal complaint has been fired off and a reminder that the clear breach of exam regs must be submitted in the exam report. I'm fuming, especially as the others will all be wary of her kicking off again, which will affect their concentration.

Another thing to bear in mind - I am pretty certain that the dc on this thread are not the typical cohort. They are for the main part super motivated and conscientious and have been studying hard - and they have highly engaged parents who have been facilitating them with study aids, Tassomai etc (I'm not saying that like its a bad thing - although you would think it was from some of the 'cool mum' comments on other threads elsewhere on mumsnet)…..my point is that if a lot of the dc on this thread found the paper easy, it doesn't mean that it was easy for the majority of students taking the paper nationally, and it therefore doesn't necessarily mean that grade boundaries will be higher.

I hope that doesn't come across the wrong way (it was mostly a post to persuade myself that I don't have to worry about dd so much since she is doesn't seem to be in quite the same league, academically, as some of the dc on this thread)

stickerrocks

DD says AQA Combined Physics was really easy! First positive communication since exams started!

Feedback re Edexcel IGCSE is that it was "very easy". Which I assume will result in high grade boundaries like someond here already said.

Stickerrocks, I'd be very tempted to complain and ask how school can ensure that this doesn't happen again. Ideally they would have this DC take her exam in isolation. I have, myself, invigilated for one DC so it is possible.

Now I think maybe paper 1 was easy because paper 2 is a killer...

sticker pretty upsetting!

brainmelt We had ‘worryingly easy’...

Now we’ve had all the Edexcel IGCSE Science papers, has anyone seen any analysis of ‘topics that haven’t come up at all yet so will probably come up in Paper 2’?

Edexel GCSE "weird" according to ds. Also "annoying" as they had learned 21 equations but all were listed. Not sure how I feel given all the comments about how easy it was...

kings good thinking!

What is trilogy and what is triple? .