Gcse 2018 (10) The one with half term

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www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3256691-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

Oops. Can't remember how to link nicely, so this will have to do.

@Cblue - that makes sense, you had me confused when you mentioned A and A star. DS1 is mainly iGCSE and has a mix of numbers and letters.

I think it makes sense to pay close attention on topics not in paper 1 for the sciences but I wouldn't rely on topics not coming up again in a slightly different way. Those setting the exams have a slight sense of mischief / creativity about them.

DS1 also doing Ad Maths but seems to be going a bit of work now even though the exam isn't until the 19th. It's the one he's least confident about and I think it's not a bad idea to plug away at it now - certainly helps in advance of the 2nd Edexcel Maths paper,

I showed DD the PMG list and her comment was that the list covered most of the Spec for paper2...but agreed that the only certainty would be that DNA and Genetics – this must come up!! 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22 which is DD's preferred topic anyhow.

I'm almost sure that DD will adopt an approach of doing as many past papers as she can for science paper2's, they are just 1 hr long so quite easy to fit into with other revision.

No revision today but back to the grindstone tomorrow - DD trying to cover 1/2 day of History with ANO subject (past papers) for the rest of HT.

Dd hasn’t done any revision since Friday.
She’s been working too hard for the last year and I felt that she just needed some time out.
She went to the cinema with some friends today and had a great time

DS3 has kept up with his 2 hours a day plus Tassomai. He just took Friday off, as planned on his revision timetable. He's got English and history revision sessions at school on Tuesday. Sticking to the 2 hours a day plus whatever he does at school automatically gives him a break on weekends and half term. I know it's quite a small amount of time compared to some of your DC, but it seems to be working for him. He's consistently done those hours every day since the start of Easter and it does mount up.

DD doing some history revision at we speak! Not sure how long it will last though.

No storm here too bluebelle we had sun all day yesterday and most of today apart from a short sharp shower about 4pm.

Wow mmzz 20 days to go - I can remember when we were all chatting at Christmas and saying 6 months and it will all be over! Bink of an eye and we are nearly at the end!

Sostenuto - make sure you take time for yourself as well as the DD and DGD - they all need you to be fit and well

We had a minor disaster today - sitting on the patio in the sun with the parasol up as it was hot but breezy. Next minute the wind picked the parasol up and away out of the table and in the process broke the glass top into a million pieces - my phone and glass drinking jar were on the bit of table that stayed in tact and were swiftly removed be me. DD and I sat there in stunned silence until DH appeared to see what had gone on. I sent him to get us both a pair of shoes as we were barefooted and there was shards of glass everywhere on the patio. took me half an hour to sweep up and get out of the cracks in the patio. Been to buy a new table this afternoon, so can still sit out.

Revision has now stopped - half an hour!!! Better than nothing I suppose. There is always tomorrow.

Someone mentioned free lab experience days. If anyone's interested in engineering/physics summer courses or free cyber security experience days google Smallpiece Trust. They still have some spaces for this summer too.

ds has done about 3 hours of History revision today, then lots of Formula 1. dd has been to library to meet up with friends to revise, then a fair amount of time applying fake tan to her legs..

We had a wild night here in London, ds rushed out in the storm to take photos of the lightning, dd said she was too frightened to sleep in her room (very different approaches!)

I am bad tempered about mess again, have spent a while picking up bits of paper on topics that are "over" and putting them in a box (in case of retakes, ds2 says we must preserve them) The cat promptly sat in the box. Puts it all in perspective!

I managed to sleep through the storm but DS and DH were watching it and DH videoed some of the lightning!
Poor DS isn't feeling great - suspect he may have picked up the bug DS2 had in the week, in which case he's going to feel off colour for about 3 days.

Nettleskins when you say re-takes, do you mean June 2019? Won't that be a long time between when the subject was last taught and taking the exam?

I'm only finding about the storms now whilst watching the 10 o'clock news. DS says they happened as we went to bed last night. Shows how quickly I must have fallen asleep!

DS has worked this weekend but he seems to need a rest now, so having a day off tomorrow.

Just to correct my pay before last DH, not DS says I was so tired that that I didn't notice the storms as we went to bed.

ds said he has only done I hour of revision - the truth will out!

very hot here

Retakes well I think you can take them in November or Jan too? it is really just belt and braces on ds2's part, he would have to do it as a private candidate and possibly a new syllabus, but it comforts him to think he has all his hard work safe in a box..

we are considering the option of taking a year before embarking on A levels if his marks are bad, strangely reassuring to know there is that option, and possibly retaking Maths at Higher level, as he is only doing Foundation now, and some new Gsces perhaps a language even (he didn't do one, a special exemption from his school)

Only maths and English Language can be retaken in November everything else would have to be done the following summer. That's for GCSE's don't know if igcse is different.

DS doesn't want any of his notes recycled at the moment he wants to wait till after the exams, I think he's become quite attached to them.....

CIE do igsces in November, not sure which ones, obviously a slightly different sylllabus but for emergencies could be useful (ie a bombed science) It is pricey though because you have to find a centre to invigilate the exam.

This is the first time I've read one of these threads. As a GCSE teacher I've found it very heartening reading about all of the revision taking place. I've also loved reading about the breaks from revision because they are so important.

As a 16-19 resit teacher specialising in disengaged and disadvantaged learners I've also found myself wishing a lot of my students had parents like you.

to you all and for your DC.

DS still remembers the bonfire we had with DD1 A level notes and DD2 gcse s when we had the double dose a couple of years ago. I think it was on results day with appropriate fizz but can’t quite remember - but he wants to do the same. Every time I go to throw something away he says we ve got to keep that for my bonfire - hopefully the neighbours won’t mind ,

That's a nice thing to say Coolaschoola.
I feel so sorry for those DC who have to walk into an exam hall, sit down and know that they gave very little chance of being able to do enough to pass. The stress must be immense.

DS has arranged his text books, study guides, useful handouts and notes into 3 shelves: still needed, likely to bin and, the one that he seems happiest with, the stuff that's to be passed into DS2. He takes great pleasure in knowing that DS2 will have to endure all this in two years time!

Can I join? Seen previous threads but they're always nearly full by the time I see them so I've never joined.
DS is pretty confident about everything except History and English. I've more or less written off any chance of him passing History, and have focused my nagging reminders on the fact he'll find it easier to pull his finger out and pass English this year than he will resitting it alongside A levels. This seems to be working, he got his grades up from a 1 in January mocks to a 3 at Easter mocks. Hopefully he can get the 4 he needs.

@Inmysparetime - On one of the last threads - Looseattheseams posted some tips for Eng Lang (she teaches Eng). I have copied below for you - they may help your DS:
Here we go, bear with me for doing this paper by paper...
English Language Paper 1 is the creative writing one. AQA use one extract from 20th or 21st century fiction. 50% marks on comprehension and 50% on creative writing. Timing is essential, as is attempting every question. As a rough rule it’s a minute per mark.
Skim read the extract as soon as you open the paper.
Q1. Very easy - the information is definitely there. Usually only need lines 1-5 or similar.
Q.2 - This asks a question about how the writer uses language about a specific thing in one section. Look for interesting words, techniques or sentence forms related to that thing only in that part of extract. Sentence forms means short sentences or long, complex descriptions. Make sure you say why the writer used that device and what it conveys about that thing. Nothing else. You only have 8 minutes!
Q.3- structure. The question is trying to get you to say why the author varies the beginning/middle/end so you’re looking for changes. Start with the beginning - is this description or dialogue? Are we outside or inside etc. Imagine you’re directing a film and notice at which point you have to change - what’s the difference now and why? Now look at the ending - is this different again? Does it refer to the beginning or has it moved the story on? Why has the author done this? (imagine a small child in your head saying ‘But why?’)
Q. 4 has a statement referring to part of the text and asks your opinion on that statement. You are safe in agreeing with it. You will do even better if you mostly agree but find a point of disagreement; if you completely disagree you will struggle to find enough to write about. The best technique is to take a step back and give your overall impression as the starting point and the rest of the answer explains why you think that - because of the way the writer uses language and structure. Include short quotations as part of your argument, commenting on the use of language as you go. Show you can make inferences from the text based on the author’s skills in using language and structure.
Section A should take 45 minutes. Terms should be used accurately but it’s even more important to comment on the effect of language. This means using phrases such as ‘this conveys the impression’, ‘suggests that’, the reader may infer from this... etc. Remember that the writer implies something, but the reader infers.
No marks awarded or deducted for spelling in this section but try to allow 5 minutes to check it over.
Back soon with section B.

Welcome Inmysparetime for English Mr Bruff seems to be the one that everyone agrees is great and he's free of course. Would your DS English teacher be willing to mark essays if they were emailed to them, you could encourage he does an English question a day and either you or his teacher could mark it, with feedback to hopefully get him up to a 4.

Sure others will be along with more suggestions.

@inmysparetime
AQA paper 1 section B
Allow about 45 minutes for this - if you’re down to 30 minutes, do the description. Check your work because marks are awarded for SPAG as well as content. The correct use of the semi colon is the icing on the cake!
A lot of people suggest doing this section first. However, the writing section is linked to the first section by theme. If you’re not fond of creative writing you may find you get some ideas from the extract.
There’s always a photo. You pick one of two options. If it’s a description, the key word is that it’s ‘suggested’ by the picture so you can imagine as well as describe a scenario and incorporate what you might hear, smell, touch etc as well as what you can see. You can place yourself in the description or imagine other people in it. Try to be really precise about colour rather than just red, blue etc.
The other option is a story with a title or opening line - sometimes they ask for the opening of the story and sometimes a whole one.
For either task:
Have some fun with it. Vary lengths of sentences for dramatic effect. Make sure you vary the start of paragraphs even if it’s just adding ‘Suddenly’ or ‘Cautiously’ to a sentence beginning with I.
Use some interesting adjectives and adverbs. Use some of the language techniques - a rhetorical question (with question mark), alliteration and rule of three are simple to remember. Don’t have a checklist and just try to shoehorn everything in.
Punctuation - beware the comma splice, where a comma is used instead of starting a new sentence or where a connective or semi colon would do the job much better. Creative writing is quite useful for demonstrating the ellipsis... to build up suspense/have a dramatic pause. If you use dialogue, you’ll demonstrate variation, more punctuation and even better make your story longer and more interesting!
Spelling - don’t abandon a really good word just because you’re not quite sure of the spelling. The sophisticated vocabulary will top the spelling error as long as it’s clear which word you mean.