GCSEs 2018 (11) Big week coming up

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I think ancient history sounds really interesting.
The History GCSE course came as a surprise to DS because they focus on such odd topics. No industrial Revolution or Napoleonic wars, or anything like that, but there was time to contemplate Malcolm X.
Ancient History sounds a lot more promising, but I'm guessing it is hard to find teachers for it (a bit like it's hard to get Mandarin teachers, so every one does a European language instead).

DS completely relaxed this morning, but I checked that he had a calculator, ruler, compass and am unchipped protractor at least 3 times!
Then, just as he was leaving, I had a panic about whether he is allowed to use a pencil with the compass.
It seems the less nervous he is, the more I am.
I think he was glad to get away from me!

Good luck everyone!!!
Let’s hope they smash it

DD gone off with a very worried look in her eye. She thinks the last paper didn’t go well (she had to be escorted out of the exam to be sick twice) so the stakes are high.

Mind you if she manages to change literally all of her A Level options then maths isn’t quite so important (or so I kept telling at 5am her this morning).

Fingers crossed for all our DCs!!!!

Cblue that sounds tough. Hopefully she’ll get through without being sick today

for you

Good luck to everyone for maths today!
I hope DS remembered his geometry set...

TheThird your DS3 was being a selfish arse by the sounds of it so absolutely fine to tell him so. I certainly would have done and would have had no angst about dodgy parenting! Your poor DS1 - it's incredibly tough when a DS cries, especially a big DS, so poor you too.

Our main problem at exam time with eight DC born close together in a small house with three to a bedroom has been finding space to work. Somehow we're at the back end of it now, but I don't really know how they managed. That was proper bad parenting.

Anyhow, Edexcel maths here today and agree about the likelihood of a stinker. DD's main problem (even before the likely stinker of a paper) was our huge resident raven who decided to sit on her windowsill and squawk relentlessly from dawn. DD was seriously tired going off this morning but needs to make it through the day to do a bit of revision for English and history tomorrow, although just as well it's language not lit I suppose.

Ancient History, according to DD, is mostly a case of looking at the probable bias of the writers, given that most of them were spinning a tale decades or centuries later to back up the rights of the latest overlord.

Plus, half the documents are someone's later opinion of something someone dead once possibly read about someone probably imaginary, in a document that no longer exists. Hence managing to get 'extant' in there, as in 'writing that does at least exist, even if what it says is mostly cobblers' possibly like her maths paper today

Best of luck to everyone for Maths this AM and a particular thank you to @Teenmum60 for the papers. DS1 had run out of papers and was pleased to have another to do.

Yes yes to the issues associated with larger families (although we only have 3). I constantly worry about how fair we are with them in terms of time and attention. I think the eldest inevitably gets more attention as they are the 'first' to do things and the youngest the least. Obviously that's not fair but my youngest does have a very sunny temperament and I have a hunch it's to do with the more hands off approach we've taken to parenting him.

Really hoping today’s Maths not a “stinker” as DS found paper 1 tough and not at all “easy”!!! He’s much happier with a calculator in his hand and his strengths are with the shape questions rather than the wordy percentage/ratio type ones so fingers crossed he’ll be happier with Paper 2.

Good luck to all!

I think my youngest (of three) is actually getting more attention - had early time alone with him at home when the others were at school, and after primary pick up when the others had longer days and now when i can focus on him with the girls are on gap year and placement year. It was the middle one that lost out. And I too often wonder if his calm laid back nature is due to genes or being the third child - probably both.

Hope all goes well for everyone today, both those maths geniuses seeking 9 s (of which we seem to have a few on this thread) and also all those needing a certain grade to progress.

DS is confident he can do well (7/8) but would be nice for him to do even better as it would be a first for him to excel after struggling in the class room and on the sports field for so long in comparison to his peers and siblings. That’s probably being greedy though - it is nice not to be chasing the pass for a change this morning.

Another laid back teen this morning so much so that she didnt surface until 7.10am...gone are the days of those first exams where she needed to be in school for 8am...

Good luck to everyone's DC today ...

Slightly a bit worried about second History paper tomorrow...I did ask DD if she had revised any of second paper whilst at DF's - No...but she a great website - Mr Swift (this time)...so I asked her last night whether she wanted past paper printing off (Yes)...this morning I happened to mention that I assume she will be cramming History this afternoon after Maths exam - reply - Is there a History exam tomorrow ?.

I had a DS who after being out of sorts for a few days had tears last night over English and maths.

After cuddles on the sofa, lots of reassurance that it doesn't matter, we know how hard he has worked so we wont be annoyed - had a slightly happier child. Its also his 16th tomorrow so taking him for a favorite Thai tomorrow night.

Fingers crossed Maths is not horiffic today, he was in school for an 8am breakfast revision class and his 2 hours Sunday in school for more maths revision.

DD's school is using a protractor to measure the length of year 11 skirts on their way into school. For goodness sake - she leaves in 12 days!

We had to start the morning with a detour to local stationary shop to get DS a protractor.
Not that I haven't mentioned whether he has everything he needs a few times before!
Fortunately still got to school just about on time with the half hour before the exam starts.
Hoping maths will be one of his stronger subjects. Less to remember!

Due to a growth spurt ds’s skirt barely goes round her waist & is half way up her thighs. I’m not buying another.

Bit worried today. Dh isn’t well. He took Dd in today then a colleague dropped him off at A & E as his face has dropped & yesterday his right side was feeling tingly.

Oh no, hope he is ok Alexander

"Their Maths teachers have all said as the first paper was so straightforward they expect this one and the next one to be "nasty". "

No, don't say that!

Must remember, if it is hard - last year's grade 4 was 18%, and a grade 6 was only (from memory) 40% ish and a grade 7 just 51%......

Alexander

It cold be something like Bells Palsy but the thought of a mini stroke is worrying.

Hope your DH is ok Alexander.

@AlexanderHamilton - best wishes to you and your DH. He's in the right place, so important to get those symptoms checked out quickly.

Yes, agree those prediction papers were helpful and much appreciated Teenmum. After a day's revision dd didn't have the energy to actually do them last night, but she looked through all the questions to determine whether or not she would be able to tackle them and looked at the mark scheme explanations for the ones she wasn't sure about. Also now have them saved as revision resources for ds when he does his GCSEs two years from now

Thoughts and prayers to your hubby and you alexànder

Just seem that AlexanderH - sincerely hope your dh is okay. My friend had bells palsy suddenly coupled with feeling very tired and under the weather - turned out to be Lymes disease (we are in the New Forest - tick heaven). She was ill for a few months but has made a full recovery with no lasting ill effects due to prompt and expedient diagnosis and treatment.

Not saying it is that - but just make sure its flagged as a possibility with the medics if they are unsure of the cause of his symptoms (I'm all for suggesting stuff to doctors even though I am not remotely medically qualified)

Hope all ok Alexander. Thinking of you