GCSEs 2018 (11) Big week coming up

[mmzz]

old thread

bluebelle hope you feel better soon
stickerocks hope your DM improves soon

mmzz I'm definitely less stressed about each exam as it comes up, to the extent that I'm having to remind myself to show an interest. If English Language had been first on our list, it would have received so much more revision and the same with History. Geography suffered from being crammed in amongst all those other subjects, for some reason, History has felt more "airy".

Ds2 has gone off to school for the full run of exams today although he could come back half way, he said he lilked going over stuff with the other people in his history group ( recipe from hell I would say, ds is quite bombastic, cue me saying but maybe they want to do their own revision not listen to yours!)

dd is having a chilled day, Eng Lang is not an big threat to her, although she is not that interested either, and doesn't care if she gets a respectable but not stellar result. She needs if for Psychology A level but I think that Eng Lit grade will do instead if that is a 6. She has planned to buy some dress making fabric this afternoon on the way home - so chilled is she...

Stickerocks sorry to hear about your mother.

Sostenueto but that was KS3 History which is as different from GCSE History as KS3 Geography is from GCSE Geography.
I am not implying anything about your DGD's ability - I am sure it was very high-, just experience.

I am sorry I missed your post, Stickerrocks. Is it her heart?

After today only maths paper 3, the 3 sciences paper 3s, geography paper 3 and spanish writing. So just 6 and.......whoopee!!!!!

Glad to hear the raven is being more considerate!
DS seems ok about the exams. He even didn't panic when both his pens ran out in maths yesterday - the invigilator had a spare, luckily! (For some reason DS had 5 spare pencils but no working pen!) I did check this morning that he's replaced them.

Sorry about your mum Stickerrocks

Stickerrock I'm so sorry - I just realised I'm missed your news about your mother. hope you get better news soon.

I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it mmzz but in year 8 both geography teacher and history teacher wanted dgd to do GCSE early. We refused because we thought her too young. And I am surprised your ds who is amazing mathematician (who I envy and think a liitle) had not been put in to do exam at earlier age.

Stickerrocks . I know your DM was poorly not so long ago with her heart... these things are always so difficult but I think the DC's are more resilient than we think ...hoping that your DM's health improves ..
DD and I had an amusing chat about careers etc .. we came to the conclusion that I may well be in my 70's by the time she has fully qualified in her chosen field of pediatrics, I said (being totally selfish) maybe she should consider geriatrics instead but she said she would not cope with so many grumpy people.

That is a seriously cunning anti-raven plan mmzz (channelling Blackadder here, as a nod to this afternoon's exam), which I'll deploy for next week. Thank you very much indeed! This fellow is not a pretty sight for those with a fear of birds like yourself - he's the big daddy of all ravens.

mmzz - one would need to find a DC who had done AQA history and geography to know which involved the most writing (Edexcel may have had different length exams, different slots or more short answer questions in geography).

However my point was that all Geography exams were scheduled in the afternoons and the first two involved a lot of writing whereas I believe that one AQA history paper was in the morning (or certainly not after a long English exam).

I don't mean any slight either mmzz

teenmum similar to what I said to dgd about finding cure for dementia when a neuroscientist. She said I was already beyond a cure!

Thinking of you Stickerrocks . It's tough to juggle dealing with worry about a parent and keeping things positive for the DCs. I hope things stabilise.

DD1 is in a state today. She finds this English language paper hard and she realised last night that had missed a chunk of revision for history today (got topics muddled up). And she's exhausted and still has 11 exams to go.

I'm not sure how to play things this weekend. She desperately needs a break but needs to put time in on sciences for next week. There just isn't enough space in this timetable

DD awake which was surprising - had planned to let her lie in ...but she was happy to have pressed the snooze button 16 times ...

DD's History exam is just 1hr 30 minutes but its more of a case of speed writing ...if the exam had been 15 or 30 minutes longer it would have certainly helped...

The problem with DCs who are good at Maths sitting the GCSE early is they still need to keep studying Maths until the end of Y11. And if they want to do Maths or something requiring Maths at university, they need to keep studying Maths until they are 18. It's the sort of subject where you need to keep doing it regularly if you want to stay really good at it.

Hypothetically, if a child who is very gifted at maths takes Maths GCSE in Y8 and then Maths A-level in Y10, and then Further Maths A-level in Y11, what do they do in Y12 & Y13? If they want to study Maths (or even Physics) at university, admissions tutors will expect them to have kept up their Maths skills.

Well hope all DC do well today and for those with English and history good luck to you all, I wish I could lend a hand!

Stickerrocks yes sorry about your mother. My own mother withheld all info about her own diagnoses while I was doing exams - I think one has to really.

Teenmum DS1 has just officially become a doctor and having started out on his six years of training with very different ideas, says he loves geriatric medicine (yes! useful!): he says it's far more complex than medicine for younger people but also - critically - he says old people on the whole are absolutely lovely and so grateful and kind to the doctors, which he likes too. Your DD may well change her mind!

Doing exams early isn't recommended anymore. The government have been trying to make it more difficult by dropping November exams except for English and maths, and then only for resits rather than sitting them early.

It is seen that taking exams spread over a few years makes it easier for the students to get higher results. Taking them all in one season is seen as a better test of their ability.

All the above isn't my opinion, BTW!

Good point thethirdofhername but isn't there any sort of provision at unis to let math geniuses start early or study externally?

goodbye congratulations to your DS1 and particularly for his choice of specialism. I bet his patients love him!
In bird-related news, I have just let a pigeon off the Circle line. They have a habit of hitching rides between Hammersmith and Edgware Road!

The universities prefer it if their future students have continued to study Maths / F.Maths A-level until the end of Y13, so they tend to offer extra-curricular provision such as workshops, competitions and summer schools.

It is possible to start early but it can be socially detrimental for the student. Does anyone remember Ruth Lawrence?

goodbyestranger Totally agree I think the older generation do sometimes have much better manners, are still bright/witty and are indeed thankful...I think DD just looks at DF and me (who are both grumpy) and thinks no way.....she is however great with kids.