GCSEs 2018 (12) Are we nearly there yet?!

[mmzz]

DS is due to do A level Physics. Tbh, he's not that keen on it, but feels limited in what he can achieve with dysgraphia and he's assured that it is half maths, which just leaves the physics half to worry about!
When it came right down to it, it was amazing how few genuine options there really are for him.
So, in sheer to the question, he's finding chemistry fine, biology fine once lots of words are committed to memory, but physics is a bit like learn the answers and try to get the marks, but don't what some things actually mean it's a bit unfathomable.

I used to teach biology so will drill Ds2 tomorrow. He’s good at chemistry (& his grandfather used to teach it, so that’s covered). Physics he finds harder. He quite liked it in year 10 but then had a new teacher in year 11 and they clashed. I saw what was happening after mocks and he’s had a tutor for the last 6 months. He seems to feel okay with it now.

Pleased to say that all DS's sciences were before Half term except for one chemistry paper this Wednesday (Edexcel igcse). They did CIE physics and biology igcses as they still have practical papers and the school feels this prepares them better for A level.

But it does mean he front loaded them and had the subjects he preferred to revise over half term.

We are down to 4 papers - geography Monday, chemistry Wednesday and then German x 2 the following Monday and then all done!

I find it so interesting that the different DC may like one science more than others. DS is definitely a physics guy. I wonder what factors are in play.

I've called timed on revision today DS has done 4.5hrs and he is shattered mentally and physically I think you can get to a point where if you do any more you are doing more harm than good and I think he's reached that point........there's always tomorrow.....
He's got 6 exams next week most of which are his A level choices so although he wants to do well they are also his strong subjects so I think he can afford to let up a little..........we are nearly at the finish

I would have bet money on DS3 liking physics the most because it's so mathematical, uses formulae and everything. Maths is his strongest subject but he much prefers chemistry over physics. I can't shift him so he's taking chemistry at A level alongside his maths and FM.

DD seems to find Physics the easier science.
Biology has come on leaps and bounds in the last few months - today's Biology past papers were all over 70%...she'll be happy with an A (which I think was 59% last year)...she has managed 79 and 89% on a couple of past papers so looking doable.
Physics - she would like an A* - she thinks the first paper went really well so we will see.
Chemistry - A bit of a thorn ...DD hoping for a B - second paper tends to be better paper...she is capable just needs confidence boost.

DD will just do past papers for revision and then look at weak area's.

Don't worry mmz he hasn't used the on line science text books at all - finds the CGP guides much more user friendly.

With DS he loves physics (though some of that may due to his teacher), finds some of chemistry easy with not too much volume to learn but other topics are harder to grasp, Biology is just learning stuff and he doesn't like the plans side so not enjoying it and he can't remember the very specific ways you need to say things so the mark won't reflect his knowledge. Scraped 5s in all three mocks and would be happy with a repeat of that for biology but hoping he can pull the other two up a bit

what board is that teen

IGCSE Edexcel - they just have 1hr paper 2's on Mon/Wed/Fri next week.

Dgd science exams all AQA pity the first biology paper was a bit.....but hoping paper 2 better.

Wow this thread has moved on again!

Been out all day at a sporting competition with DD and am exhausted and a bit sunburnt. Welcome to the newcomers - always room for more!

DS1 has been working on Ad Maths today. He has IGCSE EdExcel sciences next week.

He loves chemistry and is thinking of it for university. He also really likes physics. He doesn't like biology but seems to be OK with it.

The only end is so nearly in sight now. 9 days to go.

mmzz
The Jeffrey thing in 2015. This one

DS2 loves all the sciences and wanted to take A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and French.

Sorry, Thethird I knew about that one. The boy from RGS in Guildford. It was scary how easy he found it. I thought you meant a more recent hack.

I know this is terrible, but each morning if DS has a lot of revision to get through before the exams the following day, I have to remind myself that it would be very, very unreasonable to just go and wake him up now!

Mmzz me too. I'm under orders not to wake her up until 9.30.

She's a bit worried about sciences this week. Like your post yesterday dd is not really prepared for these papers. All early revision focused on paper 1 and then half term was just language and geography because they were both very important to her.

She had an awful day yesterday. She came home from work sobbing. Her bosses at the cafe she works in are a bit "Gordon Ramsay" in their style and it doesn't suit her.

I don't know if they were worse yesterday or she was tired and feeling more fragile but she said they called her a "fucking idiot" and a "stupid fanny" among other things.

She was so upset. I feel awful. I've been saying it's just normal to be told off but I didn't realise they'd been that bad.

Not what she needed after a long week.

That isn't suitable workplace language, especially the second one. I guess they are more valuable to the business than your DD?

On the upside, it's not like a career role, so new job before her confidence goes?? She can use the experience gained at that one to get the next.

I've added up all the hours DS has left to revise before Friday night (7 a day), subtracted mornings off for taking exams etc, and then subtracted off DS's estimate of how long he needs for each mini-topic he still needs to learn.
The upshot is that between now and 11am on Friday, DS has 1hr 35 mins to spare! Considering that he started revising in February, that's cutting it fine!

They are the owners so no accountability.

Yes it's time to leave. She doesn't even need the money really. She's built up over £800 since last November and doesn't have anything to spend it on. She never goes out and only shops in Primark twice a year.

I encouraged her to get the job purely for her confidence and social skills. That hasn't really worked out.

@KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse - that language is definitely not ok. The problem is that the only thing you can do is to give her some strategies on how to deal with it. Now they're growing up we can't march in and sort these things out for them - though I wish we could.

@mmzz - DS1!s discipline has really dropped off. I can't see him thinking about hours to be done. Both DH and I are home all day (and DH again tomorrow) so we can keep an eye on progress.

Up early as dog woke me up with a big poo in the kitchen. Might have been a mistake to feed him leftover fish from fish & chips takeaway 😬

Give some power without oversight to people with little brains and that's what you get. She can leave, but they will still be stuck with their own serious limitations.
Your DD should see it as motivation to work hard at school so she has choices about where she works and who she works with.

I must admit I'd be tempted to go into that cafe, order a drink and just remind them through being visible that your DD has people behind her.

@sandybayley I would love to march in and tell them what I think! It's so hard when they are older.

She's only got one more shift and then 5 weeks off for various reasons. A good time to give notice and leave on relatively good terms.

Sandybayley its more a legacy thing. It's the study timetable I made. It has a list of things to know from the specifications, and DS wrote next to it a long time ago how much time he estimated he would need.
AlMost all of it is crossed off, but some things need another look and it's those that I'm adding up now. It's all just 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there, but six 10 minute things make another hour. Plus there is a lot of Tassomai for the practice.