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

[mmzz]

Sostenuto. I don’t know if you’ve shared what your medical issue is but whatever it is I think you’ve been incredibly selfless.

Dh is now BANNED from the washing. After I carefully separated out Dds delicate leotards & sports bras for hand wash & he’s just dumped it all in the washing machine withbthecrest of the stuff.

Sost If you are anywhere near Waterloo, there is a tiny Korean shop next to the Fire Station bar, opposite the Old Vic, which has Kpop albums, posters & socks. I think DD has a collection of kitsch socks from Exo, Seventeen, BTS etc.

Although her last exam isn't until 19th, I'm taking her out of school on Friday afternoon to see Ed Sheeran, then we have tickets for Taylor Swift on 23rd. The school clarified their study leave policy on Friday. This week they must obviously attend each exam, so they must be in school for 9am each day, but they must also continue to attend each science, Maths & MFL lesson until the bitter end (along with any other subjects still in progress). There one concession is to let them leave school in other lessons if they wish. DD plans to do 9-3 in school and hide in the history/geography depts in free periods.

Thank you mmzz* a no brained really dgd has her future in front of her and had more than enough stress to deal with without me adding to it and I will survive treatment because I've got to come on 6th form thread with all you lovely people!

Sost we're not letting you go anywhere! Cross posted whilst you were saying they are off to the london Eye. The Korean shop is 5 minutes from there.

Its difficult isn't it Mmzz whether to advise against the essay based subjects (DS is rejecting history and economics) or whether they should be doing them and finding solutions - my concern is that in the workplace they will need the written word, unless things have moved on so much by the time they get there. I was in accountancy but the majority of my work was report writing for eg.

I think the issue has gone away here in that DS has actually enjoyed studying for maths physics and CS which has re affirmed his A level choices (depending of course on results). If that wasn't the case and he was still considering History and Economics I'm not sure what I would advise.

Thanks peggy
Thanks alexander so pleased hubby is recovering well!
Thanks stickerocks for tip will tell dd to pop along!
Please all don't worry I have been fighting big c since I was 28!(now 65) and I'm still here! It rears its ugly head about every decade but thanks to marvelous NHS and constant screening they will save me again! I'm too bad to die relatively young!

Great sticker! that's absolute bonus! What road us it on do you know please?

I teach a lot of students with dyslexia etc coming into the accountancy profession. I don't think it's really an issue in their exams as long as they ask for extra time. A lot are quite stubborn and don't see it as being their right.

Mmzz I'm nowhere near an expert, but DD1's friend did economics (along with maths, further maths and physics) He was a super high achiever (a bit like your DS by the sounds of it - Olympiad etc) and planned to take all 4 to Full A Level, but did end up dropping economics after year 12 as it was too much writing for him and too time consuming.
Saying that my DD1 had intended to take 4 to A2 and ended up having to drop one too because the new spec ALevels just seem to have too much content to comfortably do 4 (and there is little point over-stretching when universities are quite happy with 3)

So if he'd started with economics as one of 3, instead of 4, he perhaps wouldn't have found it such a struggle.

All the best to you Sost and I hope your DGD has a great time in London.

DD just sat a Geography past paper but is not showing a lot of enthusiasm for moving on to biology.

I think they are all getting tired now. It's the final straight.

Just phoned dd she said she will look for it now sticker and she's chuffed too!

Yes true kickabout all DC getting tired. Dgd trudged off to bedroom with drooped shoulders to do yet more biology and geography, bless her and all DC and thanks too kick

Be back later got to get car cleaned as mot on Monday! Dog hairs everywhere!

Sostenueto I hope your DGD and DD have a wonderful time in London - we are also in London on 15th overnight.
Hope your mum is OK stickerrocks
Alexander - sounds like your DH's health is improving...men and washing to not go together ...I have to instruct DD to bring anything white or any clothes she really cares about back to mine for washing ...so many white school blouses have gone blue!

DD was asked if she wanted to join the Dofe Gold expedition on Friday evening - they are one person short (coast to coast bike ride at the end of June...) she was very quick to find a suitable excuse!

Good luck for the 16th, Sostenueto. Let your family rally around you, and keep posting here, especially on the days when you just need to let off a bit of steam!

Sostenueto I hope your DGD has a brilliant time in London, its such a great city for sightseeing and shopping. Very selfless to keep your illness to yourself while she is doing her exams, I wish you all the best with the treatment

Alexander its good to hear your DH is doing so well health wise, but not so good about the washing ..... hopefully the delicates survive

Lobster is absolutely right about how its isn't necessary to do any more than 3 A Levels, although many maths scholars will take Additional Maths as a fourth. University entrance is based upon 3 A levels and three good ones are better than 4 mediocre. A economics degree is maths heavy and most will require either a very good GCSE Grade (7 or above) if not taking Maths or a maths heavy science to A Level. Its worth looking at course content and structure to determine how much writing is involved, particularly the range of options, as some will have a final dissertation and others will not, allowing the student to choose.

DD is struggling to focus today, keeps breaking for a snack or to ask an unnecessary question!

Sost you are an absolute and a total inspiration. The very best of luck for your treatment. Hope it's not too arduous.

Alexander glad to hear your DH is doing well (but not with the washing!)

Rightly or wrongly, DS is set on taking Economics, History and Maths at A Level despite the amount of writing in the first two. Saying that I have seen a real improvement in his written work over the past few months as the amount of practice essays/questions increased. He'd make his life a lot easier if he dropped one of them for Physics but there's no way he'd give up History and he thinks he'll really enjoy Economics (I suspect he's right). In a way I admire him for not taking the easier option but I hope he's not biting off more than he can chew.

Sostenueto you are so lovely to your dgd and I bet she is going to have a brilliant time next weekend. What a generous treat!
I think you are right but also very brave to wait till they get back before you tell them about the treatment. and hugs and for goodness sake have a rest when you get home!

So pleased Pup is on the mend!

I took maths, physics & economics in another century. Looking back I should have swapped physics for history, but there you go. I'm a firm believer in taking what you will enjoy at A level or you won't have the motivation to do well.

Speaking of which, this has to be the least popular week of exams for DD. She is tackling biology & geography upstairs, but I can tell she is lacking enthusiasm.

Stickerrocks thanks for the heads up about the Korean shop. Now I know exactly where to take DD2 on her 13th birthday!

I've already planned to take a day off work so DD1 and I can go to the Science Museum after the exams. She loves it there, but none of us is good with crowds, so it will be a real treat to go when everyone else is at school.

From what I understand Economics degrees really vary in how much maths/writing is involved. Some (especially some of the top rated) are very maths heavy but you can also find economics options with less maths and more essay/applied content. Not sure about A level - DD did higher level IB economics and which had a maths paper as part of it but it was fairly straightforward in content.

Does anyone know anything about Geography mark schemes?

DD is fairly good at Geography and wants to do it at A level. She has a good knowledge and is predicted a 7.

She did a practise paper this morning and asked me to mark it (I know! Should have learnt by now!)

She's doing WJEC and the mark scheme is ridiculous. Perfectly good answers and it says "Do not credit"

I can't work out how she's supposed to know what will be credited and what won't. Sometimes it's obvious - if it's a 4 mark question and it asks for 2 points you have to give an explanation or two per point. Other times it just seems completely random and impossible to predict.

Anyone else's DC struggling with this?

This isn't helped by the fact that the teacher only finished the syllabus at the revision session during half term so hasn't done any exam technique with them at all. I'm really worried she is losing marks on topics she understands because she isn't answering in the way the mark scheme dictates.

Does she have a copy of the syllabus kick - that should clarify what she needs to known(rather than what might be correct but won’t be credited)

Not doing geography but had exactly that problem with biology. Sorry don’t know what the answer is