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

[mmzz]

My dc hasn’t revealed anything of the exams content, English and history. Hope he got the sports question as he should be able to answer that alright, with example. Don’t like to probe to much.

I will be so nervous on results day I think my dgd will have to hold sick bag for me!

Petal the sports question was on the AQA English GCSE paper, plenty on here have found its best not to probe as it doesn't always end well

DS wrote about the discrepancy between sports at grassroots level, where there is very little cash, community participation, lots of health benefits to the population and negligible corruption versus at elite level where there is a lot of money, leading to corruption (FIFA), drug taking and winning is all that matters. Then he noted that following the "escapades" of their favourite team brings pleasure to millions.

Thanks for welcome. Yes, history questions seemed quite easy to me but English essay (? or whatever) on sports corruption seemed to require certain knowledge that not every kid would necessarily have - surely a no-go in a language exam, which ought to focus on ... language

I think you would need aware of the news about drug taking, or FIFA corruption and also be aware that there is a huge public health concern regarding obesity with more exercise being seen as one of the answers. You could talk about football or cycling or the Olympics, but if you were like me at15 and avoid of that, then you'd be left just cobbling together an answer from news headlines.

I could be wrong as I haven't seen the spec but won't marks be for how it's written ie in the style of a newspaper article so short snappy sentences, headline grabbing content ect to get the readers attention, I don't think it has to be factually correct, can't they just make the whole thing up ie refer to fake people they've interviewed or am I completely wrong???

presumably they're just 'judging' your use of language, though - not your subject knowledge - otherwise that would be a PE exam!

snap - bluebelle@

were they asked to write it in the style of a newspaper article then?

Yes, knowledge of the subject isn't important, but you do need to know how newspaper articles are written.

DS3's headline was 'Is the urge to win too strong?'

I think that's what my DS has done.........reason why we shouldn't probe too much, he could have totally misunderstood

Cross post, kit! Yes, a newspaper article.

Those responses to the AQA question all sound good to me. It can be answered in many different ways. They're looking at use of English not in depth sports knowledge.

Just clicked on your twitter link mmzz.

I think lots of us have a big debt to pay to MrBruff. DS1 and DS2 used him as well. I hope he makes a good living from his YouTube channel.

Then it's a question about genre then ... quite hard to do I'd imagine, though I guess they've all been doing it since primary school!

loose maybe you ought to start up a YouTube channel! You have also been really helpful on this thread.

I'll second that and

Hope dgd wrote it like a newspaper article, dare not ask her anymore ( tongue bitten off)

Unanimous here for loose!

Ellenjane I was impressed with the respectful, witty, concise way the boy wrote it. He said a lot in a few words! I wish DS had that boy's flair.

Yes, loose you've made a huge difference. Thank you.

Did it state in question it had to be newspaper article? If so then she would have, if not then who knows! ( currently pulling out petals of flower, do i ask, do I not ask, do I ask, do I not ask.........)

No point worrying! Nite to all have a good rest over weekend to all. Weather supposed to be nice so that's a plus!!

Absolutely yes, huge thank you to Loose for all the wonderful advice and exam technique tips

Its interesting that the vast majority have sat the AQA English and very few seem to have done Edexcel, I wonder why??

A friend's DC has had a completely differently experience, and I must admit I don't know the exam board, but they still had course work for English and only had to sit one exam each for Literature and Language - and also had the huge advantage of entering the exam knowing that they already had a Grade B in the bag