GCSEs 2018 (13) Untwisting our knickers, lucky for some!

[Stickerrocks]

Thread 12 Link to the thread with our potted histories. Now the end is in sight.

DD’s report on physics was ‘There was a question on the back! And I saw it in time!’

Well, that’s a start.

Alexander my ds has just sat AQA combined higher Physics he said it didn't go well...he is OK though as he thought the other paper went well and he thinks the grade will be averaged out. I am not too good at keeping up with the thread, but would like to wish all the best to your dh and rest of your family.

Will join you Bluebelle even though he doesn't finish until after German. I have a bottle of pink gin in the cupboard, but I am disappointed with it, tastes a bit odd to me. Also, I meant to ask... how is the running going? Park Run again for me tomorrow.

It was single science (triple) AQA Higher that Dd did. She sounded really upset which I’ve not heard her like that before. She said there was a weird question where they had to work out the speed of something to do with water I think but they didn’t give certain measurements. (This is only half remembered on my part)

I just hope she managed to stay calm & work her way through it all without getting in a tizz.

But I told her, it’s over. She doesn’t even need physics anyway & it really doesn’t matter

Gettin I splashed out and bought an expensive bottle of hopefully it will be nice you're welcome to try at the virtual party.....

I have never done a park run have been meaning to , I do a half marathon once a year and maybe the odd 10k that's my limit, all so I can eat chocolate and not feel too guilty

Yay!!, they are over. Bottle of wine for me tonight I think.

Will be back in five years time to do it all again with DD2!

Alexander if it was only the one question then I'm sure its no where near as bad as what she thinks, they do tend to concentrate on what didn't go well as opposed to everything that did.........

Physics is usually one of DS2's strong subjects (he got 87% in the mock) but he found Paper 2 (AQA triple) quite tricky. He knows the material but found it difficult to understand exactly what some of the questions were asking for.

Alexander how sad about the dance teacher, sending hugs.

DD reports AQA Combined Higher Physics was ok. Says she answered 80% of question fairly confidently, the other 20% was a stab in the dark. Currently making a cardboard maze for her hamsters, I'm off invigilating A levels this afternoon so she assures me she will be doing German revision. Busy weekend for us away in Birmingham for a concert and a dance competition so I hope she gets some done today.

DD answered every question, AQA Physics triple, so she must have remembered some of what she's learnt after all; hope she got a fair few of them right! I've just had 12 of her friends back here to get changed and pick up supplies; a mix of foundation and higher science and they all had different opinions on the papers

They've now all gone for a picnic and swimming in the river.

Can't quite believe they're over, just got to get through the next however many weeks of Love Island now; we're a one TV house and DD is addicted and insists on watching it on the big screen!

DS says Physics 2 (Edexcel Higher) was about the same level of difficulty as paper 1. The relief! Now I can revert to fretting about physics grade boundaries as he's in with a chance again..

He's at home on the sofa now relishing the fact that he has nothing to do except read football news, play football, play FIFA on the Xbox, and watch the World Cup and GoT.

I got an email from Tassomai saying that they are adding in some A level courses.

I’ve had the email from Tassomai too. Dd will be doing English Lit & Philosophy A levels but I’ll be signing Ds up in September.

Dd aid the physics questions made no sense & had no context.

mmzz its virtual party time we'll have no talk of grade boundaries or A levels here

For those still going it will be over before you know it.

AlexanderHamilton that's how DS2 felt.

Eve

Always - well done to your incredible dd on getting through it. I hope your mental health improves now there is some respite from the exam pressure which must have added so much stress on top of dd's ongoing health needs. Please look after yourself and make sure you access any help that is available.

Alexander, Loose and TheThird, dd didn't feel the love for the the AQA Physics Higher Triple science either. She felt it was tougher than paper 1. I couldn't get much detail out of her as she had two friends in the car and they had more important things to discuss apparently.

Re physics - so the latent heat energy topic DD and I crammed late last night (last year’s 6 marker) was also a six marker this year!

As we were learning it quickly I thought that she would at least recognise the shape of the graph now. The question showed the graph and asked was going on.

I have exam topic ESP.

Starting to tidy up.

for the exhausted, worried and grieving

WJEC physics that is. Don’t want to worry anyone

The third - I told Dd what your Dd said & she feels a bit better about it now.

Update from DD is that her idiosyncratic way of revising - read the page out loud, record it, play it back through headphones - works better than anything else she's tried. Also works for other people's podcasts, even without the video. Apparently when faced with a difficult six-marker, she calls up the sound of someone droning soothingly about electromagnetic commutators or planetary atmospheres.

I've just written a long and detailed email of advice to my future self for September 2019 when DS2 starts year 11.

I've got the links for Tassomai, freesciencelessons, Mr Salles, Mr Bruff etc on there and just in case my memory fails me i've put in a warning about how the school's revision sessions are sometimes invaluable and sometimes a waste of precious time.

So, I am now archiving every thing i've learned these last few months, before I get DS to fill the recycling bin with his old school jotters.
Oddly, I feel like an imposter on this thread now, because I know about half of us still have more exams to do.

Gosh so many and hugs to all of you grieving and coping with health problems. You put my life into perspective, for which I am very grateful. Have had the odd depressive episode myself so I sympathise with how difficult it is to keep a brave face on things while you're falling apart underneath.

DS said physics was hard....but OVER! He sat out in sun for 10 mins, got bored and went back in his lair to watch Friends I have strimmed and pruned and now relaxing with a beer. DH on way home. Tonight is GCSE art exhibition at local pub, tomorrow village fete and Sunday we're going out for a fathers day picnic - probably to a stately home or country park.

DS not worried about further maths next week so I am taking my foot off the gas and trying to let my brain go back to sleep

Dgd hasn't stopped crying tears of joy because 1) she's finished exams with an alright but I messed up 5 mark question and it was a 'stiff' paper (AQA higher triple) but I'll never have to do physics again! 2) her face a picture when she got in the car and drove her home instead of dentist and found out about trip when she got in! Lots of hugs kisses, crying,laughing and then panic to get ready. We are now at coach pickup point awaiting coach with a fair few people. ( wish I was going too) dgd disappointed I'm not going but fudged my way out saying I'm off to see my best friend for the weekend so I can have some alcohol ( the only alcohol I'll get is stuff they have at the hospital)
The relief its all over is immense but somehow I will miss it. Well done to all who finish today and now we can cheer on enmasse for those who finish next week! Good luck all!

We are finished!

DS says Physics Edexcel IGCSE was OK (not his strongest subject) and he went out for lunch with his mates.

I can't believe that it's over. We've had three years working towards this point, and well, that's it!

I've been sorting out school uniform for the uniform sale next week and suddenly feel a bit wobbly ! My 'baby' has grown up and my eldest will (hopefully) be off to uni in 3-4 months...

A friend who has been through it and 'understands' is taking me out for tea

Sostenueto you are starting treatment today?