GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

I don't think they will be a shock to the system for your DS because he is already used to thinking for himself and planning. Those who do the bare minimum and rely on the teachers to tell them the right answer struggle. I would always suggest taking subjects you are genuinely interested in, because that gives you the motivation to find out more and work outside of the classroom in free periods.

I have an older DS and can confirm for him the A levels were a HUGE step up. They need to put in the work from the off and not wander off for coffees with mates in their 'frees'. My DS realised early into the first term and has worked incredibly hard. Also if they don't pass exams at Christmas, the college my DS goes to won't let them continue and they have to change subjects or move to a BTech. Same again with exams at the end of the first year. I know this seems harsh but it saves them wasting 2 years on a subject and then failing it. However having said all that, the harder GCSEs are supposed to make the step up to A level easier so let's hope that is the case. Let's face it, some kids start A levels that should never be doing them and should be on other pathways more suited to their academic level.

Oddly enough dd is very au fait with London & on a recent school trip when they were running late because a couple of students were at the wrong meeting place at the wrong time she went to the teachers & suggested an alternative, better way back to get them all back on track!

Teen - Dd would love to work in a cruise ship. It’s a great life & although there are lots of duties the pay is good. I’d miss her though.

@stickerrocks - It definitely will be a change but we have YH'd a lot too so she's used to basic accommodation and bunk beds. We both commented when we were getting off at ports how prison looking the staff accommodation was ..DD has been doing a fair amount of fact finding on work on cruise ships (she is friends with the teen club manager from last year and this year). I thought she might like the kids entertainment but I think she quite fancies working for the Cruise Director in some capacity....but that is many years ahead. She did say it was interesting to have been on two cruises one with all British teens and the other with European teens and how it was far nicer being with the European teens who were more chilled and less "beef".

DD is quite good at making soups and my advice for her this coming week will be make sure you are in a group with someone who can cook for the following week....although hopefully DD is capable of following a recipe....and if all else fails they can order a Domino's!

I think DD's community action project may also have a few difficulties given that its results week and they are off on the 23rd and DD is going on a sleep over that night...so not sure how with it she will be on 24th!

I remember A levels being a significant jump from O levels but it was just so much better to know I'd chosen three subjects that I really wanted to do. And we were ready for the jump!
Like mmzz I wish we just knew the results now! It's not crucial for DS to get mega high grades so we are safe talking about his first choice to him. At least next weekend we go away for a week and it looks as though Devon will be a lot cooler than London is at the moment. We're looking forward to being able to go on long walks without melting after 10 minutes!

Let's face it, some kids start A levels that should never be doing them and should be on other pathways more suited to their academic level.

That's what I was thinking about university for my friend's DD. She is worried about having enough to get onto a not particularly popular course at a not very popular university and i was thinking (but not saying) that if its touch and go at this point, then maybe she'd be better off doing something else as its only going to get harder.

AH When DD was getting off the ship this morning she said it was change over day for the entertainment team and how excited they all were when they were getting on ... I would be keen for DD to do a couple of contracts because its a good way to see world...one of my friends was a croupier in the Caribbean when she was younger and she's now an Accountant but she looks back at her time at sea with so many happy memories.

Loose not sure which part of devon but if its the Barnstaple area, have a look at the Tarka Trail

DS brought up results today and as he wants to do medicine we've discussed the minimium grades he needs to realistically carry on down that path, we decided 5 x 8's which should include the sciences and at least a 7 in English......I would be happy to be corrected from those of you whose DC go to schools where medicine is a popular option

I think DD will be very fortunate with the weather too (NCS 1 st week in in Shropshire/Welsh border)...cooling down all week and then looks like rain after lunch on Friday when they will be on the way home.

DF has invested in some Honeywell fans and she has brought one over to our house....DD's bedroom is a barn attic conversion with three velux windows which makes the room like a sauna....

Bluebelle - I would have thought you are probably right but I'm not expecting 5 8's from DD (she will probably have a mixture of A*/A's a few 7's and I expect a B in Chemistry). DD is very philosophical about it all (she knows she probably should have worked harder but cant change that now). Its head down (she is very capable) to get very good predicted grades and regular work experience to show she has a passion and hopefully they will see that she has matured since GCSE days. She will also consider graduate entry too....she's at school that will give her sound advice so I will go with the flow, next years 6th form cohort are heavily medicine orientated (they are running 3 Chemistry groups and 4 Biology groups for just 69 students) a lot of the parents are GP's etc.

I think I’ve saud before some med schools place more store on gcse s so you may limit your options with lower grades but it certainly doesn’t make it impossible. Key is researching the different schools and applying to those that fit your strengths. You only need one offer after all. Also a lot of people now see med school/Oxbridge as a two year process and if they just miss out apply again with actual a level grades and more work experience and critically another years maturity

mmzz we're in the Deep South of the county - by a lighthouse! We went there last year not realising it's a working lighthouse so the first misty night was rather noisy! But they supply ear plugs...

Hmm not sure re step up. DD s didn’t find it too much of a problem but they did have a string of A stars and worked hard from the off. With lower gcse grades or poor teaching or if you don’t engage at the start it could be harder. Having said that with harder broader gcse s that may have closed some of the gap. It is a big step but I think it will depend on individual dc and also how well they have been and will be taught as to how hard they find it.

Sorry that didn’t really answer you question at all :).

Re the step up to A level l think what my DD found is that you have to do quite a lot of work yourself - not just questions, but you may not be taught everything. For biology, she wrote up all her class notes into another book, also looking at the text book to see what hadn't been covered.

For medicine, some med schools do base who they interview heavily on GCSE (eg Cardiff). Others base it purely on your UKCAT score as long as you have met their minimum GCSE requirements (eg Newcastle and Sheffield). Others use a mix or different entrance test. So 5 8's not necessary!

adrinkofwater I glanced not in great detail at the MSC entry requirements for all the Uni's and that was my opinion too...there did not seem to be any consistency e.g Bristol doesnt mention science GCSE requirements but required an A in Maths...but Lancaster wanted AAA AAA BBB ...when DD looked through the requirements she quite fancied Leicester (GCSE's B/6) ..obviously these are minimum requirements and they have the pick of the pack....but with some strong A level predicted grades she could have a chance (assuming she gets the B in Chemistry in the IGCSE where the first paper was considered to have a few curved balls).

I'm actually quite chilled about GCSE's (sorry)

I guess where we are coming from is that DS worked incredibly hard for his GCSE's so if he doesn't get the 5 x 8's then maybe academically he's not cut out for it, admittedly teaching is patchy but it will be for A level so irrelevant really, he just has to make the best of the situation...........anyway not much longer to wait when DS and I can discuss it properly always different when the results are actually known!

I am sure your DS will achieve his grades Bluebelle ...hard work does pay off!

Teen A friend was recently Sandy in Grease for RCI for 12 months. She had leading lady privileges and was allowed in all guest areas, but the chorus weren't. I would get DD to check out who is eating & drinking in the buffet and bars, check out their job titles, then take it from their! The European crew seem to be treated far better than some other nationalities. Maybe she should look into working in one of the concessions.

Stickerrocks - We are talking years ahead and things may change DC's have all sorts of idea;s and aspirations at this age. I dont think it would bother DD where she was eating/drinking she's quite grounded. She does work (Saturdays) for a Murder Mystery company at the moment so she has some experience of entertainment and dealing with the public....so who knows - lets see what happens.

Actually I think It's a great idea for the two of you to sample as many different ships as possible before the gap year, just to make sure she knows what she wants to do!

An upside to the hot weather (doesn’t suit me) is a bumper fig crop. Last year they didn’t ripen but this year the tree is dripping with them. Will have to cook and freeze some to have on porridge in the depths of winter.

Some of you may remember me saying I have an older DC who has so far got the worst GCSEs in our family. They have been doing an apprenticeship and done really well at BTEC at excellent college. This DC has got a new apprenticeship at a company that will support up to degree and even PhD. DC did very well in the assessments and obviously at interview. Not bragging, just reminding us all that there are lots of routes to success that aren’t nine A* at GCSE.

Peggy well done your DC. It is very heartening to hear such stories.

Peggy that really is good to hear. You are so right there are so many routes.

I find the further we have gone from when exams finished my sense of reality about how DD May have done is blurring. I don't really remember how she did and I feel that we may get some real surprise results. I think there was only one English paper that she felt that she messed up the timing on
But I just feel I don't have a clue what she is going to get.

I too wish that they had their results already and could actually enjoy some of the summer post results. I don't really expect DD not to make the grades for her 6th form or for her subjects. But still this whole 9 to 1 aspect is making everything so much harder.