Are we ready for a GCSE’s 2019 thread?

[KittyMcKitty]

If so I’m in.

DS (my pfb) will be going into year 11. Mocks after half term. Crossing my fingers for him - needs average point score of 6.5 (across all 10 subjects) to stay for 6th Form.

Anyone else?

Mrsr8 £600 is almost the price for an Adult's yearly bus ticket here, which only covers one travel zone mind you but even so - adults usually have incomes, 16-18yo students don't Every transport option seems to be costly, and cycling isn't always a safe alternative now.

DD's mocks start next week
I think they will be a disaster tbh but not letting on to her
She's so disorganised both with notes and revision planning
Sciences and maths maybe ok but history is such a big subject and she's struggling for hours with that so some of the other subjects are getting ignored
She seems to be putting in the hours though so I could be wrong
Way off covering the syllabus in most subjects it seems

Mrsr8 I wonder sometimes if the powers-that-be remember what's happening in the real world, when they implement new policies. The 6th form DS is keen on at the moment is just 4.4 miles/12mins by car, or 41mins by public bus service. His route would be mainly B-roads but they're the busiest ones locally, and the provision of cycle lanes is patchy. There are a couple of formidable hills to negotiate as well.

He would have no complaints about walking this sort of distance back from school (mornings are a bit iffy, he isn't at his best first thing!) and I'm happy for him to do it from spring to autumn, if he wants. Oh well, we shall wait to see what happens I suppose - everything could change still!

justforareply good luck in her mocks next week.

DS begins his own on Monday as well. He says everything is under control, the results will speak for themselves I suppose.

He chose Geography instead of History, but I noticed AQA History had a huge amount of exam papers when I was checking through their GCSE timetable recently.

Ooh that's given me an idea - we could give DS a stack of AQA revision books for Christmas! He would have fun opening those presents mwah mwah mwah [santa]

Hope parents evening goes well and that you're given all the information you need.

Can I join in? DS1 did his GCSEs in the summer, so recently been through Year 11 but now going through it again with DS2. Mocks after Christmas (again - groan). No clear idea about predicted grades for DS2 yet - like many of you, we have a Year 11 parents evening the week after next so hoping to find out more then.

He's hoping to stay at his partially selective state school for A levels, and will need 48 points for that. Has not yet started any organised revision at home, but it seems like homework is ramping up and school have started sharing information about 'optional' revision sessions after school for some subjects.

Has anyone else got a child who talks ambitious talk but seems unable to actually motivate him or herself to do any actual work? Annoyingly I can't remember when DS1 buckled down and actually got on with revision for his exams, even though they were only last year.

Hi GinWorksForMe, pull up a chair!

Yes, I have a DS who fits the description given in your final paragraph to a tee. I feel as though I spent years trying to burst him out from the little bubble he'd been happily floating along inside since Year 7, when GCSEs still seemed a lifetime away yet to him. Now that mocks are imminent, it no longer feels to me like he's in a bubble but that he's in denial instead! Which probably speaks volumes about my own state of mind, because the behaviour itself hasn't actually altered at all

I've noticed that our homework and other stuff has suddenly increased as well, but I hope our school doesn't start talking about more revision sessions any time too soon because we have our hands full as it is, including 6th form evenings and applications etc.

How did DS1 get on in his GCSEs this year?

It's really interesting reading how schools are so different!
Dd has mocks in December and again in March. They're nowhere near finishing the syllabus in any subject and she's doing 11.5 gcses which seems an insurmountable amount of work. She's doing a small amount of revision, all her homework and a lot of panicking! I'm glad the mocks are before Christmas so she gets a chance to rest a bit in the holidays and reset her anxiety levels.
It's tough knowing how to support them/not pile on the pressure but help them navigate it all. At least 6th form college is sorted!

Hi mushrump and everyone.

DS1 did really well thanks and is studying A levels now. DS2 a different kettle of fish though...has ability but lacks drive...a common theme among teenage boys (and maybe girls) I know.

Doing 11 GCSEs, like gleegeek says, seems an awful lot for their poor —screen-addled— brains to cope with!

Glad to have found you for support over the next six months or so. It’s such a busy time, mocks, exams, work experience, 6th form options, prom...

Oh and DS2 is squeezing in his first love, a gorgeous girl who seems to be much more important than physics or French just now....

Don't mention prom the talk is on going. Apparently the 'populars' already have their prom dresses from designers costing thousands! Any idea where the more sensible budgets and less clothes obsessed shop???

gleegeek man alive! Do you mean they are literally spending £0000s on a prom frock?? Well, more fool them. Not sure where you're based, but I've heard that some of the charity shops (British Heart Foundation, for instance) around places like Dulwich and other upmarket parts of London are often full of nearly-new, quality designer clothing. I've even found a few bits for my son in our local Lions Hospice shop, and we're a good 25 miles outside London - casual shirts by Jeff Banks and Abercrombie & Fitch for under £4 each, for example. Maybe start off by looking for something in these?

Think we're going prom dress shopping over Xmas. Budget most definitely not ££££. Shops around here note dresses and schools to try to avoid duplication.

GinWorksForMe a love interest is the last thing you need..! I'd forgotten what it felt like to be 15, hormonal and about to take mock 'O'-level exams - no way would I want to be that age ever again .

I found a short article on the webmd .com site recently that talked about an experiment which involved taking brain scans of 265 men and women, had revealed a possible neural basis for procrastination. It said the researchers had discovered that a part of the brain that's involved in motivation tended to be bigger in the people who put things off, and there appeared to be weaker communication between this part of the brain and another part that's involved in taking action. The experiment didn't find anything more conclusive though by the sound of it, such as whether it was possible to retrain the brain of somebody who had been born with the physical predisposition towards procrastinating, so that they wouldn't do it. (search for: Scientists Finally Finding Procrastination's Home.) Interesting, to think there could be a genuine reason why some kids get stuck in to their revision while others won't budge.

Mrsr8

We are definitely NOT spending £££ on a prom dress! DD1's entire outfit plus hair and makeup cost under £150, and she has worn it again since. DD2's budget will be similar, but she is hoping to raid charity shops. She wants to go dress shopping with her friends, but if that doesn't work I may try the charity shops in Cambridge - we picked up a dress there for DD1's 6th form ball for £17. It's velvet and stunning - Prom is late June so she may end up not wearing it, but she also has two backup dresses (none of which cost £££ either...)

Well in my experience it’s not very expensive having boys at prom time. DS1 asked for some vodka (no) and wore the black suit (£80) which he has worn for sixth form ever since. Can’t remember if he bothered with a haircut but I’m pretty sure he did have a shower before he got changed which isn’t always the case I’m ashamed to say.

gin definitely cheaper for boys, although DS had suit, shirt, tie, shoes, cuff links. First 2 never reworn due to growth spurt!

For people applying for sixth forms at another schools - do you know how mocks marks will impact on offers? Eg those doing them now will not have covered as much of syllabus as those doing in Jan. So not a level playing field?