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Original poster

GCSEs 2019 - support thread part 2

999 replies

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/01/2019 20:27

Here we are again Grin

OP posts:
GingerbreadTeen · 13/05/2019 16:00

I'm new to this board but have been reading with interest. Can I join you?

DS had Computer Science this morning which he felt he otherwise 'aced' but struggled with the algorithm question.

RS has resulted in tears over the phone as he was asked to name two books from the Tanakh and couldn't recall the information. His cancelled train home hasn't helped!

He's not a high achiever and aiming for 4 or 5 grade 4s so have just told him to do his best which we will be happy with. It's tough to know how to react, as a parent, to their disappointment isn't it.

SilentSister · 13/05/2019 16:10

DD has printed off x ten's of different papers..... we had to go get more paper and ink over Easter. I think because they use iPads everything is on-line, great for accessibility, but you have to print everything off at home. Their science dept is great though, can't complain, they uploaded every past paper of every subject from every board for the last few years, so we have lots of choice. They also do blogs on Spotify and videos on YouTube. All very high tech Grin.

SolitudeAtAltitude · 13/05/2019 16:16

my DS is doing all "revision" through youtube and Seneca (test papers online)

It worries me seeing all his revision books lying untouched, but he says books are very old school

chocolateworshipper · 13/05/2019 16:28

DD thought that the RS exam this afternoon was fine. I'm hoping this will boost her confidence being the first exam.

Iambuffy · 13/05/2019 16:30

It is hard, yes. Ds1 always says he feels he has done badly even when he hasn't.

Ds1 and I have only discussed the latest episode of GofT so far :)

I've shown him his new pencil case...

Greeborising · 13/05/2019 16:33

Gingerbread I think that’s all you can do tbh.
We’ve been talking about not mulling over a paper once you’ve done it
So far so good here, nice and calm!
I’ve heard that the algorithm question threw most of them!

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 13/05/2019 16:34

Yeah, I'm still not convinced that one can revise properly with just online resources but am hoping to be proved an old fuddy-duddy on August 22nd Grin

Iambuffy · 13/05/2019 16:37

Ds1 is taking my advice and pretending it's a mock :)

His English teacher has sent them all home with goody bags! Sweets, chocolate, pencils, highlighters, and a relaxing face mask!

gleegeek · 13/05/2019 16:44

Online revision here too! I'm just glad to see some revision actually startingGrin
Glad today's papers seem to have gone relatively well for your dc. French and biology tomorrow- dd is currently cramming french vocab!

SilentSister · 13/05/2019 16:45

DD uses her revision guides too Grin.

MaddieElla · 13/05/2019 16:50

DD said she's smiling with her mouth but her eyebrows are full of anguish Grin

She said she had an inkling there was going to be a rogue question on computer science. Said she had a go, but isn't confident.

RS again, not fantastic but not bad.

Said both weren't as bad as the mocks.

PopcornPopper · 13/05/2019 16:55

Ds says the algorithm question on computer science was a caesar cipher but he knew how to do it as he had taken part in the hacking challenge earlier this year (he is taking CS at A level) and made a decoder for it.

He said it is a difficult concept to get your head round (way over my head) Dh is in IT though so they have talked through a lot of stuff especially python which I think you needed for the algorithm.

Greeborising · 13/05/2019 16:58

Yes, just asked dd if she managed the algorithm
She replied “I think so”
Then proceeded to explain it to me
I’m now going for a lie down with a cold flannel over my face 😳

Bimkom · 13/05/2019 17:01

Which board is the CS with the rogue question? Sounds a bit naughty. Was it in the spec? No CS here, but I guess I want to be forwarned (or forwarn DS) that rogue questions are likely.

PopcornPopper · 13/05/2019 17:04

@avenueq EPR is Ethics, Philosophy and Religion.

PopcornPopper · 13/05/2019 17:11

OCR computer science, it gave you the bit that wasn't in the spec which was standard functions, had to combine knowledge of ASCII with a few challenging programming concepts. They made up for the difficulty by you just having to fill in the blanks. But you had to know Python or similar.

Ds is grade 8 at this and loves programming so he said it was quite an evil question, possibly to weed out the top grades.

myrtleWilson · 13/05/2019 17:42

It's so difficult with feedback post exam isn't it - one persons fine is another persons hard and we have no way of knowing actually how that translates into achievement. Am chanelling Rudyard Kipling "triumph and disaster' and going to treat any response as nothing more than an emotional response unlikely to be based on scientific fact! A long few weeks ahead!

Greeborising · 13/05/2019 17:52

DD is dreading French tomorrow
It’s her absolute worst subject and she hates it with a passion
We’ll both be relieved when it’s out of the way!

doublechocadooberry · 13/05/2019 17:52

DS found his RE exam pretty hard. Has no idea how he has done and there has been a real mixed response to among his friends. He did come back with a terrible headache so has gone to bed to try to sleep it off. Hopefully he will mange a little biology revision if he can shake it off.

Iambuffy · 13/05/2019 18:00

Ds gets PE out of the way this week thank goodness.

Only 4 exams next week.

3rd week is tricky.

Greeborising · 13/05/2019 18:15

This week is the heaviest for dd, next week a bit better then lots of nice gaps with only one exam per day

Lifeandbeans · 13/05/2019 19:08

Hope everyone's teens have come home feeling positive!

Bigearringsbigsmile · 13/05/2019 19:11

DS was delighted with latin-says it couldn't have been better. French and biology tomorrow.

Iambuffy · 13/05/2019 19:31

That's great big :)

Ds1 is revising biology. He seems ok atm...

cptartapp · 13/05/2019 19:41

RE was hard apparently (Catholic Christianity). Two papers next week to pull it back.