GCSEs 2019 Support thread 3

[myrtleWilson]

Welcome all - just went to post on thread 2 and saw it was at 999 so quickly did this

Iambuffy no, we haven't tried that - that's Epsom Salts, yes? Definitely going to give that a try.

Worth a go

Ds1 is now considering politics a level instead of biology - which I'm pleased about tbh.

My DD hasn't really firmed up her A levels, she wants to do religious studies, philosophy and ethics, but can only do that if she travels to sixth form college, not at our local school sixth form where she'd do politics instead. She's already swaped Eng lit for sociology, as she thinks Eng with history will be too hard, but she really likes bits of the Eng lit syllabus. I think the fact that she doesn't know where she's going (she has offers for both sixth forms) or what she's doing isn't helping with the revision as she has no particular goals to motivate her (she'll get the grades okay). I'm not really sure how to help her beyond chatting it through, which doesn't seem to make much difference!

Ds1 wants to go to the nearest uni town to 6th form.

He does have the option for his 3rd choice of biology, politics or sociology.

I'm steering him towards politics. I think he will enjoy it and let's face it we are living in interesting times politics wise!!

Long old drive down the M1 today, no hold ups as such but really busy and mostly on reduced mph. M25 was of course crap. But, had a lovely weekend with the olds, no revision, and lots of laughs. Lots of lovely food and wine too .

DD now feeling guilty she had a couple of days off, and back in her room revising History. She also has DD1 here for the rest of the day, and can get some more help with maths as she needs to pick up some extra marks to balance the disaster paper one.

I'm steering him towards politics. I think he will enjoy it and let's face it we are living in interesting times politics wise!!

I think that's what's putting DD off, she thinks she'll never understand Brexit and isn't reassured when I tell her no one understands it!

DD is doing politics at a-level she's really looking forward to it and has been reading Isabel Hardmans book and enjoying it (almost keeled over in shock)

Dd has actually started history revision!!! 😮 !!

Ds has done maths today

I’ve been browsing some other threads and just wanted to say I’m going to miss this when the exams are over!
There is nothing but support, sympathy, understanding and solidarity going on here.

DS managed quite a bit of revision today despite only waking up when I rang him midmorning. I had woken him up as I was leaving for work but he obviously went back to sleep. I have stocked up the cupboards ready for the rest of the week; snacking seems to keep him going!

Dd has also just started history revision, I think the task was almost too daunting to start as there’s just so much they need to know

Luciaia that’s what dd said!
The unification of Italy certainly doesn’t get me going!

gree
Year 12 support thread???
😁😁😁

Yes buffy!
And a university application one
Oh and a leaving home one
My baby’s getting married one!

Yes! 😁
although both DC assure me they are never leaving home!

DS is itching to go away to university. I can't help wondering though, if he really is going to do medicine, whether he wouldn't be better staying in London with the home comforts, and the choice of hospitals (and given how long they need maintenance loans for, it might be a lot cheaper to stay home - I gather the NHS loans for the last years are even more limited than the regular ones). If he is going to do some sort of biochem research, then maybe different. University application thread sounds good, as he will no doubt flip flop a dozen times

History sounds overwhelming to me from this distance. DS was very torn between history and geography, as he was interested in both (unlike DD who has disliked history from the get go - despite my best efforts to interest her and to explain why it is important, and wouldn't touch it if it was the only option going). Basically decided on geography because DC with science skills apparently tend to do better at geography, while essay writing is not his strong point. I definitely think we made the right choice given his skill set, and what has become clear about the enormity of the history curriculum (despite the poor teaching we encountered at school in geography).

I guess what I am saying is that I totally sympathise with the DC who are finding the revision for history overwhelming, especially as they seem to have, bizarrely, put a whole bunch of the history papers in one week, instead of spreading them out, like they have done for geography. Sounds pretty tough.

Ds is def doing history and geography (graded permitting) but unsure on third.

We have 3 very good unis quite close to us travel wise so think that's his plan - for the first year anyway!

I've said this before, but the sheer amount of content in the history gcse syllabus staggers me.

Because of what dd wants to study we’re looking at London (where we live)
Cambridge (obviously difficult to get into)
Edinburgh (lovely but far)
and Glasgow.
I think the best option is to put her in a box under the stairs (with her computer, I’m not totally heartless) and keep her here forever

Ds1 thinking of loughborough but it needs very high grades.

Dd totally overwhelmed with history revision and is suffering major 'what-is-the-point'-itis...

She wants to do biology, phychology and possibly eng lit for a-level.

As for uni - she wants to do psychology...

What a waste of a half term for our dc.