Starting Yr11 Gcses 2020 Support Thread [Edited at OP's request]

[OrangeCinnamon]

A continuation of a Year 10 support thread
previous thread

Last thread was great and supportive as some of us tried to navigate year 10 and some very helpful peeps steered us through.

[TeenTimesTwo]

@Paramicha Honoured as I am to be in the same sentence as noble she is a maths teacher I am not . (I just have an ongoing interest as I have a maths degree plus a child struggling in maths and everything else, about to enter y10).

However that aside, the % you mention sounds to me like for a foundation paper not the higher one. Is that right? (Whereas whistl has answered for a higher paper.)

whistl re presentation. My understanding is they have to pass it, (and it will be graded Pass, Merit Distinction perhaps?), I don't think it counts for anything unless perhaps they were going for an entry level job requiring speaking when being able to claim distinction might help?

[AnneOfCleavage]

Thanks all on your insightful comments re the oral English exam. I know it's not a big deal but just on that day with the bragging of the other top set saying they were better as got distinctions it was a bit galling but the day has passed and summer holidays are nearly upon us.

[RedSkyLastNight]

It was helpful for us as DS got a distinction after a year when he has, frankly, failed to cover himself in glory (and is currently predicted to only scrape a pass in the actual English Language exam), as it was something positive to focus on!

But I'm not sure it's going to be desperately meaningful in the long run ...

[Paramicha]

Thank you whistl and Teen

Yes, it was a foundation paper. I think we are looking at 3 foundation papers, although she is trying hard to be on track for higher papers. I don't see it happening.

I am doing well with getting the importance of organisation and planning through, and she has made a fluid Time table that will hopefully be partially done for September.

[voddiekeepsmesane]

Finally got end of year grades and report through. All looking good so far and good effort grades too. Lets just hope we can keep the momentum going next year. With a lot of the year given to revision I think it's going to be harder to keep DS motivated.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Paramicha I did a search and found:
mathsbot.com/gcse/boundaries
You select the board etc and it gives you the answer.
June 2018 Edexcel foundation needed 57% for a 4 and 70% for a 5. (AQA needed 52% and 67%)

[LimitIsUp]

Dd only got a pass rather than a distinction in a English oral. It was never going to be anything else as she is acutely shy. Can't say that it has mattered a damn - she got a B in English Lang and A* in Eng Lit (igcse)

[LimitIsUp]

Btw ds hasn't got the distinction in English oral either - in his case he just couldn't be arsed 🙄

[PostNotInHaste]

Last day today but DS is sick. Incredibly sad news last night, a local child has taken their life. We were all hoping it was a sick rumour but looking not, It puts everything in perspective, this is the 3rd to do this locally over the last few years, what on earth is happening to our children.

[RedSkyLastNight]

How awful Post. Awful to hear that young people are under such pressures that they would do such a thing

[GreekOddess]

That's so awful Post 😢

The 14 year old who died at the train station at Chertsey the other day really affected me.

These poor children their families love them so much. It's unbearable 😢

[PostNotInHaste]

It’s horrendous. Whatever happens next year the most important thing is they all get through with their mental health as intact as possible. Everything else can be sorted over time if things don’t go to plan.

[OrangeCinnamon]

@GreekOdess DH is a Train Driver it wasn't him driving.. but they were all shocked by it in the company mess rooms , really so sad, I had a little tear when he told me...how can it get to such a point that a child that age thinks there is no other way to deal with bullies? As @postnotinhaste says it puts everything in perspective

[KingscoteStaff]

Found you all!

DD is getting to grips with Tassomai - she really likes the opportunity to to do regular short bursts of revision.

[Rhubardandcustard]

Hello,
Finally got report back - has expected grades gcses (mix from 5 to8). Also had recent mock grades, for most dd is one grade behind expected - is that about normal, can I expect her to achieve expected grade by time exams come around? Some Eng lit, 'RE and French she is 2-3 grades under.
Going to invest in Seneca or Tassomai I've the summer and also get her to do past papers as she didn't do any before the mocks.
She seems very relaxed about the whole thing, on plus side we've been to look at 6th forms and she's seen one she would love to go to, so I'm hoping this might encourage her to really get her act together.

[OrangeCinnamon]

Glad you found us @KingscoteStaff
Rhubarb Dd school has a subscription to Seneca...she likes it very much was even doing some this morning. When I pointed out she might want a break she was of the opinion Seneca is slightly more fun than standard homework so she didn't mind at all.

I've heard they can increase their mark by a couple of grades between year 10 -11 ...probably more if they really didn't put effort in or didn't quite get into exam swing of things in yr 10

[KingscoteStaff]

DS (2 years ahead) moved 7 to 9 in his Sciences from end Year 10 and I'm pretty sure a lot of that was Tassomai. It meant the rote factual learning was completely embedded and he could focus on exam technique and indepth study of mark schemes.

[OrangeCinnamon]

I think I might invest in Tassomai when Dd goes back ..just want to make sure they don't purchase a subscription too

[RedSkyLastNight]

Has anyone used Seneca and Tassomai and can explain how/where they are different? DS has been using Seneca, which he gets through school, but wondering if it's worth getting Tassomai? What would you say is the daily/weekly time commitment?

[ExpletiveDelighted]

I've been looking at Seneca too (DS is doing BTEC science so I don't think Tassomai would be right for that). There is a big difference in cost between the top and middle premium subscriptions, doesn't
look as though you get much more for the top level, just wondered what others thought?

[OrangeCinnamon]

DD has mentioned today that some of her friends will be getting rewards of the monetary variety for obtaining certain grades. I just said i'd rather her mental health stayed intact rather than pushing herself too much to get very very high grades or money. I also made the point that she will be rewarded in many ways after the exams have finished and she will be pleasantly surprised - i'm not committing to anything ! The reward is the pride in the grade surely lol! i'll also take her on a shopping spree to get sixth form clothes or something

[Tumbleton]

We will not be doing cash for grades.
If one child has to work their socks off to get grade 6s and the other easily gets grade 8s, it doesn't seem fair or right to link grade levels to amounts. I am uncomfortable with the idea of rewarding achievement with cash, and would rather reward effort with a trip out or a nice meal together.

[voddiekeepsmesane]

We definitely do not give cash for good grades. Apart from not having the money I really don't think it's a good way to motivate long term

[TeenTimesTwo]

We don't do cash for grades either. For DD1 we did non monetary rewards for good effort for revision and a tiny present (

[PostNotInHaste]

No cash here, I think we might have done a meal after last exam to celebrate with DD.

Grabbed random passing teen to ask about difference between Seneca and Tassomai. He said ‘one’s kind of helpful, the other is Tassomai ‘. Asked to elaborate he says he does find Seneca helpful but so far he isn’t rating Tassomai at all. However he does well at science and seems to know his strengths and weaknesses and nit like the lack of choice Tassomai gives you. I suspect if DD who struggled with science had had it, she might have said differently.