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Original poster

Thread 3: Continuing to GCSEs Summer 2020 - Happy New Exam Year!

999 replies

OrangeCinnamon · 07/01/2020 09:54

Continuation of previous thread
Thread 2

Thread 1 Year 10

At the end of last thread there was a bit of talk on prom dresses ( recommend Fonthill Rd in London if you can get there) by @proggymat and @crazycrofter

@TigerMum had a query regarding moving to foundation level at this stage.

Sorry peeps thread progressed without me noticing so none can reply to your queries!

OP posts:
PostNotInHaste · 05/02/2020 13:43

I should add we looked at 6 places and that’s the only place saying to start with 4 apart from the Grammars if you are doing FM.
DS’s first choice is selective and are saying about 3 top grades better than 4 lower as per Kingscote’s school.

At interview they did say to DS that if they offer a place they suggest he does start with 4 as one is FM, he has a high number of 8+ predictions and would be boarding in week so more time available to study . Then review progress in October.

ProggyMat · 05/02/2020 13:52

DD's school (small Indie) suggest starting with 3 plus EPQ or 4 if FM is in the mix. They do suggest starting with 4 plus EPQ with a view of dropping one which avoids timetable clashes and gives the student a feel for the subject. No time frame indicated but I think one term is ample to make an 'informed decision'.
Several of her friends are holding offers from an outstanding Comp. They are suggesting starting with 4 or 5 with a view of taking 1 or 2 at AS at the end of year 12.
Other schools we looked at were strictly start with 3 plus EPQ or 4 with FM.

Shimy · 05/02/2020 15:07

Its seems this is more normal than I thought, i.e starting with 4 AND and an EPQ. I was worrying about the workload of doing 5 different things but it seems they will cope. I guess DS will have to think of a 4th subject he might do incase one of his 3 don't work out for him.

crazycrofter · 05/02/2020 15:16

@Shimy I think that's too much. Dd wants to start with 4 because she's a bit undecided but the plan is to drop one before Christmas at the latest. I also don't think an EPQ is a good idea when her other subjects are humanities and she potentially has two lots of coursework.

One of the grammar schools she's written off makes them do 3 subjects (no option to start with 4) and an EPQ. The grammar school she's keen on only allows 4 subjects for high achievers and the EPQ is optional. The comprehensive allows 3 or 4 subjects and the EPQ is optional. None of them enforce 4 subjects and certainly not 4 plus EPQ!

Shimy · 05/02/2020 15:20

I didn't mean the school is enforcing doing an EPQ @Crazycrofter, its just that DS wants to do one so unfortunately that will make 5. The 4th subject is with a view to drop one later but i still think its too much to begin with.

PostNotInHaste · 05/02/2020 16:27

Some of the people I have heard of who have done EPQ haven’t started it at the beginning of year 12, it came later. If she wants to do one Shimy would that be an option maybe?

Seeline · 05/02/2020 16:31

Most of my DS's EPQ was done over the summer break between L6 and U6.

Shimy · 05/02/2020 16:42

Post & Seeline, I didn't know that was possible, I'll find out about that. Thank you.

AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore · 05/02/2020 17:03

Hello, hello - lost this thread when I was off MN for a bit, but just checking in. DS had mocks before Christmas so we've had the break, the results and the 'debrief parents evening' - I was bloody delighted with his results (2 6s, rest were 7/8/9s) and his feedback at parents evening was so lovely and enthusiastic - it's really pushed his motivation levels back up again which is brilliant as i think he was started to get a bit 'flat' ... English is his most challenging (he's dyslexic) - although his teacher did say he'd be an 8 if he could talk it instead of writing it!! he really struggles with how to structure and organise his thoughts - as well as prioritising points. Other than loads of essay practice (he'll love that ;-) any suggestions on how to help? We're got a parents maths and english revision session later this eve so will be interested to see what they say...

Drabarni · 05/02/2020 17:14

Hi, I too lost the thread for a while.
Mine is working really hard but we are still looking at mostly low levels.
Mocks were Maths 2, English 3/3 combined science 4/4, Art 5, Music 8 5 marks off 9.
Really hoping Maths and English can improve so don't have to do functional skills.

Drabarni · 05/02/2020 17:15

What is EPQ?

crazycrofter · 05/02/2020 17:32

It’s Extended Project Qualification @drabarni , basically an extended essay worth half an A Level. Good if you’re say doing sciences (maybe for medicine) and you want to keep something arty/humanities related going. Or if you have a burning interest you want to pursue. Some unis will drop their offer by one grade if you have an A/A* in EPQ.

What does your dc want to do after GCSEs? Something musical presumably? If the one to two grade increases everyone talks about happen your dc should be ok?

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 17:37

High achieving DD1 took 3 A levels. Started EPQ but dropped it as it was a distraction and when she discovered that unis were not bothered. She got to interview rounds at Oxford and is at a top RG uni.

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 17:39

@AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore Will he get extra time to complete the paper?

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 17:41

I think 4 A levels was common before the spec was changed. My understanding is that now the course is more demanding, it’s not necessary. Better to get 3 high grades than 4 lower ones. That was the message schools and unis were giving out.

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 17:45

Which exam boards are your DC using for maths? My DD’s school takes AQA. She got a 4 in the mock as it is her weak subject. We have employed a tutor who is a secondary maths teacher at a different secondary school. She says they use edexcel and she can’t believe how much harder AQA is after looking at a copy of DD’s mock. Purely anecdotal but does anyone teach maths? Why would her school choose a harder paper?

Drabarni · 05/02/2020 18:01

crazycrofter

Hopefully, the two A levels she needs for Conservatoire entry, but school don't offer BTEC which I think would suit her better.
She won't want to leave her school, so we are hoping for another miracle subject for A level. Luckily the entrance criteria is pretty low 3 GCSE's grade 4 and above. Plus 2 A levels A-E. It's usually how well they perform on the day, after this.

I don't think the EPQ is for my dd Grin have never heard of this before.

Do they really gain 2 levels in marking from mock results? Or does it vary school to school?

Drabarni · 05/02/2020 18:03

Mine is doing edex Maths, no idea why. I know it's international but they use AQA for lots of other subjects.

Piggywaspushed · 05/02/2020 18:54

Edexcel is the most common exam board for GCSE maths.

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 18:59

So why would they choose AQA?

stoneysongs · 05/02/2020 18:59

DS's school do WJEC which is divided into two GCSEs, maths and numeracy. There seems to be a lot more puzzling out what the question is actually asking for than there was in my day.

I think they start with 4 a levels plus Welsh Bacc and drop one at the end of Y12 but will find out at options evening next week.

Parents evening was last night and he seems to have divided his subjects into two groups - one lot he likes, doing well, working hard. The other lot, doesn't like, underachieving, not putting in any effort. One teacher said he was "adorable". Another said he was "extremely frustrating". I have suggested he perhaps pulls his finger out...

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 18:59

I’ll be asking her maths teacher at parents’ evening.

ProggyMat · 05/02/2020 19:01

@Shimy given your DS is undecided between Biology and Chemistry it would make sense to start with 4 as he could easily make his mind up within a few weeks which one he prefers.
I honestly can’t comprehend why a parent wouldn’t ‘bite any schools hand off’ to accept the opportunity to do so.
@lilgreen It’s not a question of how many A levels a DC sits under the new Specs as most would agree 3 or 4 if FM is in the equation is the maximum amount.
The issue is how many to start off with and seeking an understanding from this thread as to how does this vary within and indeed across sectors.
@Drabarni no stats available for the 1-2 grade increase from mocks to exams proper but that’s the mantra in our gaff.
Apologies in advance if I appear to be brusque- caught up in the (fill in here folks) of 6th Form and the opportunity to actually take the A levels your child wants to do.

Piggywaspushed · 05/02/2020 19:07

When the specs changed all schools looked closely at what the different boards offered : it was a real buyers' market : but there are also old ties and loyalties. AQA had always been the main board for English, for example, so most schools stuck with them. Even though Edexcel English has better exams and texts, on the whole. AQA id a behemoth of a board!

I am not sure why Edexcel is popular for maths :part of its appeal is that papers can be seen after results online for free, unlike any other board so Edexcel are big on transparency. that said, it is often Edexcel who re scandal hi with cheating allegations and incompetency!

My favourite board is Eduqas (WJEC in Wales) but not many English schools choose it outside of subjects it is unique in offering.

lilgreen · 05/02/2020 19:17

Thanks @piggypugwashed

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