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Secondary education

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Original poster

How do I address this ridiculous mock timetable?

94 replies

MerryMarigold · 26/12/2021 20:35

Ds1 is doing GSCE mocks starting on the 7th Jan. He has 25% extra time due to processing difficulties and attention deficit. He works hard though and has been revising his socks off this holiday.

I've gone through the exam timetable properly today and I'm fuming! I've realised that on his first day of exams he has 3 exams roughly 2 hours in length with a 10 min break between the first 2 and then a 5 min break (which is also including lunch) for his third exam. I just don't know how he can perform to any standard under these conditions. I don't think I could concentrate for 6 hours with 15 minutes of break and little or no time to eat/ go toilet. The timetable has clearly not taken the children with special needs/ extra time into consideration. It seems mad to give them extra time and then punish them for it.

I know it will never be like this for the real exams as mocks are over 1 week and GSCEs are not, but I'm worried that he's going to perform very badly and that will undermine his self confidence and the hard work he's put in. I assume offers for 6th form will also go on predicted grades from the mocks?

What can I do? I'm so angry so I'm not going to do anything tonight, but please help... 🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryMarigold · 26/12/2021 20:38

Ps. There's several other days with 5-10 min breaks between 2 x 2 hour exams but the first day is definitely the worst with the lunch break being 5 mins as well as 3 longer exams.

OP posts:
cloudtree · 26/12/2021 20:38

You can’t do anything. It isn’t up to you.

The teachers are obviously aware that it’s a lot but the reality is that gcse timetables are often crazy. Ds1 had one week where he had eight exams in different subjects for his actual GCSEs.

It’s good practice

user1471530109 · 26/12/2021 20:38

They won't be expecting him to work through like that. On days like that, I would imagine extra time will be given at a different time (not ideal I know).

cloudtree · 26/12/2021 20:40

I appreciate that it’s the extra time that creates the issue. They might allow him to start the final exam late if he is also allowed to take it in a separate room but they generally won’t allow this if he isn’t given that concession.

Hercisback · 26/12/2021 20:40

By all means speak to school, but accept there will be very little they can do.

We know mock week is brutal for our students but there isn't really a way round it. Spreading them over 3-4 weeks causes so much disruption and makes marking/feedback difficult.

You may find there are some where he doesn't use the full amount of extra time. In this case he can self certify and leave the exam hall.

It would be unusual to have any proper exam days like this.

cloudtree · 26/12/2021 20:41

On days like that, I would imagine extra time will be given at a different time (not ideal I know)

Not for GCSEs due to the cheating potential

NotDonna · 26/12/2021 20:43

School have set the mock timetable so contact the head of year or the person in charge of exam timetabling to ask if you’ve understood this correctly.
If exams don’t go ahead these mocks may be used for teacher assessed grades like they were last year and the year before. These mocks could be incredibly important.

MilitantFaucet · 26/12/2021 20:45

Realistically you can’t do anything until term starts again. The senco might be a good point of contact as presumably they were involved in assessing the extra time requirements but might not be aware of the timetable.

Hercisback · 26/12/2021 20:47

Extra time won't be given at another time for GCSE mocks, especially this year.

Most schools will also be fitting in another mock sitting before May in case exams don't go ahead.

NotDonna · 26/12/2021 20:48

@cloudtree

You can’t do anything. It isn’t up to you.

The teachers are obviously aware that it’s a lot but the reality is that gcse timetables are often crazy. Ds1 had one week where he had eight exams in different subjects for his actual GCSEs.

It’s good practice

@cloudtree eight exams over 5 days is VERY different to 6 hours worth of exams in one day with no lunch break! He has extra time to level the playing field. Not getting lunch or a decent break goes totally against this. It simply isn’t fair.
FrippEnos · 26/12/2021 20:51

I know it will never be like this for the real exams as mocks are over 1 week and GSCEs are not

Even being spaced out the GCSEs have been known to have 3 exams in one day and exam clashes are not all that rare.

Angel2702 · 26/12/2021 20:52

Ours were over two weeks before Christmas. The students with extra time had a different timetable drawn up to ensure they also had adequate breaks as well as extra time. Because they were over two weeks there was much more breathing room and some days with no exams because they weren’t subjects taken.

Having it with no time to eat or have a break is very counter productive.

FrippEnos · 26/12/2021 20:52

Just to add (more inline with your question) if you approach the school it is possible that the school may rearrange his exam timetable.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 26/12/2021 20:52

The exams are Maths, Physics and History. It's not a walk in the park! Yes, he may be able to leave early. I can't see him managing the 2 hours on Physics after Maths. He has ADHD!

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryMarigold · 26/12/2021 20:55

@FrippEnos

Just to add (more inline with your question) if you approach the school it is possible that the school may rearrange his exam timetable.
I'm not sure, which is why I'm asking here if it's something schools do.
OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 26/12/2021 20:55

The school will just make him take them at different times. I was a secondary teacher for 25 years, this sort of thing happens all the time even in the real things.

Just contact asso. They’ll sort it.

Hercisback · 26/12/2021 20:56

He's unlikely to need extra time in maths, especially with the formula sheet.

History he probably will need the extra writing time.

Physics it depends on his strengths and how wordy the exams are. He will have a formula sheet for that too.

noblegiraffe · 26/12/2021 20:56

No time for lunch is unacceptable. The timetable will not have been set with the ET kids in mind.

There will be catch-up sessions for students who miss exams, ask that your DS sits one of the three in a catch-up session rather than as scheduled?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 26/12/2021 20:57

Also, GCSE don’t have 3 exams in one day ever. So not sure why he is. They have a morning one and an afternoon one. The school aren’t doing much for the welfare of the students with tiny break times.

FrippEnos · 26/12/2021 20:58

the exam timetables for 2022 are already out

filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN22-CONFIRMED.PDF

If you talk to the exams officer they should be able to give you a version that relates directly to the school

Hercisback · 26/12/2021 21:00

We do 3 exams in one day for mocks, it's the only way to get them all in 2 weeks.

For the real exams there can be 3 in one day if you have an exam clash but it is unlikely.

FrippEnos · 26/12/2021 21:01

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Also, GCSE don’t have 3 exams in one day ever. So not sure why he is. They have a morning one and an afternoon one. The school aren’t doing much for the welfare of the students with tiny break times.
With clashes it is possible for there to be three exams in one day.

The other option to taking three in one day is for arrangements to be made for where the pupils stay overnight and they take the exam in the morning.

This happened to us just before covid.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 26/12/2021 21:02

Ahhh, thanks @noblegiraffe, that's worth knowing. Yes, maybe he can sit physics another time to allow a decent break. I can but ask. They may not allow as he could obviously ask friends about the paper.

OP posts:
EducatingArti · 26/12/2021 21:06

@Hercisback

He's unlikely to need extra time in maths, especially with the formula sheet.

History he probably will need the extra writing time.

Physics it depends on his strengths and how wordy the exams are. He will have a formula sheet for that too.

How on earth can you say he is unlikely to need the extra time for maths! There are all sorts of information processing issues that require students to work more slowly and take extra care to make sure they have understood the question correctly. In addition they will need to take more care over their recording of method and calculations. It can be very easy for them to mis-copy an answer from one part to the next.
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 26/12/2021 21:07

With clashes it is possible for there to be three exams in one day

Yes with clashes. But students are isolated if there are clashes and sit another exam at another time.