Current Year 11 2021/2022 support thread pt III

[StColumbofNavron]

Thread for the parents of DC sitting their GCSEs in about 4 weeks time - eek.

Have any of your schools given out info on what happens if Covid issues occur during the exam period? Not heard anything from our school.

DD and her friend have gone off at normal time. Luckily school is a 15 min walk. She seemed OK. Her cat buddy spends a lot of the day on DDs bed, but when DD actually goes to bed, the cat sleeps on a cushion on the floor at the end of the bed. She goes outside in the morning so no last minute cat love!
I had a brief post mortem of the French oral exam but I think she would more likely discuss with friends.

I dread to think what DS will be like. He memorises bizarre stuff like the order of stripes in a water slide, and every obstacle in order on a crazy golf course!

I did my GCSEs 30 years ago. Can't remember how many exams each subject had, but my English language and literature were 100% coursework. I had to submit 10 essays and got two GCSE grades.

@G00d3v3nin6 no, not specifically, although it's been stated that they need to get a doctor's note if they're not well enough to sit an exam. That doesn't quite chime with something I read elsewhere on MN that suggested that one could self-complete a form if one's DC tests Covid+ during the exam period.

Think we all need to take a deep breath and keep everything crossed that the worst case scenario doesn't occur.

@MirandaWest
I must be a similar age, and I did a language and literature GCSE in 1994.
I vaguely remember the language paper was based on a really dark, quite macabre story and felt slightly traumatised by it!

DC insisted on dissecting their Computing Paper they did yesterday. Drives me mad especially as we can't do anything about it now.

@Fizbosshoes I was 1992 - I think they probably stopped it from being 100% coursework quite soon afterwards.

I had coursework in maths too - the DC find this very odd

I possibly had coursework in geography, I can't remember. I don't know what the deal is now as DD doesn't do geography.
I think there should be a balance of coursework and exams rather than the grade (for almost all subjects) being entirely dependent on your memory recall and ability to write/relay information in a specific 90 minute period. DS is year 7 and he was upset in a recent history test that he knew what to write/what they were asking but ran out of time to answer because he is quite a slow writer. His writing is not great, and he is unable to write neatly and quickly at the same time. Obviously he's not at GCSE stage yet, but I imagine it might still be an issue for some year 11s. (As well as other factors that may impact performance on a specific day)

@Fizbosshoes totally agree that it should be a combination of assessment- it would make it fairer.

Ds said Biology was good which makes me think the grade boundaries might be very high although aren't they meant to be lower than 2019 but higher than 2021?

DD survived Biology. Although she did say there was an entire section on something they were told within the advanced information that wasn’t being included so consequently she didn’t revise it.

I was 1997. I remember some sort of maths investigation and some history work on the Amritsar Massacre (not the Jallianwallabagh Massacre). Overall though I was all exam because I distinctly remember when MFL got coursework and it was after I did my exams. I love an exam personally and perform much better than in coursework but can see how a mix would ensure everyone got a fairer chance. I think exams have their place and performing under pressure to a very specific remit is a life skill that is useful and I have needed/seen people need in work environments, but mixed with coursework would be the ideal scenario I think. Definitely needs more balance.

I'll find out from DD later on. She has been mentioning things that the advance info says won't be tested, but that she has been dubious about. Can't remember which subjects though.

Ours sent out an email last week with details of the national guidance. If they get covid they should stay at home for 3 days (5days for 18+). If they miss exams, there's a form to fill in, no need for a doctors note or evidence of a covid test but the email did say to take a picture of a positive test or register the result 'in case it's needed'.
haven't heard anything from dd about biology yet. It's one of her strongest subjects so hoping it'll be a good start.

DS has done 6 exams now, so rattling through them. So far all he has said is they were ok. He was quite stressed this morning, as he didn't sleep at all well. Biology was ok, he also likes talking through where he has dropped marks. Let's hope they all did ok.

Spoke to DD at lunch. She says it was enzymes and everyone in her class thought the same. But on checking the advanced info again it’s not down as being excluded. So maybe it was something their teacher said instead. 🤷‍♀️

@Rollergirl11 it was cancer question, they had been told there were no questions about cancer. I think it was trying to use it as an example rather than a knowledge recall but it threw a few

DD had biology today and was fine. I am not sure if we are supposed to be discussing content online incase some children are sitting late though could be wrong on that but think it may be better not to say contents too much, at least for 48 hours or so. Unless someone knows better, not sure of exact rules on it. The main thing is that they have sat them and just move forward and not worry about anything missed, think you can go down quite a bit and still do very well. We also had a teacher give guidance which when DD checked was wrong and would have been quite bad if she had not checked so it can be worth checking yourself. DD is super organised on that. I am really dreading DSs GCSEs, she is so easy in comparison.

Glad everyone is getting through them. 3 down, 4 to go this week then 20 more so 24 left, but at least 3 done and fine. I was kitten sitting this morning, like having a baby which has just started to crawl, very cuddly and purry as well but investigating everywhere. Combined with the chemo I need a sleep. Orthodontist on Thursday as well.

@Silkierabbit good point. Not sure what rules are so I’ve reported my post to be safe.

DD said she thinks it OK to discuss straightaway and that people sitting late are kept in isolation and sit same day though don't know how they manage it these days with phones. I remember when I sat one late I had to stay overnight with a teacher, doubt that happens these days. I doubt students are on MN though, well apart from DD checking up on me. DD has 2 tomorrow economics micro which is year she missed so very challenging for her and english language which she is OK about then conflict and tension on Thurs which is fine and orthodontist and maths on Friday which is fine.

My DS said biology was 'fine, not easy but not bad' those exact words. He did forget to take his calculator though so had a complete panic at 8.50, which then stressed me out at work big style. Luckily he persuaded a very kind random boy in year 9 to loan him his . I'm still feeling anxious about it now.
He'll be on his way home from computer science exam so fingers crossed that went well.
Hope all those with exams tomorrow do well! My DS will be revising for his drama exam.

I'm a bit annoyed as DS finished his Biology exam 20 minutes early & left the room. I was always taught to stay to the bitter end in case a sudden thought or divine intervention occurred. I had thought we'd discussed this but clearly not 😂. Biology is his weakest science but he thought it went well, notwithstanding the early finish....

Rare to get an exam clash these days. Exams have a specific start time. There are a huge number of rules surrounding exams, papers, storage of papers etc. Anyone who does have an exam clash is closely supervised, absolutely no phones, no access any other students or to anyone who may have sat the exam. They are isolated. They sit the exam on the same day. There are regulations on how many hours of exams you can do in a day.

I was one of the unfortunate few who did have an exam clash. I stayed overnight with my form teacher who was lovely but it was a terrifying experience at 15.

I knew what exam questions Ds1 had for his afternoon exams before he made it to my car due to twitter as some students were straight on their phones after leaving the exam hall. Ds2 sat biology today, triple takes place at the same time as combined

@legosnowqueen i’m surprised the invigilators allowed him to leave!

DS1 also said 'fine' to biology today, he didn't really share anything else. The kids got strict advice not to post anything at all on social media, even if it seemed safe. Suspect the school taking a tough line to avoid any ambiguity. A spot of English then there is football (again) tonight. Honestly, once upon a time football was a winter sport and I say that as someone who quite likes football.

@Rollergirl11 I know!