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.

@TonyBlairsLover my biggest piece of advice is don’t panic, control the nerves, pace yourself, answer every question, use the time wisely (I.e. get the quick wins done then focus on the harder more marks).

Good luck - I had to resit maths twice so you have my empathy (and now I have two unrelated degrees and a decent job) You’ve got this.

@TonyBlairsLover
Try to stay calm, breathing etc.
Remember you get method marks so start questions even if unsure where you are heading.
Write down the formula you are using before putting the numbers in.
If your teacher thinks you can get a 5 then you must have really been working hard, so good luck.

Thanks everyone 🥰 xx hopefully it goes well for your children as well

Good luck @TonyBlairsLover

@Rollergirl11 that's so awful about the year 13 pupils. Really puts exam stress into perspective

Well my DS had his second English literature exam which went well but he's not so happy with drama as he didn't have enough time and had to really rush on the last question. At least he finished though!

Maths paper 1 tomorrow.

Really sorry to hear your news @Rollergirl11.

Ugh, maths tomorrow- revision past papers not going that well. Ds has had the same issue forever - panics in exams and makes silly mistakes. He should really be on track for a 9 knowledge wise but will drop marks I think.

3 exams next week - Geog P1, English Lit P1 and Chemistry P1

Maths tomorrow and the first meltdown since even before the first mocks. She's gifted at maths, barely ever drops more than a mark ... but because she wants to do it at college / linked courses at uni then she's piled the pressure on herself to be perfect. Crazy.

DD1's school have offered them a last minute breakfast revision session for maths tomorrow. So I guess I'll be dropping her in for 7.30am.

@Rollergirl11 that's so terribly sad, shocking at any time but during the exam season when thoughts are of bright futures, devastating. Thinking about all the students & families.

@TonyBlairsLover hope it goes well for you, stay calm, tackle easy questions first, always show your workings.

Good luck to everyone doing Maths & Business tomorrow. I'll be visiting a pre school with our Ukrainian guests - so back at the start of the UK education system.

I reckon DS will be shattered at the weekend, it does feel like these weeks are going to fly by...

@Rollergirl11 so sorry to hear, really awful. DD's school has also been putting on workshops and the like for grief counselling over the last couple of weeks, because a mum with four kids in the school apparently committed suicide about two-three weeks ago. DD doesn't know the family, and nor do I but I think one of the kids is an A level student. The school suggested that we all talk to our DC about it, and gave us lots of links (and I think they were doing more for those closer to it) but once I realised that DD didn't know anything about it (she is not exactly up on social gossip at the best of times, and the school didn't come out straight and say what the "tragedy" was, so she didn't get it), I backed off and thought better not discuss it right now. I know one of the mums on the Year 11 Whatsapp group is quite distraught, but haven't known what to say.

Same here with add, it's her best subject but she has no confidence in herself so ducked out of school yesterday and came home to revise all afternoon. She is well-prepped now so hopefully will be a bit more relaxed. I think she needs a 7 to do the A level.
@TonyBlairsLover my advice for all exams is, don't panic. Take deep breaths before you even look at the paper. Read through carefully, do the questions you are confident with first and always write your method out. I have a friend who resat her gcse maths a couple of years ago in her 30s to get a pass - you are not alone!
@Rollergirl11 im so sorry to hear the news, what an awful tragedy. Really does put things in perspective.

DS sat his History exam yesterday as let out of isolation. He said it went well but then felt poorly again. Back to the health centre and rested so hopefully can do the maths paper today. We have permission from the headmaster to bring him home for the weekend. He has put his order in for food this weekend. I might be spending the weekend in the kitchen.
😁😁

DD also had first mini wobble last night about Maths this morning. I think the early mornings have caught up with her and she was bloody knackered and feeling unmotivated last night. She still managed to do an hour of Maths revision (and they had also done a double revision session at school yesterday) but she feels like she hasn’t done enough. She’s going in to school for 7.30 this morning as their teacher is offering a last minute session too.

I’m sure she’ll be fine as she’s on track for a 9 but still putting ridiculous amount of pressure on herself.

My DS also super stressed about maths as he needs a 9 to be allowed to do further maths a-level. Good luck all!

Good luck to all the super mathmo DC in this group.

DD is only doing Foundation Maths so a 5 is what she's aiming for. I'm a bit annoyed that she couldn't do Higher but heyho. She's always been reasonably competent at maths but that lost term and a half in Yr 9 due to the lockdown, did it for her really. She was offered the option to 'upgrade' at Christmas but by then we felt it was too late.

@TonyBlairsLover good luck for today!

@salsamummy glad to hear your DS is out of isolation. How many exams did he miss in the end?

Good luck everyone for Maths and those DC’s who have Business. 🤞🍀

Good luck everyone!!
im sat in the canteen, feeling a lot more better

@TonyBlairsLover good luck!

And sorry to hear your DS hasn't been feeling well @salsamummy . Hopefully a weekend of home-cooking and TLC will give him a boost.

Good luck for everyone for maths today! DS extra nervous as it's the first exam for a subject he wants to take at A level so it "properly matters"!

He always comes out of maths saying it was horrible and really hard but he got an 8 in his mock so fingers crossed that translates to the real thing!

dS1 worked hard on maths last night. I think he has been revising but prioritising other stuff. He is in the set that will all get 9s but he has had to work hard to maintain his place there and said last night he is aiming for a 7, which he got in his mock so hopefully achievable. His brother has an end of year test and the maths will determine (largely) whether he can move up a set and do higher for GCSE but he seems very happy to ace Foundation and get a 5 (also doesn’t want to pursue it).

Thanks so much. He missed Biology and English.

2 minutes before we enter the classroom !!! See you on the other side MNterrs

I hope it went well for you. I was in your position many years ago. I kept getting Ds for Maths and on the 4th attempt managed a C which was what I needed to get into uni. By the 4th attempt I'd given up on going to the lessons and was more focused on passing my A Levels. I think being more relaxed about it helped me pass. I now say I have 13 GCSEs - 4 of them being Maths!

@TonyBlairsLover, hopefully 4th time lucky and that you get the 5 you're after!

DD did a practice 'predicted' paper yesterday. I went through it with her. It seemed more difficult than previous ones she's done. Hope the real thing is easier than that!

I absolutely did not have a clue how to work out the problem that DS1 was looking at on his screen last night. The day I got that C though was even better than my all my other GCSE results combined - and I collected someone else's results first and they had a D so was really upset. I have never run so fast in my entire life as when I realised that was not my result, again.

@StColumbofNavron I can imagine the relief at finally nailing it. There is something wrong with how maths is taught (from a very young age) that so many young people are having to redo it time and time again before passing.