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.

@zighead it was 1 hour 45 mins, we live less than 5 minutes walk from school, it's literally at the top of our road. So 15 mins does sound plausible but I would always advise staying to the end just in case you have a sudden thought!

DD1 said the exam was "good" which is better than "fine" which is her normal response to most things.

She's hoping to study Biology & Chemistry for A levels do needs a decent result.

Ahhh I think because there is no secondary school in my town, I forget that some students must live really close to theirs. Must be great!
The teens in my town must be spread over at least 15 different secondary schools, none of them within 30 minutes walking distance.

DD has come out of Chemistry in floods of tears saying that it was awful and she thinks she’s done really badly. Has taken herself off to bed. Honestly she puts so much pressure on herself unnecessarily. She’s not going further with Chemistry so it really doesn’t matter but she wants to get an 8 regardless.

Ds felt it was harder than the last few years papers which he did on the last few days (Evil Edexcel again). He thinks it went ok apart from one 6 marker that he'd only skimmed over the revision for.

He's studying chemistry to A-level and would ideally like a 9.

It will be full on revision this half term as Ds has the bulk of his exams the week after next. I think there are 8 in one week! I'm trying to persuade him to come out for at least a day trip but he's not keen.

My dd called me. Very upset re chemistry!! Said it’s the worst exam she’s done so far. She had planned to do it for A level as needs it for her uni course she has planned.

it was Triple Science. Anyone else dc doing triple science and found chemistry tough?

Aww @Rollergirl11 sorry, she's taken it so badly. My DD loves chemistry and is planning on doing it for A level and she thought it went horribly.

Cornishgem - was it AQA??

Yes @Stormchaser1502 my DD doing triple science and also found chemistry very very tough. Most of her mates felt the same.

Yes, AQA Combined Science, Higher

@Stormchaser1502 yep DD did and is beside herself with worry. It was Edexcel they had. What about your DD?

@CornishGem1975 thank you. I just wish she was able to put things in perspective. Historically she always thinks she’s done really badly at everything but then gets too marks so it’s become a bit of a joke now. She never ever comes out from an exam saying that it went well. But she genuinely doesn’t need to do well with Chemistry. And nobody is putting pressure on her to do so. It all comes from within!

DS doing the combined science higher, I haven't heard from him yet as he'll be in normal lessons till 1, on Fridays they are allowed out for lunch but unless it went well he won't message me!

Cornishgem - exactly the same. My dd is currently sobbing to her Head Of Year!!

It’s reassuring that there a few others that found it tough.

My DD is quite pragmatic. She's disappointed but she's marked it off the list, done. Forget about it, can't change it and she's going to focus on the next science exams to help push her grade up. Her chemistry teacher did tell her last week that the chemistry papers were hardest out of all the sciences though DD finds physics hardest overall.

Just really hope it doesn't put her off taking it to A level as she was so keen on it,

Yes, while I am very sorry your daughter is sad and struggled with it - it makes you feel less alone when you realise that actually, the majority found it really hard.

Cornishgem - this worries me too. I don’t want dd to change her mind about A level, as it could well knock her confidence. She’s a sensitive soul.

I’ve just told her to come out of school and meet me (I’m at the hairdressers) and we will go for coffee somewhere.

I feel so bad for them, these exams seem to be extra bloody cruel, and the worst is yet to come with two really intense weeks after half term.

I am going to have to stop DD from revising all the time over the next 10 days, going to make sure she gets lots of treats and time away. Maybe a jubilee Pimms because I am that type of mum 😧😀 God knows she probably needs it.

Love the jubilee pimms idea 😂 might well join you both!!

we are going away for a few days for a family funeral but going to get some shopping in too while we there. We live in Cornwall and no decent shops here. So retail therapy and pampering well needed. Then back Wednesday for some revision again.

DS said that Edexcel chemistry was a really hard paper.

No decent shops @Stormchaser1502 but lots of lovely beaches!

Also need to try and ensure DD gets the right balance between revising and giving herself some down time. I’m going to make sure she plans a few days out with friends. Then we are off to Liverpool for the Jubilee bank holiday long weekend as it’s also DH’s 50th and we have a big family celebration there for it. Hoping that DD can have a bit of fun there with all her cousins, no doubt watching DH and all her uncles getting drunk and hopefully belatedly celebrating the Champions league final/win this weekend!! 😂🙏

@CornishGem1975 I sympathise with the difficult chemistry paper but am SO envious of you having to stop your dd revising throughout half term.
My own darling dd has so far done bugger all revision at home because “it’s all we ever do at school “ and has skipped out of school saying she’s got a week off and is ‘just going to relax’ 🤔

DC still at school as they have Computing this afternoon. Not heard a thing about Chemistry and starting to worry. It's their hardest science.

Another AQA Combined Science here who thought it was v hard. They had a revision session beforehand with H of Science which covered nothing of what was actually on the paper. No electrolysis apparently, is that possible? I’m wondering if she missed a page or two 😬