Current Year 11 - 2 more weeks of exams!!

[Rollergirl11]

New shiny thread!!

@WombatChocolate thanks for reminding me why it is important for DD to go in. It seems such a long time ago since DC1 did theirs that I'd totally forgotten about getting the breakdown of marks across papers, etc.

She's just going to have to woman up. I certainly can understand why she's not entirely keen on opening them in public though!

When I was at the same stage there was no opportunity/tradition of going in to get results in person (phew!). They were sent in the post. Only when mine were due, there was a postal strike so they didn't show up for a week! Unbelievably stressful.

We are away as are several of her friends. None of that has been explained or offered by my DD’s school! It’s was just pick up in person or email option. My dd doesn’t like any fuss and was adamant she didn’t want to go. She’s school sixth form and only needs 6s for a place and is set on her subjects so hoping all goes smoothly. She just needs to go on sixth form website to confirm.

Thank you @Akite - that's very useful.

Please excuse my butting into your thread... teacher and examiner here. Beware of the temptation to ask for a remark for one mark off a grade boundary. There is no such thing any more: it's a review of marking, and very small movements are unlikely.

@Akite @WombatChocolate It really does depend on the school though. Our school is absolutely rigid about getting the grades they have specified to go onto A levels. they do not give an inch (we know loads of DC further up the school than DD who couldn't do the subjects they wanted at A level because they didn't get the grades required - which are a 7 in maths to do maths, and 7s in sciences to do any science - 7-7 if you did combined, 7 in the subject you want to do, and 7 in one other science if you did triple). None of this - we know you and you are capable so we will allow you in business.
And while I made absolutely sure I will be around for results day - it is not true the school is open. In fact, the school is resolutely closed. The online portal will be locked from the day before and released at 6am on results day. An appointment with the exam officer can be booked by zoom if any queries. The Head of Sixth Form can also be emailed. That is it! No more help or assistance, nothing like what you describe.
What I haven't yet found out is whether a nearby school is open in case it does turn into a disaster (e.g. she only gets 6s for the subjects she wants to do) and we have to think about trying to get a place there. When I phoned them about a possible late application (having missed their deadline of the end of January), they said that you can make a late application, but it will only be considered in August once results are out - so we figured there was no point doing it unless it turns out that DD won't be allowed to do the subjects she wants at her current school, which is her preferred option. But I figured I need to be around in any case, but not because there is any point dealing with the school.

Naem gosh those are high requirements. Just looked at DD’s (grammar sixth form fwiw) and it only wants 6 for sciences (plus 5 maths) maths is a 6 and further maths a 7. There’s also a disclaimer that they will consider overall performance/school reports so I suspect a place may still be possible if grade isn’t achieved due to extenuating circumstances.
Sixth form used to be register in person now is online so even if there at school for results would still need to register online.

Our school is rigid. 5 in maths and English and then grades 6 and above for subjects Some need a 7. This is why we’ve applied but only so they didn’t stop badgering him to apply but we all know he won’t get the grades bar a Miracle. Shame really because pre pandemic he was set for 6 and above for all 10 exams. Covid has a lot to answer for in our house. I’m so upset about the impact on his grades ….

DS off to college. He needs 5 at grade 4 or above including English and maths. Not sure what happens if he’s messed up English though ….. hence my day off! He has to photograph and upload his results slip to college portal on the day. Dunno how long it takes for them to confirm the place though. Assume they all in next Thursday and Friday too ……

Dixie Our local gigantic sixth for college requires 7 for maths and a '7 or above' for FM. To be honest I feel that if someone can't walk maths GCSE then the A level really wouldn't be a great idea (extenuating circumstances excepting). (In contrast it only needs 6s for sciences.)

My DS needs to get an average of grade 7 to be allowed to stay on at his sixth form. It is a selective school though so not a surprise. He needs a grade 8 in his chosen A-level subjects however.
I'm getting nervous now but as far as DS is concerned it's aaaages away yet!
Thanks to the posters who replied on what their DC wore to their interviews. He wore a tie in the end, the interview went well and he had a job offer email this afternoon. Still planning on attending the McDonalds interview tomorrow as it's good experience and obviously the job offer isn't concrete until he gets the contract.

That’s great news ! Our son got the job offer the Wednesday evening and had a McDonald’s interview on the Friday. But contract came through Thursday and pay and experience better than McDonald’s so he cancelled the interview

Yes it is @NameInUseAlreadyAgain He was very pleased with himself!
Has your DS started his job yet?

Well done to all the DCs getting jobs, so many don't bother but I think it's so good for them. DS has a job but its evenings mainly (he's a musician) but he has been coaching at a sports camp this week so it's good that he's busy. He's got some lovely friends but they are dreadful at organising days out but he's been doing various music things and training for his sport so at least not just wasting too much time at home.

He seems really chilled about results, he should do OK but I just hope there are no nasty surprises, esp with how tricky some of the papers were. He will get enough for college as its standard minimum entry requirements but obviously its always nice to do as expected rather than worse.

All he cares about now is finding out what days he's supposed to be going in, it's 3 full days a week so he wants to know his days off so he can plan stuff.

Congrats on the job offers Zig and Name

Good luck for the A level results for those waiting. Think the level 3 FSMQ comes out that day though don't know how that result will come through.

DD is working the next 7 days right up to results day after 2 days off spent socialising. Seems to love the job. I think she will be fine for results, its DS year below would be worried for.

Just finished my radio on 10th, they said effects peak 2 to 3 weeks after but so far none and went swimming and swam 1 mile in the Lido on Sunday. Some lovely lady at DHs work was going to France and got me a special cream for radiotherapy burns, they don't give it here now until you've got burns which was lovely of her, I have 2 giant tubes of it which I think will last me 10 years. Floof has been enjoying the summer weather and discovered prawns but he likes them not cooked. We have prawn and mango salad together, mango for me, prawns for him. Will go to France before end of summer holidays to see MIL.

Yes, it is really high, and that is why I am so worried. I think she ought to get 6s fine, but 7s are a stretch, and i wish the requirements weren't so high (nobody else's seems to be, but she doesn't want to go anywhere else). They will let you take other subjects on 6s, but she doesn't want other subjects, she wants maths and biology. She got the 7 in maths in her mock in December, but didn't in the mock in March (although she says nobody took those seriously, and I agree she didn't study for them nearly as much). And while she somehow got a 7 in physics in the mock in December, biology was a 6 and Chemistry a 5, and it is biology she wants to do (and the mocks in March were a disaster science wise). So I am getting very nervous. She is off on NCS, so probably too busy to be nervous (and she tends to be pretty laid back anyway), but I have tonnes of what shall we do if going through my head and just hope it doesn't come to that. She is mathematical (not stunningly, but reasonably) - a 7 should hopefully be doable (although I wouldn't expect higher), but the biology I am really worried about, and whether even if biology comes through, whether she can manage a 7 in either physics or chemistry.

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@WombatChocolate AQA are listing the marks for each paper taken alongside the grade this year so pupils will actually get the breakdown without having to rely on school for it

Yes he started 30th June. 3 months probation so we steeling ourselves for a bye bye end September and finding another job but that’s all good because he now has a proper job on his CV! He does anywhere between 8 and 14 hours a week and gets his shifts the week before. It’s worked out well as he’s been getting the bus in practice for college so it’s great :-)

Almost in the same boat here. DS’s school requires average 7 and 8 for the A level subjects. The only backup option that we have is the local grammar school requires average 6 and 7 for the a level subjects. I have booked day off on the 25th as the results needs to be picked up in person.

@Naem We've got quite high requirements too - you have my complete sympathy and I'm equally worried. We need minimum 7s for A levels - I hope we'll be OK with one of their choices, but I don't know about the 2 sciences they want where we need a 7 in Maths to do any science. I have friends going through the A level result worry now and might be having late night conversations with them tonight - it'll be us next week.

We don't have a back up option. We needs 6s which is hopefully achievable unless she's right totally messed up. The other local 6th form takes 4s but on the basis that it's standard I kind of find that off-putting Is that wrong?

We'd have to look at a local college option and see what's available but we didn't apply to anywhere as she didn't want to do anything other than A Levels.

I’m not too worried about DD achieving the grades for 6th form as she would need to have had multiple issues to not get them. She however wasn’t impressed to hear that they will get a full breakdown of marks - she’d rather just have grades!

With her expectations need to be managed if she doesn’t meet her own very high standards so I am a bit worried about that.

DSs A Level results tomorrow - am much more worried about that

@NameInUseAlreadyAgain fingers crossed that DS passes the probationary period but yes, it'll be so much easier to get another job once you have work experience. I've said to my DS that even if he doesn't like the job, to do at least three months and then start looking for another job.
Well my DS is doing the opposite of some of your DC and predicting himself even higher grades than he thought at the time . Think he's forgotten how tricky some of them were. It's nice to have confidence in yourself but I'd rather he was more reserved in his estimations. Hope he's not too disappointed and over analysing the actual marks. I like to expect the worst and hope for the best myself!
Good luck to all those with DC expecting A-level results tomorrow.

amp.theguardian.com/education/2022/aug/15/a-level-results-day-not-pain-free-head-of-ucas-says

Just read the above - it’s a bit alarmist (A levels) but maybe that’s just the media

The Guardian seems to be quite alarmist about all things education-related. It's likely to be a very challenging year but mostly because of: the 'legacy' of the 2021 TAGs (and those 45% A*s and A grades in A Levels); the high achievers who postponed going last year to get into better universities or on better courses this year (which reduces available places for young people in this year's cohort); the start of a baby boom so there are more young people in this cohort than for many years; the onset of the recession meaning that perhaps young people are opting for university as a 'safe' option for the next three years or so. And there are probably other reasons too, such as the cancellation of niche courses in some universities too.

I looked at a graph yesterday about university applications. The difference between numbers applying in 2019 (the 2000/01 babies, a 'dip' birth rate year) and now is something like 70K. Seriously!

@zighead good to hear some young people are becoming more rather than less confident about their grades as we approach Results Day.

Well done to those who have recently started new jobs. DD has decided to stick with her tutoring one (although she's hardly done any of it over the summer because of people being away on holiday) until she's assessed how feasible it will be continue with doing it, juggled with sixth form course work which needs to take priority from the off, we think. She'd like to get a full year under her belt and look for something in retail.

@Silkierabbit well done to your DD who sounds as if she's going great guns with her job (and earnings). Good to hear that you're doing well post radiotherapy. Really hope you don't suffer any adverse symptoms. Have a great holiday in France.

And I love the way that Floof has adopted that cute 'stretched out cat' look. Both of ours were doing it. They have massively perked up (become more active) since the sudden drop in temperatures. Just hope that's not going to lead to more mousing adventures!

Can I just ask what the reasoning is for releasing marks. Most of DD’s are AQA.