Anyone up for a GCSE handholding thread?

[BaconAndAvocado]

DS2 has his GCSEs in June. He had mocks in November and more (why??) next month.
He needs to get 5 6s to stay at his current school (IB, not overly keen) or to transfer to another local 6th form.
He said he’s going to start revising this week......
Think his school will be helping him devise a revision timetable this week. I’ve bought him flashcards, he just needs to knuckle down now.......

DD is doing 12 all in one go, including Additional Maths. So doing them a bit spaced out sounds pretty good. 12 all in one go is an awful lot to have going on at the same time!

But I’ve realised you can’t do it for them

@kidstaxidriver this is so true and I'm going to keep this as a mantra for myself!

Dd3 broke up from school last Friday and we have just come back from a long weekend in Prague to visit dd2.

I know dd3 is stressed about GCSEs but she only wants me to help/support/offer suggestions if SHE requests it. It's hard to keep my mouth shut but I need to because the more I talk about it, the more stressed she is.

She says she doesn't know how to revise. She started making flash cards a while ago but is wondering now if that's the best use of her time. One idea she does like is for her to tell/teach me about a topic. Time is ticking away but I also think she might be someone who does ok with last minute cramming.

@Howamisupposeedtopickausername my dd's language is also her weakest subject currently (Spanish). She got a 1 (!!!) in the mock but she missed the speaking part. She is doing Foundation level and just wants to pass.

Personally for your ds, I wouldn't put TOO much effort into his French, better to focus on improving his grades in the other subjects. What does he need for Sixth Form?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqkVsmINWLP/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

for those of you on Instagram - check out Ben Fogle’s post. Not sure I’ve copied the link properly as I’m a bit of a technophobe. Just resonated and thought it was apt!

Ooh I really like Ben Fogle that quote is spot on thanks for sharing.

Thanks. That quote is excellent. And reassuring re the future.

I also have to remember not to compare DS2 to his older brother who thrived on exam pressure and was a revision machine.
DS2 is probably more naturally intelligent but much less invested in his academic life.
For me, as a mum who has always taken a massive interest in my DCs schooling, it’s hard to accept that, at 16, it’s my son and not me who is now in charge of these outcomes.

We are definitely dealing with a fish swimming up a tree! I loved it

@BaconAndAvocado very similar here, ds1 loved exam pressure and was focused but ds2 more laid back but equally bright I think. It is difficult to adjust the parenting bit!! Ds2 not at school revision today which is good I think.

mumonthehill
So difficult! I hate all the nagging and tension in the house right now.
DS2 still in bed.....
When I just went up to try and rouse him he said, As long as I do 4 hours what’s the problem?
I guess he’s right, who knows?......losing the will here 🙄

Hello clary - read with interest your response re: French as DD is stressed about the French in particular. She is looking through the different themes / units in the AQA but it is overwhelming. She is unclear about what happens at the oral - does she get to choose which theme she is examined on? That would significantly help, but I haven't been able to find a clear answer.

DS2 got a 3 in his most recent Spanish mock so I’ve told him to not revise for it.

Well it just took me a good ten minutes to find the information, as I'd forgotten exactly what they said at the open evening last year and the website is so poorly designed, but the standard entry requirements for sixth form are a pass (grade 4-9) in 7 or more subjects, plus for Physics (which was one of his a-level choices), a grade 6 or above in science and maths.

He's got 5 tuition sessions over the half term (French, History, Physics, Computer Science and something else I've forgotten) so I'm getting him to focus on Sciences at the moment and then move on to the subjects in order of GCSE exams, I guess.

I don't really know what I'm doing to be honest, completely winging it 😆

Ps - thanks to the person who gave advice re French revision- it was very helpful and yes, he's doing Higher. I didn't realise that though as neither my son, or the school, ever mentioned it.

@BaconAndAvocado I think languages in particular have suffered the effects of covid. With other subjects it's easier to read and catch up. My dd used to be very good at languages but lockdown changed that.

@kidstaxidriver thank you SO much for posting that, what a breath of fresh air. I have been (inwardly) panicking about dd3 but I've got to stop for the sake of my own mental health. It's all very well telling our dc there is life after disappointing exam results but I've got to believe it myself! I'm not a pushy parent but I suppose the main thing I worry about is the effect on dd3's mental health if she doesn't do as well as she wants. I have to remember the challenges dd has had - an autism diagnosis aged 11 just when you want to fit in with your friends, some sort of crash/burnout in Year 10 resulting in poor school attendance. I am grateful now that her mental health is better, she has friends, goes out etc. And while she now thinks she's not clever any more, I know she really is. We all do Wordle in our house, she is the fastest to get it.

Sorry I didn't mean this to sound like a braggy post, I'm just trying to remind myself she will be ok in the long run and find her path.

Re French, DD finds the listening hardest and is listening to Slow French podcasts. LOTS of useful vocab and it really helps to practise making sense of it all. I bet you can find similar for other languages too.

Howwwww does my child not know which exams are up first on the timetable and what is on each paper???

gah!

I’m with you! Have had to dig out the syllabus for some subjects as DS not even sure himself 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Just done that toio!

We had a nice surprise tody DS went into school for the morning for a maths revision session and came home with his Engineering Btec results which we didn't realise he ws going to get this early. So thats the equivalent of a GCSE level 4 already in the bag.

For those struggling with science my daughter is watching 'free science lessons' on you tube. There are videos for all the elements of the curricular broken. Into lesson chunks. My daughter says they are great.

She listens to them and then makes mind maps as she does. She finds them more interesting to revise from than plain notes.

It is linked from her school website so they are obviously recommended.

Great news @Hellocatshome well done to your ds!

Lovely news @Hellocatshome !!

Well done @Hellocatshome

Ds is apparently "revising". Hmm.

I had a conversation with him last night along the lines of:

Him: Why does nothing in this house work unless you kick it?
Me: Does it work after you've kicked it?
Him: Yes
Me: Did you do any work for your GCSEs today?
Him: I didn't mean me...

Hi so for the speaking exam she picks the first theme (from 3) for general conversation. Either family, hobbies, customs; town and home and environment; or education and future plans. Chances are her teacher will have suggested some questions (only need to cover 1-2 sub topics).

The other elements are role play (any topic) and photo card, both chosen for her. The photo card is NOT on her chosen theme; the second topic for general convo is the third theme.

IMHO the best theme to pick is theme 2; liaise with teacher to get them to ask about home town and holidays. That way you avoid the bad luck to get a photo card on environment or social issues (which everyone hates) with questions you can’t plan - as these element are in your chosen theme (but your nice teacher is not going to ask you about them).

Does that make sense at all??? Sorry for essay.