GCSE - improvement between mock and actual exams

[bendmeoverbackwards]

I hope someone can reassure me!

Dd is in Year 11 and just finished her mocks. She is diagnosed ASD and in Year 10 had some mental health problems resulting in erratic school attendance. From September she was much improved although her attendance is still low (around 60%).

Just got her report today with her mock results and I'm not sure how bad or otherwise this is -

Classics - 3
English Language - 5
English Lit - 6
History - 6
Maths - 6
RS - 4
Spanish - 1
Double Science - 6 6

She needs a minimum of 42 points from the 8 best GCSEs to stay on at her current school sixth form (which she wants to do, all her friends are staying and to move would be a huge upheaval for her).

How much can they improve between now and the summer. She is a very able student who should be achieving 8s and 9s, however in view of her problems I don't care about top grades - I just want her to get to the next stage and feel happy with herself.

Sorry I’ve just realised I made a typo in my OP.

She needs 46 points. She has 42 already.

OP my daughter improved her RS grade considerably between the mocks and real GCSEs. We used the Pearson revision guide for this subject and the explanations and layout made it much clearer what was needed. You need to make sure that you buy the correct one for the 2 religions being studied.

Thank you @catndogslife I need to check all the exam boards for each subject. I doubt dd will tell me so I’ll have to ask the school or other parents may know.

Hi @bendmeoverbackwards it's confusing because Pearson are a publisher and also run Edexcel exam board. They do publish revision guides that cover all the different syllabuses though.

My DD will be starting Y7 in Sep 2023. I'm obviously mad to think about this already but had a question please for parents with children heading towards GCSE.
So when my DD started prep school I was naïve enough to think tutoring would not be required and the school would prep her for 11+. Realized well in time that was not the case and got a tutor.
Am I being naïve again to think that if she is at a top selective secondary school G&L and LEH - she should not need a tutor? Would I still need a tutor for most subjects?

Well, she just needs 3 subjects to go up a grade, which is very achievable, I think. There is normally some improvement between mocks and the real thing- how much depends on the individual.

Are there any subject specific requirements she needs to meet for sixth form?

In most cases, no. I think people are suggesting a tutor here due to SEN and erratic school attendance.

It may be that if there is an individual subject your DC struggles with, and they need X grade in it to get to the next stage, a tutor might be needed.

Don't forget as well, this is the first year group to sit GCSEs with no special allowances since Covid.

A lot will change in 5 years, though, so it's hard to advise.

Thank you @Postapocalypticcowgirl

My DS did his exams last year, his school were quite mean in their predictions-I think to make them work harder. I helped make a revision timetable, they have lots of time to revise with study leave as well. It helps them to focus if you show what they can do over the next few months.
He got a 7 in English Lang mocks and a 9 in the exam. We talked about stories, clever use of language to make things more exciting and looked at past papers for story topics.
He used all the revision books with tests in, some are really nicely done-I think CGP.
They can definitely go up a few grades by putting effort in, even Spanish.
it sounds like your DC wants to do well and that is half the battle.

@bendmeoverbackwards how did she get on in the end? I am in the same position now with the first lot of mocks in a few weeks, it’s already a bit stressful!