GCSE Supporting - first week nearly over

[overthehillswegoo]

New thread

He's not the only one - though DS has settled a bit to some.

DD1 is even worse and has two A-level exams coming up this week.

The hot sunny inviting weather isn't helpful - despite fact house is cool and very quiet - DH and DD2 are out today.

DD has gone out to meet up with friends - then I guess it'll be revision for the rest of the weekend

@DorotheaDiamond yep, just sounds ridiculous really.

Thanks for the new thread, it's certainly busy!

DS is doing geography and chemistry today with a brief interlude to see his English tutor. Was meant to be English language (his weaker English) but ended up being Lit.

Tomorrow is a day of rest.

DS is sitting the IGCSE in English Lit. He did an exam last week on poetry and prose but doesn't have a second exam timetabled. I'm going to check with his school but looking at the exam board schedule of exams there should be a second paper next week on modern drama. I'm just anxious in case it's been omitted from his timetable.

I can't remember being this wound up about my own exams 😂

@DownTheRabbitHoIe ds1’s second English lit paper is Wed morning

That's what I found on the exam board website. I'm emailing school for some reassurance/clarification.

@DownTheRabbitHoIe - most schools also publish a full list of public exams on their websites so you may find it there. Was his individual timetable manually generated by school?
Is it edexel IGCSE. Make sure you email the exams officer rather than a teacher- they are more likely to be checking their email over the weekend.

@HannahWaddinghamLove your poor ds, sounds like he’s been through so much. I wish him well.

How is everyone doing today? I’m worrying about DD’s Chemistry. She asked me to work through a paper with her last night and embarrassingly as I have a Chemistry degree I could barely remember anything. She seemed to have a lot of gaps in her knowledge and gave up after a while saying she’ll revise a bit more first. She got 6 6 for double science in the January mocks, I’m hoping it won’t go down!

Thank you for the tip about checking the school website. It looks like paper 2 is completed as coursework but I will follow it up with an email to the exams office.

HannahWaddinghamLove wishing your DS continued strength

Igcse has option of coursework instead of second paper (that’s what dd has done)

@bendmeoverbackwards thank you 🩵 I’m so proud of him for just walking into school and also for applying for college, regardless of his results, which thankfully won’t matter for the course he’s going to be taking.

That’s brilliant @HannahWaddinghamLove well done to him. What does he want to study at college?

My dd has some issues too - ASD, some mental health problems in year 10 and poor attendance. She’s very bright and without these issues should be achieving high grades but right now I just want her to get what she needs for sixth form at her current school. She wants to stay with her friends even though I’m not 100% sure A levels are right for her.

Us too. But our school emailed us (the parents) with the coursework mark so it was very transparent.

We have the year 11 leavers assembly on Friday. I may need tissues. They're putting on breakfast and lunch for them and they're allowed to sign each others shirts. The year 6 one seems like yesterday!

@bendmeoverbackwards he’s looking at a motor vehicle course, he absolutely loves cars so we’re hoping, if nothing else, his passion will be ignited by this change of environment. If only for a year, then if he changes his mind he can look into other options.

We’re currently going through challenging an EHCP request.

Good luck to your DD. Just remember, there are countless options after school. GCSES can be taken at any time.

And A levels were definitely not right for DS, as he’s struggled so much in the school environment. The college he’s applied for has been applauded by so many, those who are ND especially.

I can’t wait for him to have a chance of learning in a totally different environment. It’s been hell tbh, from Covid, isolation, MH deterioration, ND diagnosis, bullying, surgery! It’s been one hell of a ride!

This year’s GCSE Y11’s have had so many struggles, but they are the ones who are expected to complete the current GCSES as if the last three years didn’t matter! They did, to some students at least. Some of which struggled and are still struggling.

Good luck to each and everyone one of them.

DS has hit a wall with his chemistry revision. He's at a SEMH school and they don't have the facilities to do experiments. He's been watching YouTube videos to try and understand them.

Like previous posters though, I'm just happy he's sitting exams. At one point in his school career he wouldn't even set foot in a school. We had to choose between the full range of opportunies at mainstream but bad mental health or limited opportunities at a specialist school and better mental health.

His mental health had to take priority.

What are the rules on ear plugs? DD gets really distracted (and irritated!) by other people making noises….yawning, squeaking chairs, coughing etc. I assume they aren’t allowed, but have asked her to check with the exams officer on Monday

My DD is the same!! She has misophonia so it absolutely kills her and it's a big struggle. We asked the school a while ago and they said better not to risk it as it's an added hassle apparently. She's managed so far as she's so focused on her exam but I don't know about the future!!

I'd say check with the exams officer like you said as I don't know the exact policy.

It would be so helpful to her, but I guess they’re concerned with not hearing instructions/fire alarms (?!!!)/ pencils down etc

Earplugs would be a special access consideration so would need to go through learning support, exam
Boards notified etc.

No revision here today - DD has had a full day of music including a concert this evening and is now exhausted. Am going to let her sleep in the morning so realistically it will be about 11 before she starts tomorrow. Chemistry is one of her worst subjects 😣. She’s also not keen on paper 1 for Geography. So, not expecting a good day on Monday.