Page 18 | GCSE Supporting - first week nearly over

roadsidetree · 22/05/2023 11:33

DS messaged Chemistry was very tough and he didn't like it at all. He is taking OCR Combined Higher Science. Hope the remaining exams go smoothly.

hamper555 · 22/05/2023 11:33

Edexcel IGCSE here - was absolutely fine (think last week's nightmare Biology paper got DD worrying that they were all going to be like that!)

spiderlight · 22/05/2023 11:34

It's reassuring (without wanting to sound horrible!) that other people found the Chemistry paper hard as well. DS is doing WJEC triple science (higher). He found Biology OK last week and he loves Physics, but Chemistry has always been his weakest science.

Beccaboo822 · 22/05/2023 11:39

spiderlight · 22/05/2023 11:34

It's reassuring (without wanting to sound horrible!) that other people found the Chemistry paper hard as well. DS is doing WJEC triple science (higher). He found Biology OK last week and he loves Physics, but Chemistry has always been his weakest science.

I guess the grade boundries will be lower if everyone finds it hard....

spiderlight · 22/05/2023 11:49

Indeed - that's what DS is hoping for. He has his first maths paper tomorrow, which he's really worried about. He'll be getting special consideration for all his exams but that's only 5%, even given how ill he's been. God, I hate that 12 years of solid work in school can essentially all go up in smoke for the sake of one badly timed illness and one lot of exams 😥I know he can resit, but there has to be a better way than putting all this pressure on the poor kids.

Hersetta427 · 22/05/2023 11:54

DD did OCR Gategate higher this morning. Said it went really well. It is one of her A level choices so she normally does well. Her favouite topic didn't come up for the 6 marker like she was hoping (Bonding) but it was on electrolysis instead but she said she knew the answers and could just methods and resoning in her answers she she at least sounds confident.

AQA Geography this afternoon. Huge amount of content for a bloody 90 min exam !

julesover40 · 22/05/2023 11:59

DD seems happy after EDEXL chemistry this morning. Hopefully she will stay calm for Geography this afternoon.
Going to be a long stressful week of them second guessing themselves x

Bobsbees · 22/05/2023 12:02

@Hersetta427 I agree - the content for Geography is ridiculous!

TripleDaisySummer · 22/05/2023 12:03

I won't hear how chem went till he gets home from school at normal time.

DS had been saying many of his friends had looked at what they had to lose and put themselves on study leave which officially doesn't start till after half term- I thought this was typical teenage bull but just went for a walk round area and saw 7 people I knew from his actual year were out in uniform heading home after morning science exam.

DH says not to worry as they clearly weren't rushing home to study - but I do worry we are doing wrong thing insisting he goes in - he's on thin ice and I want to avoid any issues with taking exams.

It is the normal timetable - so how useful any of it is to remaining exams isn't clear.

ilovebagpuss · 22/05/2023 12:10

DD said the EDexcel Chemistry (single science) went better than she expected which is good as she dislikes it the most. My DH has a degree in Chemistry and was a teacher for some years so that has been a gift for helping explain and go over revision.
Geography next. I do wish they had given them a selection of topics, as others have commented there is so much to revise in Geog.

blueshoes · 22/05/2023 12:11

DS said iGCSE Edexcel Chemistry was the easiest Science so far. That said he managed to get one entire question wrong (something about proving Lithium Carbonate) ...

BonjourCrisette · 22/05/2023 12:15

DD also reports that Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry was good. She is quite relieved after the horror of Biology.

Neversaygoodbye · 22/05/2023 12:15

DS said AQA Chemistry was "decent" - considering it's his weakest science I'm pretty sure he's decided to just say that for every exam! I can't blame him, I did the same with my parents lol.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 22/05/2023 12:25

TripleDaisySummer · 22/05/2023 12:03

I won't hear how chem went till he gets home from school at normal time.

DS had been saying many of his friends had looked at what they had to lose and put themselves on study leave which officially doesn't start till after half term- I thought this was typical teenage bull but just went for a walk round area and saw 7 people I knew from his actual year were out in uniform heading home after morning science exam.

DH says not to worry as they clearly weren't rushing home to study - but I do worry we are doing wrong thing insisting he goes in - he's on thin ice and I want to avoid any issues with taking exams.

It is the normal timetable - so how useful any of it is to remaining exams isn't clear.

Our school has said those who want to stay for cram sessions can but only if they want to. On days when DD doesn't do the cram lesson subject for GCSE they've come home.
Friday was kept clear for all to have a bit of peace.
Tomorrow they have no exams but English cram in the afternoon. It's working well and means DD is choosing to stay more than I think they would otherwise.

DontForgetToBreathe · 22/05/2023 12:26

So the days without exams, are you letting your child stay home to study/rest? Or does the school have study sessions for the exams? Ds is saying he’d prefer to study at home. A bit conflicted.

Hersetta427 · 22/05/2023 12:31

DontForgetToBreathe · 22/05/2023 12:26

So the days without exams, are you letting your child stay home to study/rest? Or does the school have study sessions for the exams? Ds is saying he’d prefer to study at home. A bit conflicted.

Mine is on study leave anyway and only does in for exams - there are optional crammer sessions just before most exams if you want to go but otherwise she is at home.

Violasrule · 22/05/2023 12:32

@TripleDaisySummer

In exactly the same situation as you.

School said no study leave until after half term and get some kids are signing themselves out and catching the bus home.

This is a change of approach since last year when it was study leave from the start. School are running normal timetable in between but nothing is taught due to some pupils having exams.

Very frustrated.

christmastreefarm · 22/05/2023 12:35

DontForgetToBreathe · 22/05/2023 12:26

So the days without exams, are you letting your child stay home to study/rest? Or does the school have study sessions for the exams? Ds is saying he’d prefer to study at home. A bit conflicted.

My dd has this tomorrow and Friday. I have said she can stay home but she wants to go to school. She has English exams wednesday and first day back after half term and she doesn't want to miss any formal revision time (she's looking ahead for an English degree)

kidstaxidriver · 22/05/2023 12:47

Another comment of ‘that went better than expected’ for IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry which is a huge relief - we aren’t expecting much, so that sounds far better than the Bio, as others have commented for this exam board. Onto trying to cram AQA Geography examples into a lunch break before they go again! 🤞 to all this afternoon and hope everyone came out unscathed from this am.

BaconAndAvocado · 22/05/2023 12:59

Sorry if it’s already been mentioned but does anyone have any feedback on AQA Chemistry?

I’ll be working when he gets in, so won’t be able to speak to him straight away and would love to know that it wasn’t horrendous!

TripleDaisySummer · 22/05/2023 13:00

Violasrule · 22/05/2023 12:32

@TripleDaisySummer

In exactly the same situation as you.

School said no study leave until after half term and get some kids are signing themselves out and catching the bus home.

This is a change of approach since last year when it was study leave from the start. School are running normal timetable in between but nothing is taught due to some pupils having exams.

Very frustrated.

It is so frustrating - there's no cram lessons just normal timetable which perhaps might be turned into a revision lesson.

DS next exam is Thursday one he needs as wants to do at A-level. DH thinks it's all about the school attendance stats but still thinks we need to send him in just in case- despite fact DS has 100% attendance and we're around to enforce revision happening at home.

After half term is every school day an exam till a week break and last exam so study leave won't be a huge benefit till last exam.

DS will glad to see the back of the school - though we have a younger child so will have to go through whole rigmarole and lack of organisation again.

Beccaboo822 · 22/05/2023 13:02

BaconAndAvocado · 22/05/2023 12:59

Sorry if it’s already been mentioned but does anyone have any feedback on AQA Chemistry?

I’ll be working when he gets in, so won’t be able to speak to him straight away and would love to know that it wasn’t horrendous!

Someone up the page said the aqa combined one was really hard and lots of mathy questions but not sure about the separate one. I'm curious too.

BaconAndAvocado · 22/05/2023 13:04

Yes, DS2 isn’t doing the combined. Separate Bio, Chem and Physics exams.
I’m hoping DD will be more communicative next year when she does her GCSEs 😳

Violasrule · 22/05/2023 13:08

@TripleDaisySummer

I feel your pain.

DS doesn’t have 100% attendance and is staying on for sixth form so I don’t want to take the risk of keeping him off.

This afternoon he has regular lessons but as most of the others have an exam I don’t think they’ll be doing much. Hopefully it will be quiet enough for him to revise for his next exam but I know he would get so much more done at home.

bendmeoverbackwards · 22/05/2023 13:17

Dd says Edexcel Chemistry was hard ☹️ and some weirdly worded questions.