GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

[SheilaFentiman]

Making a new thread to support half term revision and the set of GCSEs afterwards!

Think we are too

Not heard from DS about maths but seeing comments here about Edexcel I'm not expecting an overwhelmingly positive response.

DD said the last few questions on Edexcel maths were really hard. She got good mark in mocks so I think it was probably quite tricky.

Edexcel maths higher here, waiting to hear in the next hour hopefully. Wants to study it at A level so it’s an important one.

Just heard! Maths was fine, her sixth form require an 8 to study at A level, not confident on getting that.

Not heard yet from DD re higher maths. She usually texts me if it went badly so keeping fingers crossed.

I'm guessing she's doing History now or imminently.

My ds said it went 'very well which is a relief. He's doing the higher and got a 4 in mock so sounding positive.

DD out in the garden studying biology now.

She reckoned that Edexel iGCSE paper 2H was "fine". What that means is anybody's guess but she plans to do it for A level (fingers crossed).

I hope none of the exam rooms become too toasty this week; we finally seem to be getting some warm weather.

AQA higher maths here. Said it was boring (not enough problem solving apparently) but fine. I'll take that! DD planning on doing Maths for A-level.

Son said the last three questions on maths were really hard (worth about 10 marks). Said he had no idea how to answer them.

Edexcel IGCSE Higher here too and said it was hard

Also waiting to hear about Maths (AQA - and like others wanting to do at A level so pushing for a good grade).

History thought first!!!! (Migration and Elizabetheans)

Luckily tomorrow is a no exam day so DD can breathe, sleep and then prepare for Biology on Friday.

DD said there was a question with a bunch of octagons she couldn't work out how to do (also mentioned the surfs and kite shape question) - she just had message from a friend who found the octagons one and it's apparently a further Maths A level question too!!

DC has explained the octagon one to me. Well, they tried...my rusty O level really not up to their level!

Always reassuring when they arent the only ones thinking it was hard! Another maths a level hopeful here too!

My son was really pleased with the paper so 🤞🏼for him and hopefully your DS felt the same!

I have to say some of their memes are funny. I hope this young person did better than they thought! 😂

https://www.reddit.com/r/GCSE/comments/143ay58/hitler_reacts_to_edexcel_mathematics_paper_two/

ORC foundation maths for DD this morning. She said the last few questions were challenging but feels like she gave them a good go. She even said than unless next week’s paper is an absolute horror she’s pretty sure she’s done enough to get the 4 she needs for college and maybe even a 5. Lovely to see her feeling confident!

Had to email her head of year to get permission to study at home this afternoon. Seems crazy for her to sit through double media studies when all the exams have been done for the subject. Although they’ve been told to bring other revision in, she’ll get far more done at home. They’re meant to attend all lessons until 14th and won’t let them sign out in the afternoon without permission. Anyone else’s DC still having to go in?

She’s got PE tomorrow which is one of her favourites and she’s planning to do Sport at college. She got a 9 with the highest mark in her year for her practical. Hopefully she’ll do well in the written exams too.

That is brilliant - I showed it to DD and she was howling. The add in of the hyena reference is genius.

DD said the paper was really good (except the last 2 or 3 questions. She said the last question (with the octagons) was ridiculous. she did loads of workings out which proved nothing and then just guessed the answer (but tiktok has revealed the guess was correct) so at least she has an answer point at least - she is happy with that.

PE here tomorrow and then Geography and Biology on Friday. PE and Biology and A level choices so crossing fingers for good papers.

DS said his friends agreed that the Edexcel Maths Higher was hard. He found the questions time consuming to answer and did not have enough time to check all his answers. DS was floored by a quadrilateral (2 marker at the start), not an octagon, lol.

What's with the hyena reference?

Its a reference to the AQA english language paper on Monday when the extract came from the life of Pi and was all amount the charater of the Hyena.

Oh wow, GCSE inside joke. Thanks for explaining. I was thinking of Lion King, lmao!

Sorry to be dim....what is “Higher” Maths?
DS2 is doing GCSE AQA Maths. Is that higher?

Maths papers have 2 tiers of entry Higher tier (Grades available U, 3-9) and Foundation tier (grades available U, 1-5).

(So do Science and MFLs)