GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

[SheilaFentiman]

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

@Wolfcub Luckily for me I could do a mix at A-level, and joint honours in science/humanities for my degree (and further degrees were about the overlap of the two...)

@DontForgetToBreathe My DD is the artist in the family, she's just finished her first year at art school, so we've seen that as well (although she did art, a science, and a humanities subject at A-level). DS's room hasn't changed; absolutely all of his revision notes are on his phone (!) and he tests himself on apps like Quizlet. He hasn't put in as many hours as a lot of his friends, and when challenged, his reply was, "Yes, but the difference is that I did the work during the last two years!" We shall see...!

I don't think those rules are 'odd', more pragmatic.
Those taking physics without maths will be at a disadvantage due to the maths content in physics, as will those taking economics without maths.
I'm not saying I agree with making it a blanket rule because a motivated student could do extra work on the relevant maths, but maybe for them they have found those not doing maths get lower grades?

My DD is similar. She is willing to accept 7/8 in science but everything else she wants 9's.

She is putting all the pressure on herself and rationally she knows that if she doesn't get a 9 it doesn't mean she has failed.

I actually thank my lucky stars every day she didn't pass second stage11+ and get into the girls grammar as I think her mental health would be shot as she would be surrounded by people all getting 7/8/9 instead of the mix at her school.

DS’s approach is very much that GCSEs are just a hoop to jump through (which is also how he saw Sats) that then gets him on to the next level. You therefore only need to get the grades that you need to access the next step (though he’ll need 7s in sciences and an 8 in maths). But he does tend to cope well with the exams because he’s more relaxed and is pretty philosophical. He worked for his least favourite subjects (now over) and I was pleased about that.

Ds hoping to do geography, biology and chemistry but if able to do a fourth would add physics. As they do AS here he could drop physics at that point.

DS hoping to do psychology, geography and business studies. He needs a 6 in chosen a levels, maths and English. They also require 40 points across eight best subjects.

My DS has a conditional place at a fab local college to do physics and a level 3 diploma in aeronautical engineering (equivalent to two A-levels). He has to get at least C in maths and physics - physics will be no problem because he's already got an A for last year's half of the GCSE, but we're worried about the maths after so much time out of school (he's been off sick since mid-Feb). Plan B would be to stay at his current school and do A-level physics, geography and digital tech, but that's more like Plan Z in his mind because the school is literally being demolished and rebuilt - it's already a building site with diggers everywhere and one entire building was taken down over half term - so they'd be in Portakabins for the year and it's going to be a horrible noisy mess. Worst case scenario will be a maths resit, which the college might allow him to do alongside starting the course if his other grades are good enough.

My DD was really happy that one of the local colleges allowed a mix of diplomas and A levels. So different to my days! She's doing a (rather eclectic it seems) mix of a UAL L3 diploma (1.5 Alevel equivalent) in Performing and Production Arts, A level Graphic Communication and A level Psychology. She is very, very excited about the 'next stage' so I have had to regularly remind her that she needs to concentrate on the GCSEs first ...😂

DS wants to do Maths, Biology and Chemistry. And further maths.

He needs a 6 in his chosen subjects. They've said will accept a 4 in English Language due to his circumstances. SENCo has told me they may even accept him not passing English. I guess he'd swap out the further maths for a resiit in English.

Maths is his banker, likely an 8/9. Reasonably likely to get the 6 in his sciences.
English is an unknown. His official prediction is a 2, but this was because he'd never completed an English exam, ever. His SATs generated prediction is an 8, which is not realistic either.

He has felt the actual English exams went well, has answered all the required questions etc.

Geography and History sound like write-offs, not expecting a pass for either.

His attendance due to anxiety and depression in Yr11 is 55%, so he's done amazingly to keep on going.

Our local colleges don't offer A Levels anymore. Actually there's one that does but not for DS2s preferences.

I'd live him to go somewhere else as the school have been so appalling. But it's 5 minutes down the road, familiar and his best chance of getting to do A Levels so I will have to plaster on a smile!

Your poor DS. He sounds amazing. I suspect he'll be pleasantly surprised on results day as a dodgy exam for him will still equate to having done very well. Some similarities here in that there's an expectation of a slew of 9s. However, I'm amazed and thankful that DD has started to say that she'd be fine with 8s and possibly 7s in English. Maybe she's trying to manage our expectations (personally I will just be happy if she's happy!). However, if she doesn't get a 9 in maths, she will be devastated. It's like she feels it defines who she is, and it's what makes her special. The pressure and expectation she puts on herself with this one subject is through the roof.

DS just needs to get a 4 in English a 5 in maths and a 4 in 2 more subjects to get on his college course which will be a challenge for him. All the more concerning as he seems to think the GCSEs have been easy which doesn't bode well 🙈

He also has a few apprenticeship applications in some of which he has got through several stages of assessments interviews etc. Ideally he would prefer the apprenticeship route but none of the recruiters seem in any hurry to make offers.

Part of DS2s collapse is a huge part of his identity is tied to being academic (in maths particularly). Having lost that, he's been incredibly low. Its gutwrenching to see him ao distraught. We've never applied any pressure, we're not an academic family by any stretch of the imagination, but it's his goals and dreams that he's having to adjust (he'd wanted to be a Doctor).

We're treading the fine line of positivity with gentle management of expectations. Though I expect whatever we try it just boils down to getting the results he wants, no matter how many alternative plans we come up with. (Currently online A Levels)

Are any of your DCs doing / considering doing four A Levels?

DD1 started 4 AS levels and had to do Welsh bac - she dropped maths after AS exams came back and took three on to A-level and Welsh bac. I'm crossing my fingers she gets the grades needed for uni course - it will be close- as she is very excited by idea just needs to focus on last few exams and I think she'd hate another year at home.

DS will be doing at college maths, further maths, physics and computer science and welsh bac -as I don't think there allowed to drop welsh bac unless they take 5 A-levels which prior to being told that I was unaware of people doing. He should be fine - he got two GCSE grades already including the needed maths and just needs a B in physics and two more above C one of which has to be English Lang.

When we went to the schools sixth form evening they said don't like more than 3 AS/A levels to be taken - and Welsh bac which in sixth forms is usually a must but often isn't as widely accepted as claimed.

DS wants to do maths, physics, further maths and economics. Needs an 8 to do FM. He’s not sure if he’ll continue to do four or if he’ll drop one - I think it will depend on if it’s just too much maths.

Just sending a big virtual hug to you and your DS. I can totally relate to having a DC who feels that a major part of who they are and how others see them is around being the 'smart' one and always getting top grades. It's so hard to watch when their confidence is shaken.

Just joining you on here to say DD thought biology yesterday was odd and it took her ages to understand what some of the questions were on about. She said there was one where it was a pic of something or other and then it asked “why are percentages a good thing?” She was a bit

I have to admit I though DS was doing too much maths - but he seems keen.

We had cause to remind him recently that no he wasn't always good at maths - he was so bad the first primary he went to was talking about Dyscalculia which as we were really trying to get them tested for dyslexia and hitting a brick wall was frustrating and worrying.

Took years of work every day to get him on track and then to have it take off - I think the secondary has gone on and on at them that they have maths brains are are naturally gifted in maths - that it's re-written his memories. Given the tears and tantrums we had to ride out and time and money and effort on his part it's a huge triumph really that gets dismissed with well he must always have been good.

@PennywisePoundFoolish and @LighthouseCat Why the Maths? Same for DS. His identity seems to be tied into getting a 9 in Maths. He has said he can’t live with himself if he gets a 8. He will resit (like ..??? What, do another year to get a 9??! And then it might be just as hard to achieve 9. So take an 8 and just follow the path. 8 let’s you into further maths !)

Forget the easy 9s he’s getting in sciences and history and geography and music! I don’t even think he knows what job he wants really except he has worked hard for this Maths and is outstanding in that (I’ll admit!) I was academic myself but a third child so had older brothers and sister who also helped me in the most annoying ways.

I am half-hippy now so would have been all chill about uni and top scores but feel like I’m being held hostage by some perfectionist. He got so down about the maths I’ve booked a tutor (who also told him 8 is 👍 so he’s pissed off all over again and says no one understands)

Did he miss it by much, and could he not resit ? Big hugs to your DS. I feel I am already fighting the negative spiral at this stage and it’s not even over. I have a friends son who went through this last year and ended up choosing finance and business and French instead of maths and physics history as he had hoped. It was lockdown and first year of GCSE was online only. He is finding it so difficult with his A levels and wished he had retaken. He did miss it by quite a lot. I think it was the way they kept saying ‘these predicted grades will go up!’ And a D will become a B. And then it didn’t.

I have no idea. I was called in when DS2 was in reception and asked about his maths ability as they'd not had a child like him. It was a small unpopular village school. He knew all the answers but couldn't explain how he got them. (He's since been diagnosed ASD).

I never passed maths (even resit was a D). His Dad got a C. In Yr6 he used to beat the teacher in a maths quiz they had, which pissed the teacher off royally (he's a horrible person in general).

He used to sit watching YouTube videos by maths professors for fun! Though that stopped in early secondary school.

The only person on either side of our family to go to university is my brother. He went to grammar school, i failed my 11 plus.

I guess with DS2 we were all so impressed it's got embedded as this must achieve a 9, along the way.
English was always his nemesis and I could kick myself for getting a tutor so late. But I also hadn't wanted him to feel pressured.

It's such a precarious balance.

Here's to them all getting the results that satisfy them

Just to make people aware. My friends son is going to Cambridge and has done 4 A levels, 4th being further maths. Anyway, he got his place there but having a fourth subject has meant his offer is conditional on the result of all 4, not like he can pick his best 3.
His friend also got in but does 3 A levels so his offer is based on those. Seems like choosing 4 just makes it harder for yourself. Just something for people to consider.

I think I’d settle for getting the results they need for the next stage, and, if disappointed, find motivation in that to really work at it. I only got really good at my subjects at A level after some underwhelming results.

That’s interesting, @Purrfecto Good point.

Are any of your DCs doing / considering doing four A Levels?

My DS is doing Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics A Level.

He's always loved maths and finds it very easy. He says half the pupils taking FM have already dropped it. It's quite a lot of extra work and hours I suppose but he just really likes it.

In the second year they get to choose whether they want to specialise in Pure maths or mechanical / statistics maths which is more applied maths.
DS has chosen pure maths because he just loves it.

He currently gets A * for all his work and tests in all his subjects because he finds them easy so far.

He'll be doing a maths degree once he's finished his A Levels.

He has a very logical brain. He used to get DD to do all his art homework for him and he'd help her with her maths homework.