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Original poster

GCSE support - the final frontier!

1000 replies

SheilaFentiman · 10/06/2023 22:25

These are the voyages of the GCSE Enterprise. To support our DCs, bemoan exam boards and to boldly go through the last fortnight like no one has gone before!

OP posts:
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TeenDivided · 15/06/2023 17:10

If it turns out not to have been on the spec at all, they may possibly disregard the question.
If it was on the spec and most students did badly it will just pull down grade boundaries.

TripleDaisySummer · 15/06/2023 17:11

If teachers complain to the exam board what happens?

I think they look at the question and then decide - I know DD1 chem and maths teachers complained but board thought it was fine in the end.

I remember my head of history department saying they were complaining about a question from exam when I picked up my course work - it was mainly source bases so I wasn't phased - but he explained others had been - they were hoping I think that it would be ignored and not included in marks - I don't remember hearing any more about it though.

TripleDaisySummer · 15/06/2023 17:13

X-post there and TeenDivided put it more succinctly.

sunglasses · 15/06/2023 17:19

According to my DD though the whole paper had questions about culture before the Nazis. ( I’m not sure how paper is organised) She had 1 flash card on culture of this period! And about 50 on everything else! Ah well hopefully she did ok across the board with the other papers. Two of the 6 forms she wants to go to need grade 6 or above in just about everything, wether studying it for A level or not which is an ask for a kid who wants to do Art, Drama and English.

lemonyellows · 15/06/2023 17:28

Yes my DS said the culture questions seemed to overlap. I thought he might have misunderstood it but maybe not .....

Even after appeal, I can't see how they can ignore if all the questions related to it

Muchtoomuchtodo · 15/06/2023 17:56

WJEC Welsh lit here today. Chemistry tomorrow then Physics to finish with on Monday……..……

……until the next lot in November, then January and the final onslaught this time next year!

Purple444 · 15/06/2023 18:00

I think the way the Edexcel History Paper 3 is set up is quite strange. 4 of the 6 questions are on the same topic, which when it’s on something niche like this year’s paper, doesn’t allow students to show what they know. I know exam papers are always a lottery but this seems particularly weighted, even compared with Papers 1 and 2.

Hellocatshome · 15/06/2023 18:02

Well yesterday's leaving assembly and being put on study leave with 2 days to go seems to have resulted in DS well and truly taking his foot of the gas. He has spent today tidying the house and yard ready for the burn your blazer party tomorrow despite having physics and geography tomorrow 🙈

fuckmyuteruslining · 15/06/2023 18:09

Dd did ocr history and it was pretty good.

closethedrawer · 15/06/2023 18:12

DS seemed very happy with the Weimar paper. He knew lots about culture before the Nazi's. Or so he says Hmm

Changes17 · 15/06/2023 18:22

Three to go! Geography and physics tomorrow, then further maths next week.

Wolfcub · 15/06/2023 18:22

Four to go. Can't wait for it to be over to be honest

HippoStraw · 15/06/2023 18:34

History weird here too. Weimar. Apparently the questions did overlap on one small section. Really frustrating because it’s supposed to show what you know, not catch you out

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:23

Okay had a chat with DS he doesn’t feel he did thaaaat bad but knew the questions he didn’t answer and went on for too long writing the other answers and ran out of time. Phew! Started going on about the culture of Weimar and music and explaining it to me so I think he felt better he’s managed to get it off his chest. He’s been on the phone to his friends too so recovering. Tried explaining Sod’s Law to him and prepare himself for tomorrow instead of feeling that bad about it. He’s pretty down that he’ll never do History again too and didn’t want to end it like this especially as he really liked Weimar (!!) I think they will know he knew it, and at least like other times he stuck to the question asked and didn’t go off topic (I hope!)

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:24

I meant unlike other times (when he went off topic)

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:25

Geography and Physics tomorrow.

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:26

What’s everyone doing with all the schoolbooks and flash cards? Recycle? Keep in some keepsake in the attic?

jamimmi · 15/06/2023 20:28

3 to go here . Physics and geography tomorrow Furthermore maths Wednesday. Leaver assembly and prom the 28th. She is so far OK with everything apart from chemistry paper 2 , still thinks she may " only" have a 6 or 7. I have pointed out DS got only I 7 and a 6 the rest were 4 /5. He did well at 6th form and is now happily going into 3rd year uni on trac for a 2:1 . I too hate the grade system and feel.its too much pressure. I have friends with kids who are academically mixed so only just offer congratulations and don't ask or share marks when told they are really happy with results. As some.have said a 4 for some is more work than a 9 for others

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:30

Grades are a marker to how well you understand the subject. Exams are not.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 15/06/2023 20:51

What’s everyone doing with all the schoolbooks and flash cards? Recycle? Keep in some keepsake in the attic?

DD will probably keep them with all the other crap that she has kept from childhood😁I'd recycle all the flashcards given the choice but maybe keep the notes for subjects that she's doing at A level. The school have asked for the revision guides that they provided back to give to next years kids. Definitely no burning, especially in this weather!

Poppielle · 15/06/2023 21:04

Funny story about text books.

My mum kept all my books. Looking through a science book from year 10 or 11, I turned a page and the large title I had wrote said

ORGASMS

I had then wrote all about 'orgasms' but in the context of 'organisms' I'm cringing at the thought of my teacher marking that! She never corrected the spelling. I obviously was very innocent that that age and not particularly clever 😅

ilovebagpuss · 15/06/2023 21:05

DD wants to burn her work books later in the year if we have a bonfire. Keeping the study books for DD 2 just in case.
DD finishes tomorrow and she just seems to have lost momentum today. She has a sore throat and keeps yawning and staggering about! She says she's on her last legs 😂

Madcats · 15/06/2023 21:09

DD chucked all things English Lit into recycling, but that might have been first to finish.

Her "astonishingly rural, so it will be fine" friend is apparently planning a bonfire party. I am not convinced that his parents know.

Countryside near us is tinder-dry, so I would prefer a supervised burning if it has to happen.

Hellocatshome · 15/06/2023 21:15

PicnicBunny · 15/06/2023 20:26

What’s everyone doing with all the schoolbooks and flash cards? Recycle? Keep in some keepsake in the attic?

All paper hand outs etc from school are going on the fire tomorrow. The proper revision books are being kept for DS2 but he goes to a different school.so may not be the same exam boards and if my spidey senses are accurate will probably be doing higher not foundation like DS2.

Circleoffifths · 15/06/2023 21:23

DD has been recycling all notes, papers etc as each subject has finished. Revision guides are being kept for her brother except for subjects where the school has decided to change boards (annoyingly in Sciences and Music).

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