Page 17 | GCSE Support - nervously waiting

Hellocatshome · 2023-06-29T20:53:34+00:00

Hopefully everyone from GCSE Support The Final Frontier can find this new thread!

TeenDivided · 20/08/2023 17:55

Sausagesandpeas · 20/08/2023 17:19

@StuntNun the sixth form my DD is hoping to go to made it very clear that this is the expectation for all Alevel subjects.

Agree; this was the message we got from our 6th form colleges a few years ago when DD1 was considering A levels.

TeenDivided · 20/08/2023 17:56

Sausagesandpeas · 20/08/2023 17:19

@StuntNun the sixth form my DD is hoping to go to made it very clear that this is the expectation for all Alevel subjects.

Agree; this was the message we got from our 6th form colleges a few years ago when DD1 was considering A levels.

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 20/08/2023 18:51

Also agree - DS's school were very clear in all subjects that for every 1 hour in a lesson 1 hour of independent study was required at a minimum.

Merchantadventurer · 20/08/2023 19:22

I am getting worried DC is going to be in for a shock! His school haven’t said much about expectations.

I don’t know how many lessons they will be in school for. Say 3 per day?? Does that mean at least 3 hours of homework every night from the outset?

TeenDivided · 20/08/2023 19:26

Merchantadventurer · 20/08/2023 19:22

I am getting worried DC is going to be in for a shock! His school haven’t said much about expectations.

I don’t know how many lessons they will be in school for. Say 3 per day?? Does that mean at least 3 hours of homework every night from the outset?

Isn't it about 5hrs taught per subject per week?
Then I guess if 'in school' they may have compulsory extra things?

I know at colleges they will have free periods during the day so they can do work then or arrive late / leave early. Don't know how it works in schools.

Merchantadventurer · 20/08/2023 19:32

School has 5 lessons per day up to GCSE so that’s why I had thought they may have around 3 for A Level. You are right about free periods through - I hadn’t factored those in. I guess we can only see what the new term brings (Thursday dependent!!)

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 19:45

Yes, it wouldn't be 3 hours of work every evening, they would be expected to work during their study periods at school. This is why it is super important early on to get into a routine of planning what to do in those periods because it is really easy to completely waste them.

The mistake some students also make is to go home if they have a break in the middle of the day - the travel time and the arsing around at home eats away at potential study time. Also, if they don't have lessons first thing, having a lie in and wasting the morning.

Basically, they should continue to treat school like a 5 period day and then it is quite easy to fit in the hour of study per lesson.

HappiDaze · 20/08/2023 19:52

StuntNun · 20/08/2023 06:29

@HappiDaze did he sit Maths A level after only one year of Sixth Form?

Yes

HappiDaze · 20/08/2023 19:53

Yes they all take Maths A Level after the first year if they're also taking FM at his college

PhotoDad · 20/08/2023 19:53

The "double whammy" is that if someone is taking four A-levels, and/or an EPQ or similar, then they not only have more preparation to do, but fewer free study periods!

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 20:03

Re: Further maths.

The one thing I cannot overstate that is if a pupil is considering taking further maths, they should start with 4 subjects. I've seen kids who insist that they can't possibly think of a 4th subject to take, that they definitely only want to take 3, that they'll be fine with FM, and then they're not fine, and they can't drop it and are stuck.

Taking 4 subjects obviously fills the timetable pushing studying into the evenings. One thing about FM pupils is that they tend not to have to spend as much time on Maths A-level as non-FM pupils, because they find it easier, which helps with time management. Obviously they should be putting in the hours for FM though. Taking 4 subjects is pretty stressful - obviously they can drop one at some point, but if they're not dropping FM, they should definitely check in with their FM teacher whether that is a good idea! We had a kid this year who dropped their 4th subject to continue with 3 inc FM, when we would have strongly advised dropping FM instead.

A kid doing 4 subjects needs to be really organised and efficient with allocating their time. Parents should keep an eye on them and make sure they aren't burning out and are spending some time socialising.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 20/08/2023 20:07

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 19:45

Yes, it wouldn't be 3 hours of work every evening, they would be expected to work during their study periods at school. This is why it is super important early on to get into a routine of planning what to do in those periods because it is really easy to completely waste them.

The mistake some students also make is to go home if they have a break in the middle of the day - the travel time and the arsing around at home eats away at potential study time. Also, if they don't have lessons first thing, having a lie in and wasting the morning.

Basically, they should continue to treat school like a 5 period day and then it is quite easy to fit in the hour of study per lesson.

Meanwhile in teenager land 😴

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 20:13

Oh I know. They have to juggle settling into their new courses, making new friends, possibly a new school or college, with increasing independence (and starting to learn to drive!), part time jobs, relationships. It's a big transition and they definitely do not want to listen to the person nagging them to set up a study timetable!

TeenDivided · 20/08/2023 20:16

84 hours to go ...

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllanty · 20/08/2023 20:20

83 hours 40 mins

Original poster

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2023 20:21

TeenDivided · 20/08/2023 20:16

84 hours to go ...

Oh my God!

OP posts:

HappiDaze · 20/08/2023 20:46

If it helps my DS says that with maths you have your lesson - but then it's up to you to do the homework and learn what was taught and be ready to move on to the next lesson and part of the syllabus.

The teacher does not have the time to explain
how it works. It's a very different style of independent learning.

You are expected to listen, learn get on with it

If you don't at his college keep up them they remove you from the course.

So as a parent if your DC can not keep up its not the fault of the teacher. They are there to show and explain what you need to learn in your own time.

Your DC has to suck it up, be full of grit and determination and just learn it and get on with it

My DS had twice as much maths as normal for obvious reasons and was doing hours and hours of homework because you have to write it all out properly step by step. Even if you know the answer straight away in your head. It didn't help that he'd leave it till the night before so would do 6-9 hours in one go.

I very much suggest to not do this if possible.

Get them to slow down. DS always rushes things so that's how he made his mistakes. He has learned the hard way to slow it down. In the A Level though there's not much time to reread your answers from what I remember him saying.

megletthesecond · 20/08/2023 21:13

I'm keeping myself very busy this week. I've even decided to go into the office for an extra day as I need the distraction.

LighthouseCat · 20/08/2023 21:32

Yes, same here, keeping us all busy. Both DC getting results and both are starting to get very nervous. In all probability that will be fine but the A-level thread did make me a little more anxious 😬

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 21:35

Another thing to remember about the A-level thread is that often when they're talking about DC not meeting predicted grades and missing out on uni offers, they mean UCAS predicted grades. UCAS predicted grades are always optimistic rather than realistic because they're needed to get the foot in the door of uni applications.

GCSE predicted grades are a more realistic assessment of what the teacher reckons the DC is capable of.

Original poster

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2023 22:04

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2023 21:35

Another thing to remember about the A-level thread is that often when they're talking about DC not meeting predicted grades and missing out on uni offers, they mean UCAS predicted grades. UCAS predicted grades are always optimistic rather than realistic because they're needed to get the foot in the door of uni applications.

GCSE predicted grades are a more realistic assessment of what the teacher reckons the DC is capable of.

It would have been nice if DSs school actually provided him with any predicted grades, even after several times of asking so we had them to use them on his apprenticeship applications we got nothing so DSs predicted grades are based on his predictions and some mock results we managed to find out the scores for.

OP posts:

LighthouseCat · 20/08/2023 22:09

That does reassure me a bit @noblegiraffe
@Hellocatshome DCs school produced a pretend GCSEs results slip after both rounds of mocks, which was definitely helpful and had to be used for applications to local 6th forms. Can't believe your DC's school didn't do anything : / Very unhelpful

Original poster

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2023 22:12

LighthouseCat · 20/08/2023 22:09

That does reassure me a bit @noblegiraffe
@Hellocatshome DCs school produced a pretend GCSEs results slip after both rounds of mocks, which was definitely helpful and had to be used for applications to local 6th forms. Can't believe your DC's school didn't do anything : / Very unhelpful

They are spectacularly unhelpful at every turn so to be honest it didn't suprise me. One of the many reasons my younger son goes to a different school.

OP posts:

NCTDN · 20/08/2023 22:25

Not sure if this is good to read or not!

inews.co.uk/news/gcse-grade-boundaries-2023-exams-marked-results-2558647

LighthouseCat · 20/08/2023 22:39

Thanks @NCTDN. In the article it grade boundaries based on 4 things, one of which is: "Data on the previous achievements of the students taking the exam" What data is that?