Year 11 2023-24

[Maxus]

Anyone else got kids starting year 11 in September?

[TinfoilTangerine]

Yes I have. My oldest DC so not been through GCSEs (apart from my own in the 90s) before.

[Maxus]

Hi. I think I'm more nervous than my son.

[mylittleprince]

Yep DS going into year 11 in September. Has anyone seen a list of useful revision guides? He'd probably prefer online ones opposed to books

[Maxus]

Alot of the CGP revision guides come with on online version. You would need to double check the subjects you want as a couple don't. My son has found them useful. Make sure the order the right exam board.

[Marisquita]

@mylittleprince

Yep DS going into year 11 in September. Has anyone seen a list of useful revision guides? He'd probably prefer online ones opposed to books

I agree with @Maxus about the CGP guides. Also from CGP and well worth considering is the online MathsBuster digital revision kit which DD (also going into Y11) has been using for consolidation over these summer holidays. She seems to be getting a lot out of it, and friends whose DC sat GCSEs this summer recommended it to us. It currently costs £12.99 for a 3-year licence, and you can choose between the Higher and Foundation versions.

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/gcse/maths/42mbhd3-mathsbuster-gcse-maths-online

[Marisquita]

For those who can bear it, the provisional exam schedule for 2024 is available. The link is to AQA, but there is co-ordination between the boards on this. The good news (in my view anyway) is that they’ve retained the greater spacing between exams which has been a post-Covid adaptation. Others may take a different view as it means written exams will typically be spread across 5 weeks or so (split by the half-term break), but in our household a bit of breathing space between papers will be very welcome!

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN24-P.PDF

[PartyPartyYeah]

Yep mine is, the amount of work they have been given for the holidays is madness!

[alwaysplanning]

Yes DS starting year 11 in September too, also lots of homework set over the summer! Doesn't seem to have any useful coherent notes in his yr 10 books, would you be encouraging them to start making some revision notes, I have no idea how he's going to revise without any notes..??

[Maxus]

@Marisquita

For those who can bear it, the provisional exam schedule for 2024 is available. The link is to AQA, but there is co-ordination between the boards on this. The good news (in my view anyway) is that they’ve retained the greater spacing between exams which has been a post-Covid adaptation. Others may take a different view as it means written exams will typically be spread across 5 weeks or so (split by the half-term break), but in our household a bit of breathing space between papers will be very welcome!

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/t_table_pdf/AQA-TT-GCSE-JUN24-P.PDF

Thankyou for both these links. I will see if my don is interested in the mathsbuster

[Maxus]

@alwaysplanning

Yes DS starting year 11 in September too, also lots of homework set over the summer! Doesn't seem to have any useful coherent notes in his yr 10 books, would you be encouraging them to start making some revision notes, I have no idea how he's going to revise without any notes..??

It might be worth checking your child's school website. My son's school has plenty of revision advice including revision websites. It also details which topics you need to revise for each subject. My son makes revision cards which helps.

[Weatherwax134]

There's lots of free revision resources online:
Physics & Maths Tutor (physicsandmathstutor.com)
(20) tutor2u - YouTube

Also loads of revision guides etc. are on Vinted for £1-£5

I'm feel a little anxty about DS going into his GCSEs but I'm also a secondary teacher and remind myself that there are many paths for Level 3 and beyond. I'm going to try and just focus on keeping him cheerful, motivated and calm.

[mylittleprince]

DS hasn't been set any work for the summer

[AmyandPhilipfan]

My eldest is going into Year 11 this year. He hasn't been set any work and is quite resistant to revision so I haven't pushed it over the holidays, though I think I might force the issue a bit during the last week of the holidays. He's not academic and will be lucky if he scapes 4s.

[AmyandPhilipfan]

*scrapes

[Littlebluebird123]

Mine hasn't been set any homework - they're at a Grammar School so I would perhaps have expected a bit of pushing. Not too bothered though as they're quite self motivated.

Anyone have any useful revision/explanation videos for Biology? That seems to be the biggest bugbear in our house. I never did it so I'm no help.

[Gazelda]

My DD is going into Y11. She had some French and history work set for the summer, and has mainly concentrated on her art portfolio.

I've been torn between encouraging her to do revision ad well, or to spend her limited spare time relaxing.

The next 11 months are going to be full on, so I want her to know that switching off and relaxing is important too.

Her school have been great about recommending revision guides and links to good online resources.

She's predicted 7-9s, but is a perfectionist and will be going all out to get all 9s. I worry for her MH (she's had wobbles), so am trying to find a healthy balance.

[ReformedWaywardTeen]

Yep DS is. He won't be 16 until the end of August 2024 either.

We've just gone through GCSEs with DD though this year (results in 9 days time, eek).

[Panicmode1]

Yes - my third child starts Y11 in September - and will be the only one so far to actually take GCSEs which is a bit bonkers. The older two were given CAGs. He's only had a lot of art homework to do over the holidays - not really any academic work (he's at a grammar).

We are also waiting for A level results on Thursday....am feeling very nervous - this poor cohort hadn't sat a proper exam until their first A level paper and they've had all of the strikes to contend with - AND the grades are going back to pre pandemic levels. Fingers crossed!

[JustHereWithMyPopcorn]

Yes, I have 🖐. DS2 starts yr 11 in September. We have not been given any homework over the summer other than finish up his art rom last year and History.

DS1 was the first cohort to miss their GCSEs in 2019 (just finished first year at uni) so very nervous about the upcoming GCSEs for DS2.

This A level results day has made me very nervous even though have no-one sitting them this year!

[Gazelda]

Does anyone know the last date of GCSEs? We want to book a celebratory holiday, but obvs need to ensure we do t clash with anything important.

Prom is listed on the school's website. Is it reasonable to assume all exams will be over by then and Y11 will have finished school? They don't have to go back in after Prom do they?

[Bessica1970]

Our prom was before the last exam so don’t assume. There is a link up thread to the exam schedule which is useful - I’m just about to put the dates in my diary.

It would be useful to know if they have to learn the physics equations this year - but they’ll likely leave it last minute to announce again!

[Gazelda]

@Bessica1970

Our prom was before the last exam so don’t assume. There is a link up thread to the exam schedule which is useful - I’m just about to put the dates in my diary.

It would be useful to know if they have to learn the physics equations this year - but they’ll likely leave it last minute to announce again!

Ah, thank you.

[wonderstuff]

Hi all, joining as DD is going into year 11. No homework has been set for the holidays, lots of staff turnover and we don't even know which teachers she is going to have next year! Year 10 has been a bit of a nightmare so far, thankfully she's pretty able and should get the grades she needs for As regardless.

She's picked a college for post 16 but is undecided on subjects, she did have a plan, but it seems my sil has poopooed it and she's rethinking - SIL is an academic and feels she knows everything. I've no idea, other than if I suggest anything dd will instantly dismiss it!

@Gazelda the timetable posted above should give you an idea of last dates, depends on the subjects your child is taking, Further Maths is normally last, but not too many students take that, my dd has Food Tech last on 19th June - we looked this up to make sure Taylor Swift was after her last exam (thankfully Wembley dates were).

[ReformedWaywardTeen]

The last exam this year was the 18th June, and then prom here was the 7th July
They usually say by 21st June they are done.

[Midnightstar76]

Joining, DD going into year 11. She has not been given any work over the holidays. She is not very motivated and it is a constant battle to try and get her to do any work. She did very badly in her year 10 exams. 1’s and 2’s. She is an average student but will have to work very hard to get 4’s and that is the problem. I feel like she has given up. We have discussed what she wants to do after school so hoping this will motivate her to at least try. She has a box where she keeps all her school work which is a total mess so will organise it and get her to help at the weekend.