Y 11 2023-2024 thread 3

[Techno56]

For when the other thread fills up tomorrow as we all discuss English lit 2 😁

@ouch44 yes defo in 2022 the exams were spread out more (to allow for if the child got Covid they should at least sit one of the papers). I also remember they ended a week later as they then went straight into work experience.
The advance info helped somewhat and they didn’t have to revise full topics (in eg English and History).

I’m another exam hater here! Always did better in coursework myself.
Hate the fact it all rests on how you feel on the day.
Have one doing A Levels and one doing GCSE’s so it’s like a pressure cooker in the house!

For those who haven’t yet heard back from their AQA Combined Higher Physics student, I gather:

• it was very mathsy, with some problems requiring the use of multiple formulae
• there was hardly anything on electricity (e.g. circuits, National Grid)
• there was “more than usual” on radiation
• atomic structure and “plum pudding theory” came up.

Exams are such a blunt instrument. I seem to remember that GCSE's were supposed to be based on course work and exams. With the exception of the practical subjects, that seems to have been lost over the years.

DS is very happy with AQA Higher Physics (triple). Thankfully. He is now with his Mandarin teacher preparing for the writing exam this afternoon.

Nothing back from ds but Physics is definitely not on his list. He’s caught up so much from where he was post-lockdown but it switched off any interest in the sciences.

PE this afternoon is the ‘harder’ paper for him, he had a much better teacher for the psychology of sport part. His coursework was marked higher than he expected he does have the chance of a 7/8 if it all comes together.

OCR Gateway combined higher physics. DD happy with it though a few things on topics she hadn't revised came up.
I went through all this last year with DC1. Such a different experience! DC1 calm, organised, always been able to tell how well an exam has gone, didn't want to analyse it to the nth degree afterwards.
DC2 so much more of a last minute cramming vibe going on and lots of post-exam analysis and angst 😬

No-one at all doing Edexcel physics??

Thank god. DD is good at maths and knows the plum pudding thing. She knows sod all about electricity (wondering if the teacher even covered it). Phew.

I'd be really interested to know how that Mr Birling question was worded. Seems odd that so many kids made the same mistake.

My DS took AQA single sciences foundation in physics. He says it was 'ok' and he 'might have done ok'. It was a full discussion!!!!

Anyone else's child do the foundation paper and have more insights?!

I think it was 'How does Priestley use Mrs Birling to present ideas about social class?'

Just seen this thread. Dd will be taking it easy. But she’s developed an eating disorder, quite badly, and I didn’t know if she’d even have the energy to sit the exams. She’s completed Edexel combined science now having just taken physics today and with her options, she only has another 2 exams after half term. She’s pretty ok in maths and not interested in geography. It’s going to be a pass but probably around a 5.

Cross post. Dd did the higher paper and said she it was fine. I asked if she could answer all the questions and she said yes. Not very talkative. She’s angry with me atm due to her ED. It’s normal to take it out on the parents, usually the mum if the main caregiver.

This was what my daughter says it was

Half term will see revision and perhaps some intervention classes, I'm leaving it up to her. I have told both of mine to take the Friday and weekend off to rest though

DD found AQA Physics Higher OK but said it was very maths-based and, as they had equation sheet, she says she thinks grade boundaries could be high. I'm finding she is definitely much less stressed for exams that are not A-level options.

@Mummyoflittledragon Hoping both your daughter and your have support, sounds tough. Feel like this cohort has been through a lot. Definitely a huge amount of students needing support for various things at DD's school.

@WhereAreWeNow Yep, totally frazzled and exhausted here trying to keep all the balls in the air!

My son said the same, very maths based which is fine if you like it but not if you don't!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn DS did Edexcel igsce physics, I think.

Thanks. I am getting there with persuading her she needs intervention. She’s wasting away.

I'm thrilled that plum pudding theory came up! We listened to bbc podcast on that topic in the car on the way to school today.

DS found AQA Physics Triple Higher ok - he does well on formulas but hates electricity so the content suited him. Although he mixed two practicals together and said to wait 10 mns between measuring current readings which will probably make the person marking the paper laugh/wince/possibly take off marks! Fried brain!

There is a very problematic shortage of secondary science teachers in this country. Science is by far the worst department at my son's school. They have several teachers by topics who dont communicate to support the child, and most aren't good. His Triple science tuition was dire and we had to use a tutor, which is super expensive. Plus subscribed to Cognito for exam-style questions (highly recommend for neuro-divergent kids as very visual and clear). DS used to enjoy science but has been completely turned off.

Also, the way the science is applied in questions makes it hard for some kids. DS understands or knows the content well but struggles to understand the questions which apply the science to different scenarios, and how to reply in very specific ways to get the marks. DD was very academic and struggled similarly with A Level Biology. We need lots of scientists and this country isnt teaching the topic well enough! Rant over.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn My son did Edexcel Physics this morning and said it was “pretty good but nothing on nuclear fusion/fission” with a big angry sweary emoji afterwards.
I spent my entire evening ploughing through those topics with him yesterday so I feel a bit sweary too!!

How did your DS find the paper? My son is doing iGCSE physics - higher paper and said it was unlike any of the past papers that he’d seen. Apparently the questions were really strange and the maths based questions confusing. It’s normally his best / easiest subject so he’s a little deflated now.

Thanks all Edexcelers! Not encouraging then, DS found it tricky, and he's normally very good with Physics. he thinks he hasn't done as well as he hoped. He did like the 6 marker on waves though.

@planestrainsautomobiles and @Wehaditsogood is the igcse the same paper?

It was worded as How does Priestly use Mr Birlings wife to present social class