Y11 2023-24 thread 4

[Techno56]

New thread for GCSE survival 🙂

DS did Edexcel IGCSE Geography paper 2 (Human Geog) this morning if that is any help (they seem to be being very similar to friends doing the equivalent GCSE at the same time). He thought content was fine but time pressure was insane (1hr 45). He is really annoyed as had to just quickly scribble a few lines for a 6 marker before time was up, but had sensibly abandoned that one chronologicaly to answer most of a 10 marker before hand. He is also at a school where anything less than a 7 is seen as a failure 😡and needs all 7s pretty much to get into sixth form and definitely in A level subjects and he was planning to do Geography A level 😬.

I have been too scared to go online to see what consensus has been like so am only going on what he has been saying and I keep telling him that if he found an exam hard/time pressured, a lot of other people will have to and the marking and grades boundaries will reflect that. Really hope this is true!

AQA Geog 2 was “fine, pretty good” according to DD although her favourite case study did not come up at all. Others in her class seem to have found it weird and very different from past papers but since DD hardly bothered with past papers she doesn’t seem to have noticed!

I have had positive feedback from Geography this morning.

DD has had three shorter exams for Geography and Latin and then the standard 4 for German . Otherwise one or two. Although Drama was two practicals and a written exam and Art was never ending coursework and a two day exam.

AQA Geography Paper 2 was really good - but not as good as Paper 1!

7 more to go. Groan.

Mr Bruff has put a "Final Tips" video up on his YouTube channel for tomorrow's English Language AQA paper. If you watch it at 1.75 speed (DS's default) it only takes a couple of minutes to watch...

Good luck all kids for tomorrow!

1.75 x speed 😆love it, thats how I watch boring work presentations tbf.

Mine generally prefers video revison anyway as apparently its easier to watch a video on your phone that to open a book.

My dd did Edexcel igcse geography this morning. She actually doesn’t care about the mark. I consider it a bit of a wasted gcse and she told me a few weeks ago she wished she’d done German instead. I’d advised her to do it at the time but she flat refused. Anyway she said it went ok.

She’s not looking a very good grade and she didn’t revise for it. This will probably be her lowest mark. But I don’t care. She had more important things going on. She’s finished her exams now, which is a massive relief.

We have the appointment tomorrow with the eating disorder therapy company so I hope they can start to reverse the damage she’s done to her body and keep her alive, which is eminently more important than any exam.

Good luck to everyone’s dc and try not to worry if they don’t do as well as they or you expected. There are always options and different ways forward if their current plan falls by the wayside.

1.75 speed - 😂Thanks I shall tell DS.

There is certainly a generational divide - I go into DS' room and give him my best Pooh stare followed up with "why aren't you revising?" only to be told that he is, but on his phone watching videos or doing app quizlets.

@AIstolemylunch - oh god, driving lessons! That's next, although DS shows no interest whatsoever in wanting to learn to drive.

I'm glad the exams are over for your daughter @Mummyoflittledragon . I hope the session goes well tomorrow. There are way more important things in life than GCSEs

I hope this will be a turning point now the exams are finished. Its a lot of stress hanging over them which can't be helpful for trying to manage an ED. Fingers crossed things improve now.

Very jealous of those down to three left! DD is currently in her Business Studies P2 then still Eng Lang, Biology, Maths, History, Chemistry and Physics to go before she finishes next Friday.

I don't get the "can't revise for English language " thing ... DD is at home today (no exams) and has been doing practice questions?

I mean I get there's no content in the same way as maths or science as you don't know what you'll get but you can certainly practice speeches, letters etc to time?

My DS was predicted 6s in both English's was worried about getting back into 6th form with that. So chose which English to revise for. They double your best English and Maths to count towards attainment 8 score at their school and have to get over 60 to get back in. So he chose to revise for English Lang. Went to a couple of after school sessions and revised Youtube videos and got an 8! Didn't revise much for English Lit and got a 6! DD is currently alternating between revising English and Biology.

Course you can... but try telling a 16 year old that!

@Mummyoflittledragon I hope things improve for your DD. I totally agree, there are far more important things. I don’t think my DD is revising enough but she’s cheerful, and there was a point in the autumn where she wasn’t and I worried she might do herself serious harm. Things are much better and her results don’t matter.

I agree @tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz there are techniques etc that can be practised.

@BestsellingWine thanks for sharing that, seems like a mixed response so far.I only got a message saying it was very hard.
And there is more Geography to go next week.
I am so jealous of those who are finishing now, we have 6/7 more to go. And all core subjects too. Same as @BlackBean2023
Obviously there are bigger things in life, we would all forget this stress and days of 5am wake up, until the next DC go through this same phase!
English was a concern for a long time here and we are doing Eduqas managed to find someone to help with writing, but then it seems more like time management than content. And the school apparently didn’t even do one lesson on Eng Language, which really surprises me. They should atleast guide them what to look for?

I agree @tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz there is always something you can prepare.

DS says doing past papers is almost impossible as you don't get the texts (copyright issues or whatever) and without knowing what the text was it's impossible to answer the questions. I have sympathy with this so I said that I'd provide the text and adapt the questions to fit that text. He flounced off back to his room (via the fridge). I'll take that as "no, thanks mum but so kind of you to offer"

AQA geography here, too. DS's bete noire. He thought it went well, especially the 1-markers [sigh].
He just does not get geography. He is fine with everything else 🤷‍♀️

We still have 7 to go including 4 on Monday and Tuesday. So crammed together 😕 so nearly there. My eldest still has three a levels after today but they are more spaced out

DS's psychiatrist once told him 'whatever happens, don't let school undermine your mental health. Results aren't worth you developing issues.' So true, but easier said than done when the entire system is built to rank, compare and funnel out children. And DS's best friends are all super performers. I am certainly guilty of worrying about his grades too much and putting some pressure on him. But like another mum said, he will kick himself if he massively underperforms and I have to be motivator-in-chief for this low-drive ADHD kid. It's such a balancing act. HUGS TO EVERYONE! and @Mummyoflittledragon I have everything crossed that the appointment tomorrow brings hope and solutions!!!

@Waspie quizlet on phone has suddenly become very popular with DS and I am no fool as to why....🤔

On English Language - DS took it last year did very little work, also tried to convince me that practice was unnecessary and he got a better grade in exam than any time during the year. Key tip from my DD (now 19) and DS was to take a bit of a risk and argue something unexpected. it worked out for both of them...Other tip - if your DC gets an unexpectedly bad mark, get it remarked. I have heard of kids going up three grades on remarking as marking can be quite subjective!

DD is doing AQA English Lang tomorrow - she insists she can't do any revision but I would like her to at least watch a video. Can anyone recommend something?

Thanks for the new thread by the way.

Thanks for the new thread.
AQA geography was hard but OK, business went well, even the maths bits!
The "unrevisabable" English Lang tomorrow and Biology on Friday.
Chin up parents and kids. The end is in sight

this is the Mr Bruff quick summary and should lead to others on each question if your young person wants more information.

@Mummyoflittledragon wishing you all the best for tomorrow's appointment.

DS reported Geography went well this morning (OCR?).

Waspie