Page 2 | Parents of GCSE 2025

Mum2LazyBoy · 2025-03-04T15:35:32+00:00

Is anyone up for a thread to follow the highs and lows of supporting our dc through the coming gcse season. As user name suggests I have a DS who really isn’t getting his head down enough. He does tend to spend a lot of time gaming and school don’t seem to be setting much work. Interested to hear how others are getting on.

destiel00 · 05/03/2025 11:57

Hello 👋
Dd2 (16) is a very anxious child generally.
Predicted grades are quite uneven - wants to go to a local 6th form.
Seems like only yesterday it was dd1!
Dd has some creative subjects which mean a couple of her subjects will be done by may.
Not much revision going on here (except the subjects she loves)
I just want her to get the grades she needs first the next step.

Hollyhedge · 05/03/2025 13:54

gatheryerosebuds · 04/03/2025 17:21

There is another thread, but everyone's child on there is predicted all 9s

Nice to have an alternative!

Isn’ that the truth. Have had some useful típs there and some nice pósters, but i don’t think a support thresd is the place for listing numbers of 9s or even how papers could be completed in half the time.

My DS is tired and has some gains to make for A level requirements. All getting a bit stressy. He is working but really struggles with organition. Am helping as much as possible but we argue about it. Gosh it’s a tough time for them and us!

apostrophewoman · 05/03/2025 13:57

gatheryerosebuds · 04/03/2025 17:21

Our MFL speaking exams are in a week or so!!

Would love to have more time to practise

The MFL speaking exam window doesn't open until 9th April and runs until the 14th of May so all speaking exams MUST take place during that window.

Schools haven't even been sent the speaking exam material yet, so I would imagine that the ones next week for you are mocks or practice.

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 14:09

@apostrophewoman
are iGCEs in the same window?
We were told at Parents’ evening that it was the real thing but I’d love to be wrong 🤣

apostrophewoman · 05/03/2025 14:24

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 14:09

@apostrophewoman
are iGCEs in the same window?
We were told at Parents’ evening that it was the real thing but I’d love to be wrong 🤣

Ah, no, that's an earlier window, it starts on 24th March. As a school, we do the speaking exams as late as possible, your school must be gagging to get them done!

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 14:27

@apostrophewoman

It's actually really annoying as we only had three weeks' notice and I'm not sure my daughter will perform as well as she could have done with another couple of weeks.

You sometimes wonder whose benefit it's for.

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 14:28

@apostrophewoman

Ours are in 4 days so well before 24 March

apostrophewoman · 05/03/2025 14:31

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 14:28

@apostrophewoman

Ours are in 4 days so well before 24 March

2025 speaking windows confirmed | Pearson qualifications

I'd question that, @gatheryerosebuds (see link above). Schools aren't allowed to do speaking exams out of the exam board's window.

2025 speaking windows confirmed | Pearson qualifications

The prescribed speaking window dates for conducting Modern Foreign language oral assessments in May/June 2025.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/news-policy/subject-updates/languages/2025-speaking-windows-confirmed.html

gatheryerosebuds · 05/03/2025 17:35

Just checked the exam board… the window is 1 March to 30 April.
Do you think I can ask for an April slot? It’s not as if anyone can give her the “answers”
It’s just that she’s not going to perform at her potential at all.

Original poster

Mum2LazyBoy · 05/03/2025 17:55

One thing I am pleased about is that school are getting them to write scripts for the oral. I did this off my own bat when I did mine and completely took the teacher by surprise with how much I had to say.

OP posts:

WellyMcLonglegs · 05/03/2025 18:11

Can I join in please? 16 yo DS, doesn't find exams easy, wants to stay on at his school and do a'levels so needs to do well enough. To be fair he is putting the work in, I just worry it's not very 'effective' revision.

TheFunSponge · 05/03/2025 18:17

I'm in. Feeling a bit down after the other thread. I'd be thrilled if my dd got 4s and 5s! Not sure if she's going to pass Maths. Latest mock results are not in yet. She seems to revise but I'm not sure she's doing it effectively but won't listen to me or my suggestions.

MissyB1 · 05/03/2025 18:26

WellyMcLonglegs · 05/03/2025 18:11

Can I join in please? 16 yo DS, doesn't find exams easy, wants to stay on at his school and do a'levels so needs to do well enough. To be fair he is putting the work in, I just worry it's not very 'effective' revision.

I totally get what you say about “effective” revision, I’m worried about that too.

Daisy12Maisie · 05/03/2025 18:34

My son looks exhausted and he is less chatty than usual so clearly tired and feeling the pressure. I'm considering my main job just to make sure he is well fed and to not cause him any more stress. He has to cook his own tea occasionally when I'm working an evening shift but other than that I am not asking him to do anything. I've advised him to study. I don't think he is doing much study but I don't see what else I can do. I can't force it. I think they will be finished in just over 14 weeks.

WellyMcLonglegs · 06/03/2025 18:49

Mum2LazyBoy · 05/03/2025 17:55

One thing I am pleased about is that school are getting them to write scripts for the oral. I did this off my own bat when I did mine and completely took the teacher by surprise with how much I had to say.

Can I ask, how did you know what to script? It sounds like a great idea!

Original poster

Mum2LazyBoy · 06/03/2025 20:24

You can look at the curriculum and it will tell you the types of thing they want to hear. For example numbers, colours, hobbies. Then put together a series of short paragraphs that they can parrot off. So if asked what you did at the weekend, or what you enjoy doing you have something to say. I think there are categories for example holidays so to a certain extent you can prepare. You want to avoid the conversation being stilted and if you prepare in advance you can think about genders etc when not under pressure.

OP posts:

WellyMcLonglegs · 06/03/2025 20:35

Mum2LazyBoy · 06/03/2025 20:24

You can look at the curriculum and it will tell you the types of thing they want to hear. For example numbers, colours, hobbies. Then put together a series of short paragraphs that they can parrot off. So if asked what you did at the weekend, or what you enjoy doing you have something to say. I think there are categories for example holidays so to a certain extent you can prepare. You want to avoid the conversation being stilted and if you prepare in advance you can think about genders etc when not under pressure.

@Mum2LazyBoy thankyou. Fab advice.

DiminishedSevenths · 07/03/2025 07:40

Can I join? My DS is working pretty hard and I’m helping him a lot, but he finds it hard. He’s doing about 2 hours revision per night and probably about 4 hours per day at the weekend but is only expected 4s and 5s. It’s hard when he sees others putting far less effort in and coming away with better grades. I’m trying to keep his motivation up for the next few months. He doesn’t have SEN, he just isn’t particularly academic. He’s going to do something more vocational at college next year, which I hope will be a better fit for him.

clary · 07/03/2025 07:49

WellyMcLonglegs · 06/03/2025 18:49

Can I ask, how did you know what to script? It sounds like a great idea!

Show quote history

Good advice already but also - assuming it is AQA - they will have chosen a topic for their first section of the general convo so you can prep some answers to questions on this (my recc is topic 2 btw then the teacher can ask about holidays!). It's usual for the student and the teacher to discuss which elements of the topic they will answer on (as they are pretty wide).

Numbers and colours are unlikely to come up specifically but hobbies may well, if you pick topic 1.

More MFL advice freely available! just ask.

growinguptobreakingdown · 07/03/2025 08:19

This is the thread I need.DD16 really bright but not bothered at all about revising or her grades.She has ADHD and still titrating a second med so up and down in mood and focus. Predicted 8/9 - getting fails and under 6s.I've backed off completely as can't force her to work.Just want them done now. She destests school so much she won't be going to 6th form which takes the pressure off .I'm hoping once she leaves she will start to work harder as she can do subjects she likes somewhere she likes.
Eldest is doing A levels at the same time, she is incredibly stressed and needs super high grades.Our house is desperate for June.

Stillplodding · 07/03/2025 08:20

My DS is in a similar boat re ‘effective revision’.

He could do quite well, based on class work over the years but seems to fall apart in exams. 😕

He is at a high achieving school and whilst his mocks weren’t awful in the grand scheme of things, and some were indeed perfectly good, we did get the official letter from the school saying if he got the same grades in the real things as in the mocks then he wouldn’t be allowed to attend sixth form, which is obviously a worry and I think stressing him out more than he’s admitting.

He needs 8s in maths and physics and a 7 in history- his a level choices. He missed out on those in the mocks, getting borderline 6/7s and a 5.

We don’t really have a good plan B.

I am really stressing about how it’s all going to go in the real things.

EarthlyNightshade · 07/03/2025 08:23

DiminishedSevenths · 07/03/2025 07:40

Can I join? My DS is working pretty hard and I’m helping him a lot, but he finds it hard. He’s doing about 2 hours revision per night and probably about 4 hours per day at the weekend but is only expected 4s and 5s. It’s hard when he sees others putting far less effort in and coming away with better grades. I’m trying to keep his motivation up for the next few months. He doesn’t have SEN, he just isn’t particularly academic. He’s going to do something more vocational at college next year, which I hope will be a better fit for him.

My 4s and 5s DS is a lot happier now he is at college.
He did nothing like the amount of work your DS is doing, but I think his retention is just not brilliant and no matter how hard he tried he would not have done a lot better. The one exam at a time style of his college course is much better for him

DS2 is more a 6 guy but more work would push him to 7s. Less work (if that is even possible!) would drop him to 4s and 5s. He is also planning a college course, at least I won't have to join any "why is DC doing no work at A Level?" threads.

TeenToTwenties · 07/03/2025 08:27

All of you with kids planning vocational courses next need to remember you are out there and have your own thread for college!

Hollyhedge · 07/03/2025 08:32

Agh. Although I don’t want everyone to feel stressed, am glad am not alone. DS came home and said Chemistry went badly. Like so many others said, he is working but struggles to know what to do. I’m feeling quite stressed now as he wants to do it for A level and is currently not getting the grade/ improving. A conversation about plan B is prob best left until post exams, unless he raises it. Has anyone had any success supporting DS to improve revision technique??? So close now!!

newmum1976 · 07/03/2025 08:45

All of those with children who may not get into their first choice school, I strongly suggest you get a plan b in place now. We know of many children who failed English last year and couldn’t back into the school they wanted. It led to a mad scramble on results day trying to find something suitable.

My DD2 is a borderline pass for English and Maths, so she has 2 vocational options as backups, in case she can’t stay at her school.