Year 11 - 2024/2025 - Support Thread - the final stretch

[QueenMabby]

A new thread to take is to exams and beyond! All welcome.

DC have promised they will start revising "during the holidays" which I'm finding a little vague. But holidays start this coming Thursday, so we shall see...

That’s interesting bc DD2 had GCSEs during Covid and oh my goodness it was exam after exam after exam. Far far worse than DD1’s real GCSEs two years prior. Ridiculously stressful for all concerned ensuring they had enough data. I think she sat around 8/9 x hour long exams per subject - so around 80-90 hours worth. Lots of very stressed burnt out kids. Was beyond awful. Her A levels sat in normal times 2 years later were a breeze in comparison. Even DD3 only has 2 exams per GCSE subject. So 20 exams - and a quarter of what DD2 had. It’s always interesting to hear how some schools approached it. Ours was overkill for sure. She got great results but the stress was insane.

DD3 broke up Friday for 3 weeks and was hard at it by 9am this morning. 😮😮😮 Hopefully it will last the full 3 weeks. 🤔🤔What dyou reckon ladies??? Just a lucky first day? Regardless, it’s A HUGE turn around since my early posts on this thread where she wasn’t really engaging with school at all & was struggling with everything.
She hasn’t had any mocks since early November but some end of topic tests here & there seem to have gone ok & her end of term report was good too.

@NotDonna - this is so impressive. Sounds like she's going to do really well!

Well done @NotDonna - sounds promising

DS is getting his mock results. Most gone up a grade which is great, one shot up, couple plateued, one went down…anyone got any suggestions about revising English lit? This grade not shifting - was actually higher end year 10. He has some flipsco cards and revision guides but I think he is yet to find a really effective revision strategy. I did Eng Lit A level but only really remember the importance of knowing texts inside out…

Still waiting for two sixth form offers - nail biting!

She’s realised that she has to work very hard to get the results she’d like. She has the advantage of seeing her sisters’ work ethic and how it can pay off.

I've just been catching up. I must try to keep up with the thread. Quite a few new names on here now, that's good.

Ds breaks up Thursday. Then returns 22nd April. When Ds1 took GCSEs he finished school after Easter for study leave. Ds2 didn't take GCSEs due to Covid then when he did A levels they said there wouldn't be study leave as they'd missed so much school, plus it was their first exams, so staying in school seemed fair enough. Now apparently they've stuck to the no study leave, Ds3 is meant to attend every day until all GCSEs have finished. I think he'd rather be at home once they've started. Ds has quite a few days with 2 exams on.

These exams will be upon us quickly. I'm not enforcing any revision, I trust ds to do what is needed. He gets on with his work, ds2 was the one who needed prompting all the time. Ds3 just gets on with it.

@Hollyhedge- for Eng lit I would just make sure that DS has good notes for each character and theme in the set texts (mind maps are good here) with supporting quotes for each to learn. Find quotes that overlap and can be used in more than one section to reduce the number of total quotes to learn. Then maybe do essay plans for each of the major characters and themes and then practice questions.

Anyone else’s DCs also have a lot on outside of exams? Dd has a dance show in July so has to keep that going, then a three day orchestra event/concert in May half term and has just announced that she’s been invited to audition for a part in a performance of Six to be put on the first week of July! She may well not get a part but if she does then that’ll be weekly rehearsals as well.

I’m all for keeping some downtime activities going so it’s not all exam stress but where to draw the line??

Thanks so much. Helpful

DS plays football twice a week and goes to the gym nothing else. Some people thrive on business, maybe your DD is one of them?

Another one catching up with the thread. DD doesn't break up for Easter until next week, back on the 28th. No study leave at her school, we had a letter yesterday saying lessons will continue between exams, running revision. We can request study leave if we want, but I think DD will benefit from being in school as she hasn't done much revising at home at all. Lessons will stop when the subject exams have been taken.

First exam on the 8th May so only a week and a bit after they go back from the Easter holiday - eeeek! Need to ask DD to share her proper timetable, school hasn't sent it to us, the dates I have are from the WJEC website.

Only just discovered this thread - with DS1 having his first exams on the 12th May the day his study leave starts . He’s been dreamily revising ( mostly watching videos ) for a while though only for an hour or so a day - no flash cards no notes made - apparently quite a lot still to do - fingers crossed here - he’s a bright but stubborn kid .

Just checking in if that’s ok.
shit seems to be getting real in our house as they are coming thick and fast for dd. So far she’s doing ok, exhausted and ready for a holiday. school are still finishing up some practical subjects bits, I cannot fathom why it’s been left until now when they’ve had two years. But hey ho needs to be done

Just had a moan at mine for not revising. Again. I’ll be glad when they are all done and dusted. This next 6 weeks until they start is going to be hard work! t least once they start we can be ticking them off as they are done

Mine came home with folders full of revision materials for over Easter. He isn’t doing anything at the moment but does at least plan to start in the break.

Dd did one hour of maths tonight. It’s a
start! 🤣

@NotDonna
I got ds2 Reading ticket for the Sunday.

Ahh well done @Oblomov25 hope he appreciates it!

Is dd going Saturday and Sunday, but just not camping?

@QueenMabby she does sound rather busy! But as another poster states some ppl thrive on that and maybe that’s your DD. Until this week my DD has been doing 20hrs a week of sport. She’s now pulled away but coaches are encouraging attendance but on ad hoc basis. Very different to your DD. I like the fact it’s ad hoc. I think in your shoes I’d be a tadge concerned about the commitment involved. And her maybe thinking she can’t let ppl down if it gets too much.

@Oblomov25 yes. She has a 3 day ticket so could camp but isn’t. She’s a friend fairly nearby so they are staying overnight at hers each night, proper bed & proper bfast. She’s not a camping type of girl. Likes her straighteners too much 🤣

This is my concern too. Not worried about the impact on grades as she’s bright and very diligent so will not let those slip. It’s the feeling of overwhelm and feeling like she can’t let anyone down and stressing about it that will be the problem.

Audition is today. She may not get a part (it’s not like Six has an ensemble to sweep everyone into!) but I am hoping she’s successful.

She had a practice run of her Spanish Oral exam yesterday. It went well and apparently her teacher told her she will get a 9. Bold move!

Her form also had breakfast in the Sixth Form Centre’s cafe which was a novelty and very exciting for them. They had a talk from the head of sixth form too. They have a full day of transition just after exams finish but it was nice for them to have a taster.

@QueenMabby if she's anything like my daughter it will be fine, until it suddenly isn't. DD2 was absolutely managing everything until she got slightly unwell, and it all came crashing down like a house of cards two weeks ago - just completely overwhelmed even though everything was going absolutely fine.

So keep an eye and I guess just be firm with her about where her priorities must lie. And make sure she gets enough sleep! At least she's at home so you can do that.

DD2 arrived home last night. I'm letting her sleep in before having 'the revision chat' when she wakes up!

We had the same moans yesterday. ‘We do all of our revision in lessons!’

She has the opportunity to go to lunch time and after school sessions but she just won’t go and I dispair. Her mocks were great but it’s given her a false sense of security.

I just know Easter holidays will be a waste as her friends can’t stay home and will coax her out all day everyday.

We have had 2 revision sessions through for the Easter hols which I wasn’t expecting.
One we can’t make as we are away for 2 nights but the other for Spanish DS has agreed to go to as thankfully one of his pals is also. It’s on day 1 of the hols,at least it starts at 12.30 so he can have a lie in!

We have a few revision sessions over the Easter hols too. Ds was quite interested in going. However he's now decided he's not doing any revision at all over Easter. He's a little miffed at not getting an award. The school have an awards evening in May, where each subject gives an award to 4 pupils. They make an evening of it with music performances and a speaker. Ds and his 4 good friends always win at least one award each and have done since year 7. His best mate is head boy so has to give a speech, we have known him since nursery and took him on holiday with us, so would have liked to see his speech. But no award for Ds this year. His mates all have awards. Ds is always in the top 3 with grades for several subjects. Last year at the awards he said he was hoping to get one of the "special" awards in year 11. So no invite has put a downer on things. I feel for him as he's always working hard. Hes been convinced I'm hiding the letter. But says he's not bothered and doesn't want to sit through a 2 hour awards ceremony anyway. But I know he's bothered. I guess it is arrogant of me to think Ds should get an award. I hope he picks himself up again and gets on with revision.

These awards ceremonies are great for those who get one, but not so good for those who don't. Ds1 had an awards every year. But ds2 didn't get one in any year. Ds2 always said he wasn't bothered.