Year 11 - 2024/2025 - In the thick of it!

[QueenMabby]

New thread. Sorry. Forgot to start it - I hope everyone finds this!

No it isn't. The iGCSE board offers different qualifications that are English Language & Literature for speakers of English as a first language, and a completely different qualification in English for 2nd/additional language speakers. No 1st-language-English speakers do the 2nd-language version.

@Delatron For some of our kids, getting them to school is a big deal. I’m lucky that the meds have helped her and she’s ‘happy’ to go in now and has for this last year. But for so many it’s all too overwhelming. So pleased yours is going in!

Good luck for all with Chemistry this morning and for those with PE this afternoon also.

Thank you very much.

DN was involved in an accident so missed his IGCSEs this summer and as I helped him revise a bit for his literature mock I was curious to know what was on the paper. I really appreciate your responses and wish your DC all the best for all remaining exams.

Yes true - that’s exactly they way I look at it. At least he has actually been going in to school. Hopefully something will have sunk in. He has had hardly any days off. I say this to him too.

Good luck to all with Chemistry and PE.

We then have a two day break from exams which is much needed. Hopefully DS can recalibrate.

Best of luck Chem & PE crew 🍀🍀🍀

Big week!

Good Luck everyone!

Does anyone else’s DC have little exam superstitions? Dd wears the same earring and necklace combo to every exam!

He has started a pre-exam dance 🤣🤣

My DC has their grandmother’s necklace, from the 50s. Worn in GM’s O and A levels and then in her degree exams too. It’s falling apart now and, to be honest, is well past its best, but they think it brings luck and never forget it.

I think it’s me with the superstitions! The 11 plus lucky necklace is out and being worn every day….🍀🍀

@Hollyhedge- that’s so cute!

dd’s lucky earrings are four leaf clovers!

Good luck to all the chemistry gang today. My younger DS has his exam week this week too - dear god I’m already dreading him doing his GCSEs in 2 years time. Revision appears to be completely optional and gets in the way of more critical activities such as golf….😬

Chemistry for Ds here too. He has quite a busy week. It’ll be nice for the half term rest.

Yep - chem here this morning, plus an A-Level. Third of the three of them is yet to start - first A-Level tomorrow. Stress levels are high - but mainly because I had to wash a satin prom dress last night and was worried that it would continue to have a water mark on it. But it has survived.

Phew!

loving the lucky rituals. DD2 is allowed her fidget ring, for which I am grateful as otherwise there would be no skin left on her lips - she picks them if she doesn't have another outlet.

Good luck to all!

DC had a full weekend off from thinking about exams and revision. They had a sleepover and beach day with friends and relaxed all day yesterday.

While I encouraged some revision yesterday they really needed the break as they are still required to be in school full time, often going in at 8 and staying til 4:30-5 when there is extra revision sessions.

Good luck 🍀

He was in super early this morning with a bundle of ionic equations/electrolysis notes!

Good luck chemistry crew this morning (and PE and any other subject being taken today.

He was given a tiny, like little finger nail tiny, good luck duck from one of his teachers, he wanted to take it in his blazer pocket but I discourage superstitions just in case they go wrong and he gets flustered.

So good luck duck is sitting on radio pointing in the general direction of his school. He hasn't really noticed it but it's there. So a mini good luck duck charm.

Not a good start to the day .

The school bus didn't turn up at the expected time, looks like it set off way ahead of schedule so I don't understand how the driver didn't twig something was wrong when there were no children at any of the stops DC eventually got themselves an Uber, which are like gold dust during rush hour, so fortunately they made it to school in time.

But they had been planning to cram chemistry on the bus, with all the stress, hassle and delay that went out the window. After a weekend in which they mostly didn't revise chemistry despite my pleas... I just hope they've got over the frazzled nerves by the time the exam starts.

I have written a very pissed off but polite complaint email to school.

Anyway, good luck to all exam candidates this week!

This is a really good point and makes me feel a little better. DS is in school (it’s an independent school) from 8am- 6pm every day. He doesn’t get back until 6.45. No study leave.

He just looked a bit broken and exhausted this weekend. I feel sad for him as he chose not to go out with his friends or see his girlfriend to stay on track but then also struggled to find the motivation to get anything done. He may have been better socialising a bit and taking his mind off things. The only good thing is he’s had a lot of sleep and rest.

I think downtime is just as important as they are cramming in so much during school hours.

I can’t help worry that those who are revising 24/7 may come off worse than the ones who are taking a step back at home. So many are upset and breaking over the pressure they are putting on themselves.

That sounds like a complete nightmare! I hope the DCs were OK in their exams. That would have thrown my kids for a total wobble...good luck for the rest of the week!

Sorry to hear about the bus debacle @Poisoningpigeons added stress on exam days is not good!

Watched a chemistry video on YouTube with DC yesterday. Admittedly, I never took GCSE Chemistry (as in the olden days we could just pick one science) but it may as well have been in Chinese for all the sense I could make of it! I really hope my DC understood more of it than I did or it will be a very unpleasant exam for them.

Thankfully, only one exam per day this week as DC is under the weather and generally tired. Nowhere near as much revision as I would have liked to see but equally I don't want to be a slave driver and they will be fine (might not do as 'well' as they could but should still get decent results.) Roll on half term and then end game!

@Poisoningpigeons that is a nightmare I would want to hit the roof but not sure that would help anyone at all! But in my limited experience, what I think is a major disruption for the teens they take in their stride.