Year 11 - 2024/2025: Half way, half baked, half term!

[QueenMabby]

Continuation of the year 11 support thread. Go!

I now know how smoke alarms work!

Most universities only look at A level grades (as ucas points)
The only ones who would look at grades (points) for gcses would potentially be oxbridge and for very heavily over subscribed courses like medicine/veterinary medicine/dentistry/law

@TheFunSponge DC did the themes paper with A and C themes (not war if that means anything!)

English lit, he said went well.

We packed RE off as DS has hated every aspect of it, we decided that he would put his efforts into his English and Math rather than RE

We will be happy if he gets a pass mark, he just said it was “meh” when asked how it went.

He needs 6 grade 4 and above to qualify for his degree apprenticeship in IT and computer science that he’s already secured last month.

You can put what you want on your job application form. I say 8 GCSEs because the 9th was a d. Shhhhhh. I also got a Cambridge degree, no one needs to know I flunked that GCSE 🤣

I think a lot of unis look at best 8 too, but not been through it so not sure…

I think quite a few look at GCSEs - when I have had a cursory look at websites it often seems to be mentioned. If there is a real problem you could have a year off and apply with A levels, then I doubt they would care

Older dd went to an RG university and it wasn't mentioned.
If I had 10 gcses and 1 was not so good, I just wouldn't include it

They’ve been given a formula sheet since Covid so all the papers since and incl 2022. There are 4 per year - 2 sittings and 2 versions at each sitting (the one with R is the non U.K. exam but is the same content). That’s 12 papers which is plenty.

Thanks @Writteneggs. My DC did this combo too but said others did B as well or instead of A so just checking 😁

@Escapefrom1984 oh wow!! Thank you. Heaven knows what DDs been told then! I wonder if she’s misunderstood. Or what papers she’s been looking at. Or may be I’ve misunderstood her. 🤷‍♀️ Do you know if the format of the paper has changed at all? Exactly the same formula sheet too? Huge thanks!

It’s against the rules of UCAS to miss off any exams. No omissions allowed (unfortunately). However, a slipped grade here or there won’t be a big issue!

DS and DD sat watching Man U 😬.

DD said someone in her class text their friend at 9am, "French is this afternoon, isn't it?". Ummm, no, it's at 9am. Friend didn't even see message to afterwards. Teachers frantically trying to get kid into school. He had to come quite far so definitely would have missed the reading, perhaps made it for listening. Not sure what happens in that situation. Do you get zero marks? I can see why they want them in school at 8.30. There is no study leave after half term either.

Yes on the UCAS form they must list all exams but no one will mind if there’s a rogue grade (or two).

yes will get 0 for that component. can’t submit special consideration for just being confused about times. if he’s got covid or his gran passed away the school can submit special consideration

Oooh pneu? That’s a hard word. Dd in hers years ago had to say what was wrong with the bread (it was epais). She came out fumming and I said, oh, thick! Ah she says, I said stale. No one knew apparently, just hope dc were not too thrown off track by an unknown word.

The format may have changed, but the basics will be the same and good enough for effective revision. This website seems to say it’s been the same for several years:

https://physics-tutor.co.uk/2024/10/09/physics-equation-and-formulae-2025-2027/

I think they were quite late this exam cycle deciding whether or not the formulae would be provided.

Where 2 candidates have the same A level results, they'll then look at GCSEs (I was told this by someone who works in Uni admissions). Admissions policies will I'm sure vary.

My child hasn’t given much detail but I know there was one question about charity on their paper. They have covered the themes in lesson for each religion they’re studying, like charity, that came up on the paper, so could write about that and add some quotes from religious teaching to back up what they’ve said. Awful if your sons school hadn’t covered the stuff on the paper. My child felt everything on the paper had been taught to them.

Anyone bricking it for Physics paper 1 tomorrow 🫣

@DaisyDukesAuntie
Dd isn't bothered. Well, she is. She's hates physics and will be glad its over I'm sure.

It's always tough nerves wise if it's an A level choice though

Listening is first - yes he would get a zero if he missed it.

I have gone and knocked up a student for an exam before now. This is one reason why schools want them in, exam or no, tho I really think some discretion would help for some of the DC on this thread.

He could still pass overall if he got high marks on the other papers – his max mark would be 75% or 180/240; so if he gained (say) 45 marks for each of the other papers (possible for a good student) he would get 135/240 which would have been (just) a grade 6 last year.

Ditto re physics! DD has been doing questions off SaveMyExams on the basis that it was good practice to do eg 20 on one topic to get ( allegedly) a good grasp of all types of questions on that topic. They are labelled as “exam“ questions and DD has been ok with the vast majority of the easy and medium ones. She only needs a 5 but thought a 6 might be within her grasp.
She then looked at some real past papers today and the questions were HIDEOUS. Not straightforward at all and really oblique and basically the “hard” questions.
She’s now panicking and is setting the alarm early.
This is a paper one paper too so only the double award.

Had a panic with DS tonight. Tested him on some (fairly basics) stuff and he just hadn’t retained it. Concerning as was allegedly what he had revised today. I just don’t think he has had the focus. Bit my tongue and stayed positive. He also said he had seen questions on Chemistry he got wrong. I do feel frustrated he has struggled to apply himself fully (constant school feedback, potential to do v well, needs to push himself).He came to me after and said could I help him at half term, I hope he doesn’t change his mind. We are where we are. I don’t think it will become less of a rollercoaster until 17 June.

@Hollyhedge At least the Paper 2 Sciences are fairly well spaced out; I think 3-4 days between them (depending of course on other exams he might have), so potential for lots of mugging up!
The disadvantage of the double award is that one bad mark brings the whole lot crashing down....
Best of Luck to your son; he sounds like a bright boy, so I'm sure the adrenaline in the exam will bring things back to him