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

[QueenMabby]

Continuation of the year 11 support thread. Go!

DS returned home. Says Physics was not a good paper for him. Missed out 1 question. Used up all his extra time. Hopes he's hot a pass but not expecting good grades.

I have a 16 yr old who is claiming he can't revise for English Language it's a responsive exam as far as he is concerned and it's better if he just reacts on the day!

I think the opposite, little brother is home now and is being roped in and I must say is much more amenable to "which title would you write a story about"
"not the last one too deep" which is more than big brother is attempting.

It is going to be a long evening.

My daughter thought AQA Physics higher (is doing triple science) went really well. Media was ‘fine’. She is very tired so wasn’t very talkative when I picked her up.

Just English language tomorrow before a well needed break.

Fair enough for your DD.

But that's the thing, if you like Geography and are interested in it, I refuse to believe that you can't get that child up to coping with the A level content (especially if they only do 3).

I know I am an idealist, but I don't see education as a conveyor belt to go up to the next level in the game, so to speak.

The leap from gcses to A level is huge
Unless a child was very committed and had private tuition I fail to see how they would get a pass at A level with a 4 at gcse

Nearly half term! 😁🙌

In my son's school (like many State schools) the crisis in teaching has resulted in him not having a subject teacher for many lessons. They've thrown all the good teachers and resources at year 11 and the improvement in my son's business studies and stats for example is remarkable. However, better teaching and a bright, keen mind may not be enough to secure a high grade - they just didn't have enough time. I am confident that if he wanted to take either of those subjects at A level he would do well.

Having just picked my daughter up and seen other children, most look exhausted. There was noticeably less chat between most of the groups. I think they all need a couple of days at least without any revision and just lots of sleep in the half term! Thats my daughter’s plan anyway. Hope yours is ok, it’s a lot for them.

I’m so ready for it, never mind the kids! 😂

Yeah what’s the plan for half term in terms of revision? I told DS to take at least Saturday off..wondering about Sunday too. I know they’re all different but he’s exhausted. However, he’s only just really getting his arse in to gear since Easter after not revising well for mocks and having a shocker. So time is also of essence!

I think it depends on the child and on the specific reasons for the 4.

If no teachers, disruptive class and child is motivated and capable then - and has good teachers - it's potentially possible.

I got a C in Biology GCSE and then an A in Social Biology A level (in the days before A stars existed) and that wasn't with any extra tutoring. I was just really, really interested in the A level content in all the subjects I took and not having to spend time on all the government mandated subjects I had hated at GCSE.

Whether there is a bigger gap between GCSE and A level now than there was then I don't know.

Dd has work on the Friday and seeing friends next Saturday but hoping shes going to really revise maths p1&2 and English Language p2

Just received DC's school timetables for half term. 2 days 10am-2pm and 1 day 10am-12pm - in school 🤯. Poor, poor teachers!

Exactly as @rosemarble and @OhCrumbsWhereNow say.

We're all talking in this thread about the huge amount of content in, for example, history and our kids barely able to cover all the content, let alone memorise it. How big can the gap be, really? But even with a big gap, that is the point, that child has a further 2 years to work, develop and learn. Hopefully in a more favourable environment than secondary school, most of which are anything but, sadly.

That just opens another can of worms with A levels for me - give me breadth before depth any time. There's just no talking to me! 😂

Edexcel Physics, DD said it was good and the 6-markers were 'chef's kiss' (got to love the teen descriptors). Tomorrow is shirt signing day and they actually get up come home after Eng Lang.

I just said to DS that after his exam tomorrow I think he should take the weekend off completely and have a break. He perked up and sounded quite surprised, I have obviously been too much of a slave driver 😂

I feel like he needs it though, I know in mocks he was burning out towards the end, and he doesn’t have an exam until the 4th now.

Yes I think after a day or so of rest DS will need to get back to revision with a focus on Maths.

AQA single physics he was very happy with (but it’s a very strong subject for him), he said generally people seemed ok with it. Same as @PrincessOfPreschool tomorrow they have some leavers stuff after English then finish for exam leave at lunch

So funny, we had the chat in the car last night and it really seemed to perk DS up when I told him to take at least Saturday off and do nothing. I told him to stay in bed all day if he wanted to. It is a bit like they are seeking permission!

I think he has got so used to me nagging about revision he wasn’t expecting it!

Weekend off too for my DD

It's interesting that posters feel that there's a huge jump to A Levels. I personally think they're easier...only three subjects over 15 hours instead of nine/ten subjects over 30 hours, so you can be really focused and organised. I feel that sometimes my DD couldn't finish something properly because Mr X had set a test on another subject and then never went back to what she hadn't completed. She was often "fire fighting"

For any scatterbrained/day dreaming pupils, the next stage will be their chance to shine.

Just need to get through this hurdle first....

Half Term beckons

Don't think my older ones have found A-Levels a huge jump - as long as you pick subjects you love it can be fine, and the teaching often much better.

We have a 'revision break' coming up. Off to france to stay with my mother-in-law. It will be sunny. There will be revision in the morning and ice cream and a bit of a break in the afternoons. Fingers crossed it will be enough. Our girls are absolutely knackered.

Dd said she may scrape a 5 in Physics, but there’s no way she’ll get her predicted grade due to the maths.

She’s a bit happier this evening, as tomorrow is English, which is her best subject, then it’s shirt signing and year book distribution before being allowed to leave. Her friend group are having a picnic together in the afternoon.

She’s going to a music event with two friends and then having a sleepover with her best friend over the weekend. So hopefully plenty of good quality rest and fun, before starting again on Monday.

On the topic of A levels, my son found them much harder despite getting high grades in all his GCSEs. He found the amount of content overwhelming at times and really didn’t enjoy them. He is at uni now and is thankfully enjoying learning again.

My older dd says a levels were harder than her degree