Page 23 | Year 11 - 2024/2025: Half way, half baked, half term!

QueenMabby · 2025-05-20T10:16:22+00:00

Continuation of the year 11 support thread. Go!

MackenCheese · 23/05/2025 13:28

@Pancakeflipper

MackenCheese · 23/05/2025 13:29

whostheshithead · 23/05/2025 13:23

@Whoooo AQA for eng lang today.

I've just driven in to school to drop the flowers off she wanted to get for her head of year but not bring in because it's so embarrassing (obvs) , only to find an ice cream van here and the whole of year 11 absolutely hysterically excited around it 🤣 I have parked in the far car park with the embarrassing flowers and hiding out until everyone's gone in!

Sorry meant for you!

VivaDixie · 23/05/2025 13:32

Pinkflower100 · 23/05/2025 12:18

I meant to add that I think some examiners / past examiners are on here and might be able to confirm if she’ll get less marks for going off track or if, as she says, it’s ok?

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I watched a podcast which emphasised that the picture is a prompt, she also read from the mark scheme which said that the examiners want them to use their imagination and be creative - the whole point of the question is 'creative writing'

Your DD will be fine honestly - she has done it correctly

VivaDixie · 23/05/2025 13:34

aliceinawonderland · 23/05/2025 12:21

There’s an English teacher on Instagram who referred to the examiners’ report where it was clear that the best students just used the picture as a “prompt”

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I hadnt read your post before I posted! So we both said the same thing 😊

DS said that the Eng Lang AQA exam was fine - he could have done more but is pleased with what he has done - phew - that was one we were really worried about.

I havent had any more out of him as the entire year group are on the field with signed shirts (some incl DS with various cock and balls on them! 😆)

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 13:35

clary · 23/05/2025 12:25

Firstly @NotDonna I agree with a PP who says subjects like sociology etc will be less likely to build on the GCSE (certainly in the way MFL or maths do; an A level German student, for example, is pretty much expected to be on top of verbs, vocab, genders, prepositions as these will not be retaught).

For subjects like you mention, I would say the key thing is that she has studied essay-writing subjects like history or Eng lit and has those skills – which it sounds like she has, so she should be OK there.

PE "not being of a high enough standard for A level" btw – my DS took A level PE offering football and he simply played for a local club; mate of his offered athletics and was at club and county level, so not amazing. But if the science is missing then that's a concern - DS said he was doing biology and biology! (which suited him btw).

I would be slightly concerned tho about her choices; is she thinking of uni? If not, no worries, but if she is, be aware that she is closing more doors than she needs to, as none of those subjects are needed to study the correlating subject at uni, whereas (for example) Eng lit is. Is she likely to drop one after a term or so? No need to take four A levels. You mention maths – there is quite a bit in A level psych, but that's fine as long as her GCSE maths grade is a 6/7. Psych A level anecdotally is often dropped by students who find it much dryer than they thought it would be. Would she add Eng lit to the mix as a familiar subject she is good at?

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Thanks @clary. I totally understand what you’re saying. To be honest she’s chosen the subjects that she thinks she’ll enjoy the most and thus likely to gain the best grades. History & English Lit are risky - albeit so are 4 brand new ones! She’s between a rock and a hard place. Her sister got a 9 at gcse history and worked her socks off to get the B at Alevel. DD3 will likely get a 6/7 at history gcse & although willing to work her socks off she’s fearful of a low grade esp as she has little interest in the topics covered.
The school insists on 4 A levels which they sit as AS’s at the end of yr12 then drop one for yr13. It wouldn’t be her choice to start with 4. My other 2 DDs also began with 4 and I agree it’s a lot, esp DD1 who had Maths, chemistry, economics and psychology (dropped psych end of yr12); DD2 made it up to 4 with core maths (alongside Economics, History, Psychology), which was a fab option for her as supported her A levels and naturally ceased at end of yr12. Plus she’s actually used the core maths in her degree! If the new school offered core maths for DD3 she’d pounce on it bc it’s the type of maths she’d be fine with as opposed to pure & mechanics. I think once the results are out she may reconsider English lit, but I’m not sure how much more helpful that is than her other choices.

clary · 23/05/2025 13:44

Ah yes @NotDonna core maths would indeed be useful. Esp with psychology.

Eng lit is worth adding as it opens the door to an Eng lit degree – that’s pretty much all I meant. Also it’s a known quantity. But if it's a known quantity that is not loved, then I agree it may not be a good plan.

Business is the one on her list that sticks out the most as being likely to have been taken at GCSE – it's fairly commonly taken IME (unlike soc, psych, gov/pol) so that might be the one to be concerned about, tho I don’t know how muchof a head start so to speak the GCSE provides. Anyway ultimately it is her choice as she has got to sit them eh.

Libre2 · 23/05/2025 13:49

kary42 · 23/05/2025 12:18

Same here with T1D. The subjects she wants to do at A level seem to be worse affected as the pressure of needing to perform well sends her blood sugar haywire. She's been over 15 for most of the exam in a couple of papers so have applied for special consideration with Dexcom data as evidence. Good luck to your son.

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I feel your pain. DS' BG was crazy in the first set of mocks but have been nothing short of miraculous this time round and I am very grateful - prayers definitely answered on that front so far. It's adrenaline that spikes it and I guess is going to be worse with the pressure they put on themselves. Definitely keep the Dexcom data. Ridiculously, DS seems to come out of the exam in the morning so relieved, that he then forgets to bolus for lunch and we've had highs of 20...🙄Just not for the exams so far!

All the very best to your DD - it's a massive added pressure and I feel for them.

BobBobBobbing · 23/05/2025 13:54

English was good apparently- she liked the prompt and the extract. She's now ensconced in the garden with the dog to chill.

D1's a-level went ok, though he ran out of time and had to rush the end (and he gets extra time!)

Pizza for tea as a reward.

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 14:08

DD also had the igcse @QueenMabby & @waitingquietly - she chose the ‘inspirational speech’ for the transactional writing section. She said the unseen wasn’t too bad; but not great. I think she preferred the English lit paper.
Happy half term everyone!! Dyou think there’ll be some sun 🤔🤔

mojobrojo · 23/05/2025 14:15

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 14:08

DD also had the igcse @QueenMabby & @waitingquietly - she chose the ‘inspirational speech’ for the transactional writing section. She said the unseen wasn’t too bad; but not great. I think she preferred the English lit paper.
Happy half term everyone!! Dyou think there’ll be some sun 🤔🤔

igcse here too. DS also chose the inspirational speech - mainly because the alternative was to write a 'guide' and he said that was a weird option. He told me that he mentioned my mum (who passed away two years ago) in his speech - how she raised a large family whilst holding down multiple jobs and doing lots of charity work. Just about held back the tears...

rosemarble · 23/05/2025 14:17

DS is home. Apparently there was quite the queue at reception of year 11s with 'appointments'. I've told DS I'm not lying. We'll just deal with the consequences.

Some went to the gym, others down the chip chop and a couple down to the Tottenham victory parade. Good for them I say.

Original poster

QueenMabby · 23/05/2025 14:20

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 14:08

DD also had the igcse @QueenMabby & @waitingquietly - she chose the ‘inspirational speech’ for the transactional writing section. She said the unseen wasn’t too bad; but not great. I think she preferred the English lit paper.
Happy half term everyone!! Dyou think there’ll be some sun 🤔🤔

My dd also did the inspirational speech. The anthology text was her “third worst” but she could “handle it” apparently. The thing she talked about most was filling all 6 available sides of paper for the 22 marker!

OP posts:

waitingquietly · 23/05/2025 14:22

QueenMabby · 23/05/2025 14:20

My dd also did the inspirational speech. The anthology text was her “third worst” but she could “handle it” apparently. The thing she talked about most was filling all 6 available sides of paper for the 22 marker!

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My DS2 kept going on that they always used a text if the author had died - have your DC mentioned that at all - I was a bit worried he was clinging to that

frozendaisy · 23/05/2025 14:24

HereComesYourMam · 23/05/2025 13:08

Anyone know what the Eduqas extract or prompts were?

Extract - The First Wife

one prompt
That phone call changed my life - was one the one NoRevision did

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 14:54

waitingquietly · 23/05/2025 14:22

My DS2 kept going on that they always used a text if the author had died - have your DC mentioned that at all - I was a bit worried he was clinging to that

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No mention of that here. I think the texts are all non-fiction for this paper, aren’t they?

Sisublondie · 23/05/2025 15:12

Ummmm. Well, I don’t quite know what to think. DS’s school were allowed to leave after the Eng Lang, so my plan with DS was for him to text me to pick him up (on a usual day, he is allowed to leave ten minutes early in order to avoid school crowds due to his ASD) so he could avoid other Year 11’s leaving. So, he was waiting on usual street corner away from the school, looking like he was struggling to avoid bursting into tears.. he jumped in and just basically said “ I can’t ever, ever go through that again…. I had absolutely no idea what it was about, didn’t put any metaphors or anything in, can’t even remember what I wrote about”……. So, he basically thinks he’s absolutely screwed the whole thing up. He did AQA, too. So, since we got home, and read content of the exam paper on here ( thanks!), I’ve tried to glean more from him.., to no avail. I’ve asks read that there was a picture prompt? Is that correct? He just looked at me like I’m insane when I asked if there was a photo… “ No, I TOLD you, it was some bloody extract, there WAS no photo”!

So! Last thing he said before saying he never wants me to mention it EVER again was “ better hope there is a miracle in Paper 2, as zero chance of getting a 4 after that…. the grade boundaries are going to be high”…… and made some analogies along the lines of he’d rather chew glass and stick pins in his eyes than go through that again!

I am still going to stick with my promised chill this weekend, to sleep 💤 and play online with his mates, drag him out with our dogs and try not to revisit the Hell that AQA Eng Lang was for him! Has anyone got any advice in what to do in this situation? 🤷‍♀️🤞🙏…

Well done to the lovely posts I’ve read of those who DC are happy this afternoon with how it went, and big hugs 🤗 to those whose aren’t.. I just hope they ALL find strength to find calm in order to relax and regroup and do whatever it is that brings them happiness tonight and this weekend! 💖😻… Happy Half Term everyone 🤩

TeenToTwenties · 23/05/2025 15:16

@Sisublondie oh dear! How much does he need the pass for next steps? If necessary after exams you could quietly research plan Bs.

Whoooo · 23/05/2025 15:17

Oh@Sisublondie your poor ds! :(
Any chance he could do functional skills if he doesn't get a 4?
If he's like my older dd paper 2 is easier as no creative writing element
((Hugs))
Dd not back yet..

labradorservant · 23/05/2025 15:17

So just had the equas lowdown. The first wife sounded like something off Mumsnet! An ex DH was trying to woo his ex wife back but she told him to eff off basically. A boss girl moment according to my DD! I asked if she used those terms!
She wrote about a celebration. She had partly prepped a story so used that.

ramonaqueenbee · 23/05/2025 15:20

NotDonna · 23/05/2025 13:35

Thanks @clary. I totally understand what you’re saying. To be honest she’s chosen the subjects that she thinks she’ll enjoy the most and thus likely to gain the best grades. History & English Lit are risky - albeit so are 4 brand new ones! She’s between a rock and a hard place. Her sister got a 9 at gcse history and worked her socks off to get the B at Alevel. DD3 will likely get a 6/7 at history gcse & although willing to work her socks off she’s fearful of a low grade esp as she has little interest in the topics covered.
The school insists on 4 A levels which they sit as AS’s at the end of yr12 then drop one for yr13. It wouldn’t be her choice to start with 4. My other 2 DDs also began with 4 and I agree it’s a lot, esp DD1 who had Maths, chemistry, economics and psychology (dropped psych end of yr12); DD2 made it up to 4 with core maths (alongside Economics, History, Psychology), which was a fab option for her as supported her A levels and naturally ceased at end of yr12. Plus she’s actually used the core maths in her degree! If the new school offered core maths for DD3 she’d pounce on it bc it’s the type of maths she’d be fine with as opposed to pure & mechanics. I think once the results are out she may reconsider English lit, but I’m not sure how much more helpful that is than her other choices.

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Could I ask what your dd1 did with Maths, Chemistry and Economics? These are the subjects my ds wants to take but I worry about what his options are at uni without a third science!

rosemarble · 23/05/2025 15:29

Has anyone got any advice in what to do in this situation? 🤷‍♀️🤞🙏…

I'm sorry to read this. If it were me (and I don't have a child with ASD so maybe not helpful), I would leave him be for today but say you'd think it would be good to talk about later. ie the method of putting worries away temporarily - "I do need to worry about this, but I will do so tomorrow".

Once he's a bit calmer I'd remind him that while failure feels bad, he can resit. There are many reasons people don't do as well as they are capable of - not feeling great, not done enough work, paper being a doozy. That's why resits are available.

labradorservant · 23/05/2025 15:32

ramonaqueenbee · 23/05/2025 15:20

Could I ask what your dd1 did with Maths, Chemistry and Economics? These are the subjects my ds wants to take but I worry about what his options are at uni without a third science!

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You can do chemistry at lots of places if you have maths too and no other science. Maths with econ is good and lots of unis require maths to do econ more than econ itself.
If you want to do maths then some places require further maths . I did chemistry at Oxford with chemistry and maths (and a language!). Wish I had done further maths though as it was tough.
Basically just check there is nothing you are desperate to do that requires specialised subjects.

clary · 23/05/2025 15:33

@ramonaqueenbee he has two sciences there which is all that’s needed for any science degree. He’d tick the box for chemistry, chemical engineering probably and economics as long as he avoided the most popular unis for that (as they can afford to ask for FM).

ExamStuff · 23/05/2025 15:41

My DD was very happy with AQA English language, even happier to now be having a break for half term. 13 down, 8 to go.

ramonaqueenbee · 23/05/2025 15:41

@clary and @labradorservant Thank you, will explore these further. I am hoping he could be convinced to do further maths as he does love maths.