Y10- 2025/2026

[CouldNotStayAway]

Hi all! Thought I’d start a new thread for the upcoming new academic year!

DH has done a few more 'year to go' exams... well, he froze in English language because he got hung up that the question asked how the writer 'built tension' in the extract and he couldn't identify any tension in it, so he didn't write anything. I have some hopes we can sort it because it's not an exam nerves issue.

Was happy with biology, a bit 'meh' about first maths paper today but still thinks he did better than his last maths test where he only answered half the questions and only about half of those were right. He is quite good at maths but it still recovering from moving a set back after Set 1 was too much for him.

Chemistry next week, should also be OK as a 'close question' one, but then he has English Lit and honestly I just don't know how to help him, he has so much difficult with extended writing anyway and finds it really hard to pick up and understand themes from texts (he's amazing at spotting them in films and TV but can't from written word) and there's only so much I can do in a week and a half. At least then there is half term before history and pt2 maths, and a week each between psychology and drama after that.

@Echobelly for English Lit, are there films available of his set texts? If so, it might be worth watching them with him, and discussing themes at the same time? Lots of people talk about Mr Salles and Mr Bruff on YouTube (I admit I have not yet looked at either) – perhaps there might be some useful summaries of key themes on those, that he could commit to memory for the exam?

DD has exam week next week. A couple of weeks ago she said, ‘I hate revision’ and we had a chat and it transpired that she wasn’t sure how to approach it – it felt quite big and vague. We then sat down together and wrote a revision timetable, with 45-min revision slots and times for meals, breaks, shower etc. The following evening, having picked some specific things to revise (eg a particular unit in Biology: do some practice questions, revise, do some more questions) and she was much happier.

I’m trying not to pressure her but to support her, as she has decided for herself that she might as well use these exams as practice for learning how best to revise for each subject and seeing how much difference the revision makes. One thing that has surprised me is how much time she needs to spend on certain units, particularly science. Stuff she seemed to understand at the time is coming back more slowly than she expected. She will definitely not have enough time to revise everything before these exams, so that will be useful learning too!

Yes, he sometimes, but not always finds it helpful to watch films and we plan to watch at least one version of Macbeth in the next week. I just don't know how to help because I was one of those people who could just do literary analysis stuff - I could spot patterns, foreshadowing etc and I don't know how you help people who can't really, which is probably most teenagers I know. I presume a lot of kids just learn essays by rote?

I've ordered him some flash cards as I thought that might help and DH was initially 'No you should make thems yourself' but understood my point that a bird in the hand was better than flahcards that don't get made at this point!

I remember when I had to sit a course at uni that I simply did not get (philosophy of logic - I had somehow missed it was compulsory on my degree!) and I just had to try to learn the formulae off by heart. I got my worst exam mark ever, but it was still a pass and I never had to do it again, at least!

@Echobelly I have heard that it's not uncommon to memorise an essay for the question in English Language that is based a picture (they just have to fudge the start to make it somewhat relevant to the picture and then go off on a bit of a tangent!) but I've not heard it mentioned for the literary analysis questions in Literature.

I would think it's possible to do quite a lot of memorising of key themes, and for each one memorise some quotes and examples of literary devices. That could get you a chunk of marks, I guess? I'm not a teacher though, and I, like you, found literary analysis straightforward (as does DD) so I'm not the best one for advice. Hopefully someone else will come along with ideas.

I've just read back and noticed that your DS's exams are quite spread out. All DD's are crammed into next week! There is only one exam per subject though, apart from maths.

@Echobelly you've probably spotted them already, but these two recent threads have some potentially useful suggestions:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5511488-gcse-english-lit-how-are-they-meant-to-remember-all-the-quotes?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5521869-why-do-so-many-students-get-stuck-at-a-grade-4-in-english

Thanks, I'd seen the second but not the first.

I've just been up to ask him to please start writing some notes for revision. Every now and then I've asked him and sometimes he says he's written something, but I've seen zero evidence.

DH has given up because he just gets angry which makes DS more anxious and likely to not sit any exams at all.

I know I'm also just in a hormonal, emotional state today for no particular reason, but I just want to cry, in fact I am crying writing this. Every round of tests I think maybe this will be the time it clicks, that he gets it, but it's just completely unpredictable and I'm not a teacher, I don't know how to teach him to do this but he just can't seem to work it out himself because, I think of the ADHD and psychologically being more like a 12yo than a 14yo.

He thinks he's doing a lot of work, and he is doing some but it's not enough and he has to write stuff down.

I feel your pain. I also have a DS who just will not write stuff down! 😭

DD has also been worrying about quotes (she has mocks after half term in the exam hall when there aren't GCSEs on) I keep suggesting she writes some out and sticks them up but although she thought it was a good idea, it hasn't actually happened...

I was searching for dates and discovered the provisional 2027 GCSE timetable has been published- so scary to see actual dates and think she'll be doing them. I think I'll keep this to myself until it is confirmed, she's nervy enough as it is!!

When oldest DC did the Y10 exams they spent too much time trying to learn the quotes - and I could kind of see them doing it, but as they found the academic stuff quite easy generally I decided to just let them make the mistake and treat it as a learnin experience. They did well in most of those exams, but neglected maths somewhat so that suffered

@brackengirl I have been aware of the provisional timetable being there for a while (came across it by accident), but haven't said anything yet because it could change - and it is 12 months away. If it doesn't change there will be more before half term than after, but the one DC will be most concerned about is later ( my head tells me that is a good thing as there is more time for revision without the distraction of other subjects, but in other ways DC may prefer to get it out of the way).

Effectively DS will now have non-stop revision of some kind all the way until GCSEs, because they have to retake any end of year ones at the start of Y11 that they fell far short on (so that's Eng Lang already and very likely History and Eng Lit too as a minimum), then there's mocks before Christmas - I suppose it's a relief they do get a bit of a break at Christmas - then Easter mocks (and we know from oldest's experience everyone is just burned out and unmotivated by then so doesn't do too well) and then the real thing.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

@Echobellymy DD was diagnosed adhd last summer.

She really struggles. I have been speaking to her about revision and needing to start and she finally told me Monday that she’s been trying but just can’t. I want to try and find someone who can support with strategies for someone with adhd but it’s not very likely she will engage.

school have brought in an EP and she starts with them soon so that will maybe bring some more support.

on the plus side she is finally regularly taking her medication and that has lead to a massive improvement at school.

Dd did her exams a bit earlier and so we have been getting results this week. So far lowest grade is a 5 for Maths, which she was actually pleased with as they were all real GCSE papers and marked to the real grade boundaries. She has x3 7's and some 6's so far too so she seems a bit more relaxed now, which is a relief. She mamaged a little revision over the Easter break but it was an eye opener for how many topics are building up and the need to identify any areas she is unsure of to focus on.