Y11 2025/26 The Final Stretch

[UncomfortableSilence]

New thread to see our wonderful DC through their exams and onwards.

Come and join for chat, support and solidarity.

DD just got back and she received her coursework mark for drama (Devising). She "only" got 62/80 and is feeling deflated. It seems to be one of the highest marks (her friends got 64 and 60, 2 others got 30...) but not what she had hoped. I think she really hoped she would get a 9 (her mocks suggested that) so she is sad.The written exam is tomorrow and she feels the pressure now. I've tried to sound as positive as possible but her teacher said she needed 75/80 for a 9, so she's a long way away from it. It doesn't include her acting part (scripted) as it's marked externally. I feel this exam period is going to be a lot of ups and downs...

Mine said the paper he did today is the hardest he’s ever seen for that subject :-( apparently friends thought the same - so I talked about grade boundaries varying a lot ! Need to keep him on track somehow . He’s barely eaten today though so trying to tempt him with a fav dinner . Hope everyone else’s DC got on ok today 🤞

Yikes! What subject is this? I bet he did better than he thinks!

First for us is English lit on Monday. 5 exams next week 😞

That’s still a perfectly respectable score! My dd hasn’t done any coursework subjects but I know she’d have acted similarly; they all have such high expectations of themselves which is great to an extent but the self imposed pressure makes me sad.

Feeling frustrated with the exam officer at DS's school. DS is currently depressed, anxious, undergoing various assessments for autism which has only been mentioned as a possibility in the last few weeks following a disclosure of suicidal ideation and has very recently started taking medication that has increased anxiety, insomnia and suicidal thoughts as common side affects.

They want me to email them each day I feel his performance in his exams may be affected as they think he will have some good days Would it be reasonable to email them everyday? I can't imagine any exam will not be impacted in some way by what he's going through.

@Littletreefrog I’d say it’s dog eat dog so yes email every day. Fight his corner. Hope it works out as it’s so tough

@Caddycat it feels like they’d be better not knowing. First exam done here. Went ok and no crisis so that’s a relief. 2 down 21 to go ( one speaking and one proper done). DD very tired

Absolutely @Littletreefrog do what you have to do, dont worry about it, they wont mind.
@Funkylights i agree, she would have been better off not knowing. They pour so much soul into the coursework, being told it's probably not even an 8 is demoralising. I think the night before the exam, it's also very unfair.

But remember… a 7 in old money is an A!!

Oh i know that... tell that to my 15yo though! 🙄

English teacher here and we do CIE IGCSE so had first Lang paper yesterday and Poetry and Prose tomorrow. I love this bit - I always go at the start of the exam to cheer them on and try and be there when they come out. They were on a high after yesterday’s paper.

Agree 7s need mentally reframing as As . It really is a great score . Don’t let a silly new numerical system steal a sense of achievement .

DS2 took ICT today @36and3 . He’s been a little volatile since but has eaten most of his dinner thank goodness . I am a bit wary about disordered eating which wouldn’t help with 5 exams next week

DD is more relaxed about the first exam after a couple of hours reflection! Initially not happy as had a couple of questions she had never seen before so tried her best a third she had taught herself as thought it might come up which it did. So that gave her a boost. She was concerned she lost her chance at a 9 now decided an 8 would be ok.
Going to be a long wait till results day.
@Caddycat thats seems unfair telling them grades this close to exams

@TebheagI am grateful we no additional bf / gf dramas.. really the last thing you need to throw in the mix!!!
BTW I’m also guilty of not focusing on Yr9 child who tbh needs to pull his socks up to get into decent sets for Yr10..

@Caddycat DD felt the same about drama. She got mid 60s and was a bit disappointed as had earmarked it as a possible 9. But there's still the exam to go and performance grade, so it may go up. Also teacher marked so may get moderated to a different grade.

German went pretty well today.. Listening was easier than expected and reading a bit harder but on the whole positive. Good to hear others went well. Good luck for those starting tomorrow.

My yr 9 is already talking about how they won't get any attention even when they're doing GCSEs as oldest will be doing A levels!

We had btec sport written exam here. 1st written exam for one of my DTs. She’s normally laid back but there was a last minute I can’t do this last night, so DH did some practice questions and gave her some tips. Arghh what are these exams doing to our DC
”how did it go?” Response “ok”
1 more done. We’ve currently done 3 of 51 exams here (yep I’m counting). 11 next week.

good luck to everyone’s DCs.
so glad for this thread to provide support and tips like calculator batteries which I’m now getting.

I think today went ok - like someone else said the German listening was apparently good, the reading so-so, the citizenship pretty good apparently. Quite glad we have finally started! Drama tomorrow - he was also a bit disappointed with his coursework mark though it was still pretty good I think. I agree better not to know at this stage I think!

@Wincher feel a bit the same; we are in exam zone now. They are all supposed to be in school but a lot are staying home to revise. Going to be a long 6 weeks still

51 exams!! Is that between your DTs I hope?

@Wincher your DS has done so many already!

DD has a revision session this morning before the drama exam this afternoon. She's had no breakfast and left with a pack of go biscuits and fruit tea... I'll try and get her to eat something at lunch but she skipped lunch yesterday and didnt eat the wraps I made her...

Same here @Funkylights . DS2 also in yr 9, also has assessments to determine classes for next year/after half term when the yr11’s don’t have classes anymore and also rneeds to pull his socks up. And I also don’t have lots of time/energy to “encourage “ him due to helping DS1. Really should have had my children further apart…..
2 exams for DS1 today which he was nervous about as the afternoon one he really wants to do well on and he is worried the morning one will wear him out too much. 🤞he is ok. Have packed extra snacks.

Good luck to all doing exams today! Thinking of anyone trying to support younger (and older) DC as well-youngest is Y8 here and end of year exams are still relatively low key but it is a juggle. Luckily eldest is through uni and so is ‘done’ academically. Must admit I always desperately wanted 2 year age gaps but we ended up with much bigger ones due to fertility issues, and I’ll always be a bit sad about that-but I suppose it does at least mean we avoid the A level / GCSE double whammy.

DS2 is out of English lit paper 2, and seems happy enough. Big day for him on Monday with two exams in one day, one of which is one he’s most worried about, so it’ll be good to get those out of the way. I’ll be joining everyone in packing multiple snacks!

@FlyingPandas it is fun and games in our houseold with the 2 Yr gap. ALevels and GCSE feel DS is getting ignored doing ALevels as all time has been going on DD. But did spend a lot of time with him when he did his, printing papers, marking, just keeping him company and questioning him when asked etc.

Dreading next week as they both have exams.

Latin went ok this morning apparently. Which I’m very glad of as the poor boy was so stressed last night / this morning.

Our younger son is in year 6 and has SATs next week. Obviously not the same as GCSEs but he’s not very academic (yet!) and they are a struggle for him.

good luck to all xx

Yes, one has 25 and one 26. Most subjects have 2 exams each, except Maths and Geography which have 3.
why geography has 3 I have never really understood when history and RE have 2.