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.

Good luck everyone today.

I'm leaving DS and DH to sort themselves out today as I'm unavoidably in London (which is Some Distance from where we live). About to leave now and nervous because DS is up and panicking also.

@Roseyposeypie That’s one thing I wasn’t expecting was how exhausted she is. I think having school/revision at the same time is too much, at least if she could come home after the exam she could have a bit of a rest and like your DS she is too tired for anything meaningful in the evenings now.

@3GoldenLamps Hope your DH manages to calm DS a little, so hard having to leave them when they are feeling like that.

Good luck to everyone today 🌟

@UncomfortableSilence DD is shattered. I suggested no revisions and an early night as shes got no exams today. She refused, then cried doing maths as she was clearly too tired to do it (she had printed end of papers to do hard questions only). We then did some history which was basically me speed reading through her book out loud, so she could feel like she'd done history. How we are going to get through the next 20 exams i have no idea.

@Caddycat and others it is so hard.

I hope everyone has done what I recall DS2 doing (he was my only DC to do the current spec with no coursework and more exams) – at the start of May he basically put away anything that was after half term – so no physics, history IIRC etc. This really helped.

Remember and remind them that these exams are not a test of what they have done in the last two days; they are testing the last two years, and in some cases (maths. MFL, science, Eng lang) the last five or even 11 years of work.

I do think at this stage getting a good sleep, maybe doing a bit of exercise – yoga video, go for a run, have a kickabout – and something to eat (probs not in that order) are really important.

All the best to everyone this week.

I have a DS1 who was burnt out in the last week doing 24 exams last year . He was working solidly but nowhere near to the extent that some of your DC are . He also wasn’t crying - and he is of the temperament where he might. His results do show that - think 9 in paper 1 and 6 in paper 2 . That does impact Uni choice a bit - so better to avoid burnt out if possible . Don’t be my DS1 - even though he’s lovely

I second parking after half term content till half term and enforcing some breaks - even if it’s just sat in the garden with an ice cream and their phone .

It’s tough , and fundamentally too much for them really . I’m glad DS2 only has 16 .

apologies for what sounds like a bit of a lecture

Good luck all doing exams today.
I know a few have got Geography what other exams are on today ?

Just geography for DS today. Maths tomorrow and then week 1 is done.

German and computer science and geography

My dd has not got over that AQA triple higher paper. She was so happy and confident going in. Had worked so so hard with extra tution as needs a 6 for Psycology. She came out, shut herself in the toilet, I picked her up and she was in bits :-( she is really deflated.

Nothing for son today. Maths tomorrow. History and Latin Friday.

good luck to those with exams today.

Exactly the same. Dd has declared “I’m done”. She had everything revised so much and none of it came up.

Maths tomorrow and history on Friday. Nothing here today

My DS has Geography today, maths tomorrow history Friday. On reflection I think it is a great shame the exams are not over a longer period. I know some started last week but I don’t think my DS has an out there set of exams but other than half term he has no school day without an exam and many days with two.

We are planning on enforcing no revision after dinner tonight. I am also going to try to get him to go for a swim given usually he swims 5 hours a week minimum and he hasn’t been since Sunday.

Agreed. Yes DD also academic - sounds like it was a tricky paper! GCSE Reddit - hopefully she doesn't know about it either, I'm also not looking.. 2 days no exams before the next 2 on Friday, here..

Relentless this short many and often - I much preferred the 90's way (did mine in 93) of 2-3 hr long, 2 in a day over in 2-3 weeks. But I do see why they don't do that these days.

@whereonthestair my son same. Geography in a few minutes! Maths and history. We had to blitz geography last night and this morning. He had done it over Easter but that seems ages away now!
I hope it was the right thing to do to cram. It’s awful really choosing between cramming knowledge and sleep / stress.

Good luck all in the Geog / Maths /German / CS today tomorrow x

I was a crammer - it works x

DD is 8 exams in and she is very drained now. Can’t wait for half term.

When she got in yesterday I ran her a bath, gave her an early dinner and sent her to bed. She’s having a lie in this morning too (Fortunately her school has study leave from 1 week after Easter).

No exams today, just a lot of maths past papers on the agenda ready for tomorrow. Then Latin on Friday.

I’ve suggested to my son he feigns a headache after geography and asks to go home. He can then have an afternoon nap. And do a bit of light maths.

Actually did mine in '91. Where did it go!

I'm hoping that DS really focuses today at school and crams in some maths. It's by far his weakest subject so I'm pleased the non-calc paper will be over and done with in the first week.

He doesn't seem too tired (yet) I am just delighted they have half term in the middle of the exams.

DS2 has geography today and maths tomorrow . I’ve suggested to him he go to the gym after maths tomorrow .

Im actually amazed with how well he’s kept it together this week - I really didn’t expect him to .. though I may just have jinxed it now 😊

They are already nearly 1/3 through Geography

I really hope they are all showing everything they know.

Really? He must be doing a lot of subjects. Dd is doing 9 GCSE’s and has one whole day off each week and only two days the whole period with two exams.

Don’t panic me! I have a session with a student tonight on the German reading (Pearson Edexcel so spread out). The exam is tomorrow tho phew