Y11 2025-26 Exams have started - chat, support & drink of choice if needed here.

[UncomfortableSilence]

New thread for all of us with lovely Y11s to support them and us through the coming weeks.

I don't think it's ever as simple as xxx exam is harder or easier – and tbh I don't think that’s a helpful road to go down (for anyone – whether taking the exam that is perceived to be harder or easier).

I know most about MFL exams. Is Edexcel German IGCSE harder than Edexcel German GCSE? or easier? It’s different. It's an international GCSE so it is aimed at speakers of all languages, so the questions are all in target language – both harder and easier (bc it can supply vocab you need). A lot of elements are very similar (writing tasks) but there is a grammar task which may challenge; otoh there is no translation to or from English (obviously) which some find hard.

FWIW I am not a fan of the CAIE IGCSE, especially the speaking exam, which is very rigid and does not allow adaptation to support the speaker. But the Edexcel IGCSE speaking exam is a lot easier IMO than the GCSE one. So swings and roundabouts for sure.

Basically all our YP are facing a similar style of exam and a similar level of challenge overall. And their achievements will be celebrated.

big melt down from DS tonight. He’s so exhausted he can’t speak and doesn’t want to eat dinner. Have told him to have a night off and watch something on TV. RS tomorrow but he’s determined to do some English lang. so pleased it’s half term next week

It’s definitely not a level playing field! So many things play into education achievement, for some of the kids in my school we’re celebrating staying in school, so many barriers even to that.

We were a little disappointed that DS hadn’t engaged with revision and learning really in the way we’d hoped, given the money we’ve spent on placing him in independent school, however DFIL rightly pointed out that he’s so much happier and more confident than he was when he was in state, getting bullied and essentially getting good at entertaining the other boys in bottom sets. We are incredibly lucky to have been able to pull him out, and I’m still cross that the local school didn’t do more.

It’s definitely not a level playing field! So many things play into education achievement, for some of the kids in my school we’re celebrating staying in school, so many barriers even to that.

Yes this. Hard tho it can seem to those of us here who support and encourage and help our DC, for some of the kids I taught it was a major achievement on a daily to get to school in uniform and more or less on time with a pen in their pocket. Almost certainly not done their homework. Won't have had any breakfast. Probably had to drop their younger sibling at primary school bc parent has gone to work early.

Sorry to hear some kids had such a rough day. Hope they get to chill tonight.
Our state school allows kids to drop subjects some did after the Feb mocks results.
DD can't wait till Friday only half a day then kids are all meeting up in the evening looks like great weather for it.
Good luck to all kids with exams tomorrow.

Well said.

French tomorrow seems like a mini break after the English literature dread of which poem will be printed and then the marathon exam.
French in the morning. Have a good think about his story tomorrow evening. Eng language Thursday. PE revision and exam Friday then a half term of loads of heavy history / human geography revision!

I second/third this. Education is not a level playing field at all sadly, in lots of ways. When I think about the circumstances of many of my students compared to the privileged minority, and that’s who my most able students are up against for those top grades they are so desperate for, it breaks my heart a bit. And makes me think the world of them tbh.

@childoftktyHope he can manage to chill out a bit this evening and get a good nights rest. DD is upstairs with a monster headache going over Judaism for RE tomorrow. Ive told her to finish up soon and try to get a bit of an early night.

English AQA LoTf, comh and unseen poem both DTs liked the paper. That’s English literature ticked off.

tomorrow DTs have French listening and 1 DT has R E as well.
DC were telling me some of their cohort has 3 exam’s tomorrow and some had 3 today- which must be exhausting. Shout out to everyone’s DC but especially any who have 3 in a day.

we are very lucky that are family are supportive of DTs and will be impressed whatever the results. Their grandma has been dropping round little treats for them every few days, fruit, freshly baked cakes and so far chocolate in the first 8 days. Note there was no such treats for me their DC when doing GCSEs and A levels 😀.

i feel they’re back on track after chemistry yesterday.

Dd is basically falling asleep in her RE revision. At least it’s in the afternoon tomorrow. Crawling to 10.45 Thursday when English language is done and half term begins..

Yes thank goodness half term is coming up. Two weeks of exams in a row is enough for DD and for me too! Roll on Friday.

@Ifonlyoneday maybe it's easier to let grandparents spoil you. I had fond imaginings of lovingly swirling golden syrup and blueberries into DS's porridge before sending him bouncing off to school morning revision sessions. Reality: dragging his duvet off him and letting the dreaded cats into his room to get him out of bed at 8am, packing him into the shower, then into the car with a pre-wrapped pain au chocolate. Blooming child.

@MayasJamas same here. Our school's catchment is very deprived and it's a transient community with lots of kids drifting in and out of education as they're moved here, there and everywhere. Some of the kids are living in the most squalid, overcrowded, unsafe accommodation, with parents who are too tired, ill, drug-addled, vulnerable or absent to look after and protect them. They're ripe pickings for county lines, gangs and grooming and it's heartbreaking.

I've lost track with so many posts so not sure whether this was aimed at my comment regarding my nephew's exams being easier - he's abroad and doing the national exams all 15 yo take. It wasn't criticism, it is just a much lower level, without higher papers, half of the final grade being their average grades of the past 2 years and with 80% of children getting a "distinction". I found the comparison really unhelpful...

Tbh a lot of those who have three tomorrow are doing AQA French with reading and listening on the same day (on separate days for Pearson Edexcel for some reason - still only an hour each). Still it's a lot.

no sorry @Caddycat it was after people were saying were IGCSEs easier – obvs some have CW which suits some yP (tho not all!) and I think a PP said that maths IGCSE was supposed to be harder. I don’t know that much about the maths but the MFL GCSE vs IGCSE are just different. Not harder or easier. And anyway it doesn't matter really.

I think it was because of my comment. I didn't say iGCSEs were easier (I have no idea of content) but said I would very much have liked the chance for DD to have done coursework. I can't see how it can't be an advantage going into the exam period to have some marks under your belt already. And judging by the amount of people on here who have said how tough it is for the kids to have two years work evaluated in a couple of two hours exams, crammed in next to so many other exams I can't be the only one who thinks that. Anyway, wasn't a criticism of anyone whose kids get to do them or say that their achievements should be diminished in any way. I just thought everything (except for the clearly practical subjects) had to be 100% exam nowadays. Tbh iGCSEs weren't something I'd been aware of at all.

English Language coursework is definitely an advantage I agree. It's worth 50% of the mark, so you're already going into the exam with a buffer.

Only if you are good at it tho. DS2 doesn't do well with uni CW – he procrastinates and doesn't do it to the standard expected – whereas in an exam, obviously with lower expectations from the marker (as you have had to memorise all of it) he really shines. DD is the other way round. (obvs it was DD who did A level exams and DS2 who had TAGs uhuh!)

Also CW is so so open to abuse that basically when it still existed for GCSE it had to be of such a high standard (bc so many teachers bent the rules) that it was not a fair assessment of anything much, sadly. Not saying that that happens with IGCSE CW – it‘s such a small proportion of GCSEs it probs doesn't have the same effect.

my dd is doing iGCSEs, her English Language doesn't have course work - though I know that one of the options does - just two exams, 2 hours 15 & 1 hour 30.

I've got a reasonable amount of experience with maths GCSEs (she's the 4th I've seen through GCSEs), her specification is the most difficult I've helped with. Good prep for maths A level, not great if (like her) you're firmly a 6/7 imo - there's content that is beyond her & grade boundaries are so low I wonder about the purpose.

English lit went well today - two gift questions (Goole vs Arthur Birling in AAIC and role of ambition in Macbeth's downfall). Chemistry yesterday was odd - it wasn't a typical paper 1 - I think that threw her & overall she came out a bit disappointed though it doesn't sound like a disaster. She never says more than "well I hope I got a 5"!

Since revision really kicked off she's decided firstly that she hates her A level choice subjects & now the exams have started that she hates it all so much & just wants to get a job 😐

Tomorrow off thank goodness. She's exhausted.

DS struggling after today’s cock up with the computer. He’s very stressed worrying that for reasons outside his control he lost in reality he had 30 minutes of an exam which was fair and the rest unfair as he couldn’t record his ideas as he normally does. He says essay got disjointed and he let himself down. I keep telling him not to worry but when 2 years of work ends up as 2 exams and a computer fails it makes me think coursework at least has a back up in it. Special consideration may give 3 marks but it would be fairer to ignore the whole paper given the cock up was completely outside his control.

Totally agree. More coursework options would suit many DC better, but state schools aren’t allowed to do them. It’s not really fair.

Feels like a nice breathing point for DS now - after a super heavy week last week this week is much easier. Now chemistry and English lit are out of the way he’s got nothing but English lang (for which I understand there’s not much revision to be done) for two whole weeks until Physics on 2 June. So a chance to take a breath and regroup a bit! Went on a run with him this evening which was lovely.

@whereonthestair I really feel for you and your DS. If dictating is not his normal way of working, then it feels unfair that he was expected to do it in the exam. Surely keeping computers charged is the responsibly of the exam centre (ie school). Are they being supportive and do you know what is available in terms of special consideration?

School are being great but I think the option will be worth no more than 3%. Oh well today’s another day. DS managed to sleep. We have French and Religious Studies to get through today. And a back up plan in the computer. And then English Language tomorrow