Y11 2025-26 - Trying not to melt and pushing through the final weeks

[Stowickthevast]

I finished the thread so started a new one. Welcome all Y11 parents, support and solidarity for the next big push here!

7 exams to go here, DD fairly upbeat that she'll now be ticking each GCSE off as she does them. 4 hours 15 of revision today she said.

6 left here. Biology tomorrow DD hasn’t done any revision for as she has been trying to teach herself Further Maths (PM) - the school have done bugger all very little to prepare them for further maths. They’ve never had an exam, they haven’t even finished the curriculum, I don’t understand why they put children forward for it without space in the curriculum to teach them properly.

All we have left after tomorrow is Maths, chemistry further maths paper 2 and physics. Monday 15th can’t come quick enough.
@ShesRunningOutTheDoorsorry your son is struggling, DD has found it much harder after the half term break.

My colleague whose child is sitting A-Levels at the moment says they're much worse than GCSEs. I told him I don't want to hear it! I suppose the pressure is on for university/apprenticeship admissions, but still.

Oh I don’t doubt that at all - I’m talking simply in terms of 8 vs 23 exams!

Ah bollocks, after seeing your message I googled and discovered Art has an exam too! 🤦🏻‍♀️ But not a written one.

My ds A Levels were much less stressful. It's subjects they have chosen and emjoyed for a start and far less exams. 23 is just insane when you think about it.

My DD will defo find just 3 subjects much easier and is aware of the jump as she’s already talking about it & not trying to cram at the end

This week is going to be a tough one. DS not too grumpy this morning but he looks shattered. I have to entertain work colleagues all week too so won’t be around in the evenings.

He is v excited about the World Cup though post exams. His friend is apparently going to host sleepovers as most of the games are at ridiculous times. I think his mum is crazy

Good Luck all for Biology
After a horrendous 1st AQA paper we are hoping this one is much better and the revision pays off!

DD had a very intensive weekend of revising for Bio and FM. From crack of dawn until late evening Saturday and Sunday.

She got up this morning saying she was actually excited for the exams today! I think she must be delirious now 😂.

I’m not convinced a huge amount of work has happened over the weekend in our house. Biology this morning and then no exams tomorrow.

good luck to all

My son much brighter this morning. Let’s hope for a kind biology paper. Then he next has history tomorrow afternoon

Morning! I laugh every time I see the thread title - no melting here, I've turned the heating back on this morning!
DD was grumpy, scared and tearful all in one this morning. Paper 1 didn't go too bad for her (she thinks) compared to what the general opinion was on it, but she was so scared for paper 2.
She's got an awful week ahead, culminating on friday with chemistry and dance. Double exam day after 3 weeks and 20 exams is just mean.

Another hour to go for up the update from triple…

Then it’s straight home to prep for Spanish listening and history 3 tomorrow.

I know @Caddycat the title has not aged well! We have tickets to the Queen's club tennis on Wednesday so fingers crossed it improves!

We had a similar comment from ds. Apparently as its all "the better/more fun" subjects (apart from spanish) of science and maths/further maths
Im not quite sure where he came from!!!
Although if its keeping him going at this point thats all we need

They had prom before the exams started!

I dont know whether its in case people go away after exams...or whether the venues are cheaper before wedding season starts...? (Or both)

Anyone heard of their DC for biology? DD is about to finish. I nervously tried to check Reddit but 15/16yo are not very disciplined at telling us whether they are AQA/Edexcel, combined/triple, foundation/higher... lol
I'm loving the iGCSE kids in other countries trying to gleen information from other time zones 😆

Biology trilogy AQA here. Went well but annoyed that no questions on homeostasis or menstrual cycle after all that revision

I have one doing A levels and one doing GCSEs (it's intense!) Definitely think the GCSEs are more stressful. 22 exams (half of which she doesn't enjoy) versus 9 exams which she chose and has a clear goal to aim for....

Although a level result day has greater consequences... arg!! Can't wait for it all to be over

Just had news she said the AQA Triple Biology was according by to my daughter ‘s*’. It’s very unlike her to swear. She was 9’s consistently in all biology mocks, she is dyslexic, so sometimes the wording can throw her. Nervous as she so wants to do it A-Level. Anyone else heard?

Dd did combined and annoyed by amount maths … including working out monkeys sperm!! Nothing on a lot of tropics including diabetes!!!

Combined did have a question on the menstrual cycle that my DS couldn’t answer!

DS2 is pretty happy with combined science biology - he thinks he passed . He is also talking about the World Cup , apparently Harry Kane is the best striker in the world and we have a chance this time ! First England match after the exams are finished apparently

Haven't heard from DS yet. Biology is his weakest science, he said he was nervous but not too stressed because he doesnt want to do it next year