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!

Good luck to those doing history. History was the one DD worried the most about. The more you work, the more you realise there is more you could learn, so you never feel fully prepared I think. And unless other topics, lots of knowledge won't be tested. They all know more than they think though!

DS also on history. His knowledge of Otto Dix, Bauhaus and Fritz lang very high… he said they always do culture, women or the left field things. I haven’t quite braved making cabaret jokes

Same with my DD. It’s her strong subject but she always feels she could do more and is never satisfied. Possibly one of her A-level choices so she’s tried really hard. Hope the results reflect all the hard work gone into it.

Just heard from DD that History 3 "was so good" - no more details as I'm at work...

She was doing Weimar Republic, AQA I think, and this was her favourite topic.

Any Edexcel History (USA) news?

DD messaged Edexel Germany was good and everything good came up. I have no more details beyond that. Only 3 left now. The final countdown!

The biggest marker was to write about just one specific year in that time period! History teacher said this was the curve ball they were waiting for. However dd pretty happy.

My DD is in tears after this one. She said she ran out of time and kept confusing herself. It was meant to be her strongest paper too. She’s so upset.

My dd said it was the toughest of the papers and lots felt the same so she is not alone. Its really hard for them. I had it with my dd for paper 1 Bio, she was inconsolable. Sending love

oh no sorry to hear. Hopefully it's not as bad as she thought.

She just messaged to say topics were how Hitler became chancellor and hyperinflation and Munich putsch. And one on how women changed from Weimar to Nazi Germany which she didn't do.

Son happy with history today although he said 16 marker tricky as there was no argument to argue! But he made an argument up.
he rated his papers
1. Cold War
then Elizabethan (but ran out of time on big question)
then medicine in Britain
lastly Weimar today was his least good @coolastheproverbialcucumber which might make your daughter feel better. Xx

Sending love and sympathy. We had the same with a different subject before half term. It's just so much pressure on them to perform in the exam - and so disappointing when they've been working so hard and just don't get chance to show it. And it's so hard to remind them that these exams don't define them when there's such a huge emphasis on them at school and such a long build up. I don't think I would cope! Hope she's feeling better soon

Dd said history 3 was “so good” - another ticked off!!

Oh bless her. We’ve had this too with different subjects. It’s so hard to see them so upset when there’s nothing you can say or do to help. And soul destroying for them too after they’ve spent 2 years studying for these exams xx

Fingers crossed all will be well on results day. Often our kids are their own harshest critics xx

My dd was like this over biology. Not quite tears but certainly flat and frustrated as she worked so hard for it then the bloody fish farming / geography stuff came up. I really feel for the kids. Good luck to her for maths tomorrow

Ds (who generally says 'fine', 'ok' or 'tough') said there was a cock up with his exam. I thought they'd given him the wrong paper or something but he got very upset and said, no he'd cocked it up. 😔
He's autistic and gets upset easily if you don't understand what he means the first time, especially if he's tired. Tried to reassure him that it didn't matter. History is currently one of his options for sixth form but the sheer volume of content is making me wonder if it's a good idea.

So sorry to hear this. I think we can all underestimate the impact fatigue has. I hope it has gone better than he thinks.

DS thinks paper a gift especially as one source is printed on a wall of one of his classrooms and discussed in both his religious studies and history classes. Despite his joke earlier he didn’t do the question on the role of women (which he knew)

They are all so exhausted. And her school is keeping them in school between exams until this Friday! Which I can imagine benefits the minority who would have done naff all if they’d been at home, but is exhausting for those who have been working hard.

I'm so sorry your DC have had a bit of a set back @tourdefrance and @coolastheproverbialcucumber - I think they are all so tired, the general level may be lower on these second/third papers across the board. They know so much more than they think, and they will have done so much better than they think. It's hearbreaking, after working so much, when it isn't the best you've ever done, but it will be the same for the majority of people, I hope they don't dwell on it and forget about it. It's done and the end is in sight. Big hugs x

Same my dd school have not had study leave. They do an exam and they are straight into pre teach revising all afternoon for the next days exam. It does have its benefits for definate but she is so exhausted.

Very very tired here. Counting the hours down!

Love to those who’ve had to be there for sad kiddies. It’s so stressful!

We can do this, nearly done….

Study leave starts tomorrow after the maths exam! But have just noticed they are expected back in on Thursday for one hour of science revision! (No exams for DS that day).

Last maths tomorrow! Hooray not to be doing any more maths questions with a reluctant DD! (Although I loved maths at school and still quite enjoy the challenge of working questions through, feeling stressed about the blank looks I'm getting is something I'm happy to leave behind)

Sorry I have no idea - I was at work all day so not sure what he did!

I can't stop worrying about Maths as the first two papers have been alot harder than usual. Alot of people felt the same it seems but the grade boundries never seem to come down that much. Getting the grade you need in Maths determines so much.