Y11 2025-26 Final exams are here. Now we wait….

[UncomfortableSilence]

New thread for all things Y11, did they cook or are they cooked. We will find out in 10 weeks😉

DD did brilliantly with all 9s and 8s except art and English Lan which were both 6s.

Eng Lan is 1 mark off the grade boundary so think we'll get it reviewed as she got a very strong 9 (nearly full marks) in English Lit.

I'm a bit frustrated with their art teacher as the assessed grade (60%) was an 8 but everyone in their class has been downgraded and no-one got higher than a 6. I know these are still great grades but she was expecting a 7/8 in both.

This is inspirational. Well done to him.

Really happy here and still a bit shell-shocked 😃 Daughter got 9 in English Language and 8 in English Lit. You could have knocked me down with a feather had you told me this throughout her primary/secondary schooling. She literally only recently started capitalising words and using punctuation.

She also got a 7 in Maths which she thought went horrifically and she was so so down after both papers.

The rest are all a mix of 7/8/9s except Biology where she was 1 mark off a 7 and we're getting remarked. But she also thought she would get a 5 in Bio because the exams went terribly so 6 (the grade her college requires) was a very pleasant surprise.

Our family has had the most horrific 2 years and people would not believe the traumatic and chaotic circumstances she had to revise in. She was literally sitting in McDonalds/ service stations revising until sometimes gone midnight as those were the only places open with a table and a socket to charge her phone, as she couldn't study at home.

So super happy here 😀

DS did brilliantly - 999888776. Currently waiting in a cafe while he is in the queue to enrol at college. He’s a bit sad as not all his friends got the grades for this one but at least he and one other did (and still got to see for another one but tbh not hopeful seeing the size of the queue).

Phew that’s over!

DD did brilliantly and after a looooonnnnggggg discussion has made her decision where to go. She has decided not to go the school where a lot of her friends are going as she preferred the subjects and the feel of another school.

Pleased it’s all done.

Gosh I’m emotional reading all these updates! Bloody brilliant kiddos

Still waiting on school email or government app to update ( we are abroad)

My son did so well; two 9s, four 8s, two 7s and a 6 in English language

Doing these at A level:
5 in history - he knows the content but needs better essay writing. Did get 6s in English.
6 in French - I did speak to his French teacher beforehand, knowing this would be the likely grade and she thought he might be ok if we accept it may be more of a C/D grade

I would be somewhat wary of French A level with a 6 but for sure his teacher knows him and knows what he is capable of. Were there reasons for it (like, missing a question, having a written essay that was impossible, collapsing in the speaking)? Was it a high 6?

My DD got an A at GCSE Frenc (old spec tho obvs, which is less of a prep for current A-level spec) and a C at A level. Her friend who was much better than her scraped a B. It's a challenging A level (as ofc it should be). I would have a look at the A level spec and some past papers to get a flavour.

If he is aware that a C/D is a probably outcome then no worries. Is he looking at grades for uni or more likely to look for work post A levels?

He was supposed to be doing a different subject completely but the teachers left and French was one of the only options left. Of course I am not sure it's a good idea to do it by default. He had an excellent teacher for GCSE who raised a middle set up to the higher paper. Looks like he got a middling 6. I will say he did zero revision for it (partly laziness, partly confidence from his teacher), but he does enjoy it. I think a language is a valuable skill almost regardless of grade but think he will be surprised at how tough it is. The only other option he could do in that time period is Film studies, which he thinks will be full of 'film wankers'.

He has no idea what he wants to do in life. I would personally dissuade him from uni but there aren't lots of apprenticeships either. His other subject will be Philosophy which he hasn't done before.

He is a v young 16 and I would say up to this point v immature about studying etc. I am hoping he will focus more once he has only 3 subjects, but who knows...

Some amazing inspirational stories here @XelaM @Littletreefrog @whereonthestair I felt quite choked reading your posts. Well done everyone, what fantastic DC you all have 🎉

Sending huge congratulations to all and hugs to anyone feeling disappointed or deflated today.

DS is very happy with eleven 9s (including one subject taken last year) and an 8 in English language. He’s now off out to eat up all the restaurant free food deals! All of his friends seem to have done well and got what they needed for next steps so happy all round here.

Sleep well @NotDarkGothicMama what an epic journey you have had, so glad your DS did so well.

lol at film wankers. Film studies is a great A level actually but I do know what he means.

Again look at some past papers and see if he can imagine himself tackling them. IMHO French A level is less about the film and the book (which a lot of ppl stress about) and a lot more about language skills and topic work – the topics move on from hobbies and fave school subjects to things like unemployment and strikes, teenagers and politics, French music, multicultural society and France and its heritage. Would these engage him? If so then happy days.

ETA I also wanted to say a massive well done to all on the thread and especially those with really inspirational tales.

Well done everyone. Ds seemed pleased with his results, got a 9 and 2 8s in the subjects he will be studying for A level.

Congratulations to everyone so far, so lovely reading through all your posts.

DD got 7 9s, 3 8s and a 6. She’s done amazing but sadly all she can focus on is the 6 in Eng Lit, she was predicted a 9 and has never got lower than a 9 so it was a bit of a shock for her. We’ve requested the paper back but seems like a fair few in her class are in the same boat. Sadly her teacher went on very early mat leave and she had a sub for all of Y11 and it really wasn’t great so not sure what’s gone wrong, she got a 9 in language. We’ve been and enrolled at the sixth form she wants to go to and she just wanted to come home after. I really feel for her.

@FlyingPandas eleven 9s is incredible.

@UncomfortableSilence my DD feels similar about her 6 in Lan. It takes the shine off otherwise great results. She seems to have accepted it though and gone off with her friends for free food. I think seeing the grade boundaries helped her.

DD is absolutely over the moon, did so much better than she was expecting in certain subjects, got a 9 in history and 8,8 in science and 8,8 in English language and lit. She had been predicted 6's so was quite shocked and extremely happy

She didn't do as well in a couple of others that she was hoping to get higher, but she is trying not to focus on those as she has still done incredibly well.
She has been into college and has changed from her chosen btec and is now doing A level drama, psychology and health and social care which we think will be a much better fit for her.

Massive well done to all who have received them so far and to those who are disappointed I hope they get the best support and ate ok.

@Anonymousemouses I hope your DD is ok

All good here and DD passed maths.
Tbh I do feel a bit sensitive reading about people being disappointed with 6s and 7s. I get it, but it’s important to bear in mind that for many kids, those are stellar results.

DD smashed it, got in to the high flyers club!! Phew.

Surprise 9 in English Lit, other pretty much as expected.

Thank goodness it’s done. Couldn’t be prouder of her!!!!

DS got 1 8 and the rest a suite of 6s. But one was 1 point off a 7 so we will ask for remarking.

He is in for A-levels and has rejigged some of his options. I cried. We are over the moon.

Well done to everyone Hope so much that those with Dcs who were a little disappointed are okay.

Exactly the same here. 1x 8 (art), 1x 3 and the rest in between. Shes got what she needed and she’s happy.

In some ways I think it is good for high achievers to get a disappointing grade at GCSE. It helps them realise they can't be perfect and probably builds resilience for A levels and university. It isn't good for someone to have overly much self worth built on being academically top.

well done to everyone’s kids, such an achievement to get through them! Especially those who overcame difficult circumstances. My dd got 999999887 which she is super happy about and yet again it was the English lit which she got a 7 in.. having never got below a 9… however she has brushed it off and moved on. I understand that those who consider a 6/7 to be fab results feeling miffed at the disappointment of those who got those grades. However it’s important to see that it is still a matter of dropping 2/3 grades from mock/expected results which leads to the disappointment, as I’m sure it does with any other student. Everyone is allowed to feel what they feel. And no one should be comparing to anyone else. My dd had friends who scraped a 44 in English having been worried about passing and tbh we have all been celebrating so much for them today as it’s such a relief for them not to have to retake! Anyway, well done to everyone and time to crack open the bubbly! (Well.. may wait till after lunch!! 🤣)

Super well done everyone!! I can’t believe we’re through the other side! I feel as proud of us mums as I do our kids!

DD is refusing to discuss A Levels with me and so still no idea whether she will do EPQ or FM 4th A Level or both. She got high 9’s in maths and FM though so I imagine her maths teacher will push FM quite strongly. As she’s staying at her current school, I assume there’s no rush to make a decision.

She is wanting to get Eng Lit reviewed which I think is pointless but she says it’s none of my business! She got an 8 and she’s never studying it again so I don’t see the point whatsoever. She’s 3 marks off a 9. But what do I know, I’m just a mum!

DD was 1 mark off the next grade in combined science. Next mark up wouldn't make a difference to what she goes to next (although she is doing STEM subjects) but over 6 exams maybe not that hard to find that extra mark? School not mentioned getting a remark so perhaps not important? What do people with remark experience think?