Am I stressing DC? GCSE

[Pinkandyellowpeonies]

DC15 is having mocks in next few days. I realised I have left them alone for the last year so trying to be more involved/supportive.

I booked some extra tutoring and also a face to face trial with a maths tutor; the maths tutor seemed good but not sure if DC connected with him. Now they are saying I booked them too many trials (only 2) and they don’t want to talk about MOCKS, etc.

It all happened after they saw the maths tutor. Perhaps he was too extrict but they did cover a lot in a short period of time and DC agreed he was good but they didn’t want to see them after MOCKS. Haven’t got to the bottom of it yet. They just want to be left alone,

It was all going so well and I received a very encouraging email from Science teacher this week; now I worry I did the wrong thing by bringing this maths tutor or whether they are just getting stressed with all the pressure.

How much you push and how much you let go? It is hard and this process is only starting,

What do his teachers say? Is he on target for his predicted grades? Why do you think he needs a tutor?

Mocks in the next few days is not a good time to start tutoring.

wait until afterwards.

He is on target; except maths

They already have an online maths tutor and they had an extra lesson with him; and one with a science tutor which they have also seen in the past and went really well.

I think the trial today was a terrible idea though

You’re a whole year away from the real thing. Yes it goes quickly, but I think the best approach is to see how he does in his mocks and then have a sensible discussion about whether any results that are below what he would like/is capable of. Then decide if tutoring is the most sensible fix for that subject…it isn’t always, sometimes it’s just the DC needs to knuckle down etc.

Have a glass of wine and chill out a bit! You need so save your angst for Y11…

Thanks; you are right. I passed from not caring to stressing a bit. Maths worries me though as DC last Mock was under 4

Definitely keep your powder dry for year 11! See how he gets on. Going up a grade or two between y10 mocks and the real thing is definitely possible.

He did give him some tips like studying in a room with a bit of noise like the dinning room table and to familiarise with the exam room if possible go and do a bit of work there

Ask your child what he needs and wants

ask his teacher what they think

maybe get a different tutor?

Year 10 summer is a good time to look back over his year 10 work especially his mocks to see where he could improve. For maths that should be doing little and often, so every day and 10 minutes or so, not slogging at it for hours. Both you and he need to see where he is not doing so well and build on that. Tutors can of course be a massive help in this department.

For free information, Youtube has a lot of GCSE teachers putting out their content for free, just make sure it is the same exam boards that your son is doing. I know everyone on here is all leave it till year 11 but actually we referred to GCSEs as eating an elephant, a little bite every day makes it easier than trying to do it all at the end. This goes for flash cards, note making and improving year 10 answers to tests.

When schools say things like he is on target you need to consider what those grades are looking like, on target for some could be all 5s or it could be all 7s and over. What does he want to do post 16? If that is A levels then ask the right questions, if a child comes in on a grade 5 what is their likely predicted A level grade? That will be very different than a child coming in on a 7 or 8.

I told my children that I wasn't their friend, I was a parent who cared about them doing incredibly well and I would be sticking my nose in. Luckily the school was incredibly supportive in bringing parents in to tell them how to help their child and told the children you are lucky if you have a parent willing to help.

My DD’s mock results in Y10 have been little reflection of what she’s set to get (fingers crossed) in the real things she’s just taken.

a LOT can and does change between then and now.

I would back off for the mocks. The mocks will help them learn how much work to put in and what to work on

Old money grades but I had friends who got Us in their mocks and As in the real thing

Theres plenty of time for tutoring once mocks are over.

Are his tutors qualified teachers? Are they teaching to his exam syllabus?

It’s definitely good to think now. DC went up in 6 subjects but stayed at the same in other 4. Grades going up does not always happen. He wasn’t lazy but didn’t push and was under predications in 6 of 10. Knowing what I know now would have tutored in two subjects. He is more focused now with A levels. No amount of pushing from me made a difference, I backed right off this year.

Summer hols are vital because year 11 is a lot of new material and absolutely flies - I didn’t appreciate that at the time. Good luck

Yes, the tutors are really good tutors and qualified teachers; but the online maths tutoring isn’t working for DC.

I do like to plan in advance. He needs a good math tutor if he wants to pass. I know it will go quickly. Winter doesn’t agree with me and I want them to be settled with a tutor and routine.

Good idea. Also quite a few start tutoring a long time before year 11