GSCEs - son says I’m pressuring him.

[Delatron]

DS was diagnosed with ADHD last year at the end of Yr 10. Was reluctant to take any meds at first so we backed off and eventually he decided to take them himself. Low dose.

We’re in to Yr11 and his grades have improved across the board. He’s more focused in class and finally doing some revision for exams.

He’s doing foundation maths. They have the opp to do this early in 2 weeks. Just to see if they can get a a 4. He’s up to a 3 in his mocks. Off school for 2 weeks now. I’ve printed off past papers and he has a tutor once a week.

This week he’s done half a paper. He says if I pressurise him he won’t do it. But seems to me like he won’t do it anyway. Which seems such a shame. He could spend these 2 weeks getting up to a 4 and just hopefully giving himself a chance to pass. But does barely anything.

I just don’t know what to do. I’m backing off for now and hoping next week the pressure of the looming exam may make him do something.

Any tips? I’m new to this. He was diagnosed with dyslexia years ago but now I need to get my head around ADHD and how best to motivate him.

Gah I can’t edit I’m mean GCSEs
and pressurising. Too stressed to type at the moment.

Have you looked at some PDA strategies? Even if DS doesn’t have ASD/PDA, some of the strategies may be helpful if DS struggles with demands.

Are access arrangements in place?

Is this iGCSE rather than GCSE? Because November GCSE maths is only for post 16 pupils.

@EndlessLight Thank you. I’m new to this so I haven’t even researched PDA strategies. Will do that now. Really helpful.

He’s 15 but at a private school which specialises in dyslexia. The foundation level maths pupils have the opportunity to sit maths early in Nov to see if they can get a pass.

I would check because it can’t be the Foundation tier of GCSE maths. The rules only allow November entries for post 16 pupils. It might be iGCSE. I mention it because they differ slightly e.g. what content is on what paper and DS may be confused by using resources for other boards/GCSE.

Ok thank you - I will double check with the school.

If DS would find using an app easier/less pressure than past papers, look at Tassomai. Obviously doing past papers would be helpful but doing other revision instead is better than nothing.

Thank you. Yes maybe it’s the past papers that are the issue. I haven’t heard of that app so will take a look and see if he’ll have a go with it. Thanks so much for all your help.