Anyone's dcs doing GCSEs, AS, A levels and fancy a hand-holding thread?

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I have two dcs about to start exams. Dd (ASD, dyslexia, mobility problems) is doing GCSEs. She should do well but is stressing herself by wanting to get A* in everything. That isn't impossible (apart from Italian) but I would rather she cut herself some slack and didn't get wound up about it.
Ds (ASD, OCD, dyslexia) is doing A levels. He doesn't actually have any exams until the middle of June so plenty of time to revise but that is not his strong point at all. He finally finished his Computer Science course work at midnight last night - talk of taking it to the wire! He needs at least 3 Bs for university course he wants to do and that is doable so long as he can get some work done and doesn't freak out on the day.

I am expecting a truly stressful 6 weeks.

Anyone else?

That's very disappointing NH. Could you maybe ask for an adjustment if her grade is lower than expected? I can't remember the term but there are access arrangements that are sorted in advance but there are other considerations for special circumstances (eg bereavement, illness or other disruption) that might have affected performance on the day. It sounds as though she's struggled to refocus when she went back to complete her paper so it might be worth a try, or at least a word with the SENCo.

Sounds stressful for ds yesterday Spider. Hope today is better.

Good luck, all!

They did note the disruption on her paper so it should be taken into account.

Good. I'm glad they've acknowledged it. Keep an eye on it though.

NoHaudin that's awful. Your poor dd. She did very well to go back and give it another go - I don't think I could have done under those circumstances. Fingers crossed they get their backsides in gear and makes sure she gets all her accommodations automatically from now on.

Glad the school have at least acknowledged it and promised to make sure it can't happen again.

Hope today goes well for anyone with exams.

Ds was very agitated last night around taxi arrangements not being confirmed. School have given him a timetable showing what time he is to depart school but taxi company said they would pick him up at usual time . I have urgently emailed the HT to clarify but need to sort this before he wakes up as any deviation to the timetable causes distress. Don't need this before the exam

It's almost like they have no idea of the basics, isn't it?

Hairy did you get the taxi thing sorted. It is fairly basic and something easy to get right.

Dd had another minor crisis today. She ran out of cartridges for her shaped pen and had to use a normal biro which was slower, messier and more painful. She should really have doubled checked last night. She coped ok though and used all her extra time which she did get without a problem today.

Taxi was half hour late and then later leaving school so not great and he was very agitated. I have been assured that the rest of the taxi arrangements will run smoothly. The Biology exam was quite tough apparently.

How annoying re taxi? When they are at peak stress anyway it doesn't take much to push them over the edge.
Dd had biology today too. She said some of the questions were pretty nasty, but was pleased that the 6 mark one was on something the teacher had gone over in their last lesson.

I had an exam today I know this thread is for parents, but oh well

GreenBeans what exams are you doing? Stressful for anyone.

I'm doing my AS-Levels... Maths!

Nice one Green. How did you find it? Ds was doing AS Maths yesterday too.

Hard, but I definitely wasn't prepared (time wise) and wasn't used to exam questions. I just didn't practice that! I'm seriously thinking a U, as I'm sure I only got about 20 marks. However, at least there is 2 more exams, so hopefully, I will be a little more prepared (and boost up my marks) I'm not too fussed, I just really want an A-Level in it, so I wouldn't be majorly gutted with an E

Bugger . That's a shame. But as you say there are two more papers to go and plenty of time to hone your skills. Download some practice papers and get working on them.

Ds said there was one question he knows he got wrong but thought the rest was ok. He'sa cocky sod though . His nemesis is Mechanics so we'll be on hot bricks for that one.

Ah, good luck to him I only have Maths exams this year; the rest are next year!

Same for ds. Complicated arrangements for his first year so only one AS level. Starts the rest in September. Good luck with yours too.

Exam free day today. Chemistry was fine although we had pen issues again. I got her some new cartridges but it turned out to be a dud pack and none of the worked so it was back to the biro. Again just as well she had the extra time.
Two long writing exams on Monday but I seem to be more concerned about that than she is at the moment.

English and RE today were 'horrific' according to dd. But she comforts herself with the thought that she will never have to look at 'Of Mice and Men' again.

Isn't that a shame? I love OMAM but I can imagine why kids would be put off after being force-fed it for months on end. The English exam process is so counter-productive .

I can see why dd doesn't like it. TBH I'm not too keen myself and quite glad that she hasn't had to do something I consider really good because the way they have to study is enough to put anyone off literature for life.

Same with the SPAG tests. A generation of children who risk growing up without a love of reading. It's almost as though it's designed to take away the pleasure. It's criminal .

Maths today which is dd favourite. She even grinned when I woke her up and she realised. Each to their own.

Ds wasn't smiling - not his favourite subject and he's quite anxious about it.

Hairy hope it goes well. Dd will not be smiling for English tomorrow. She cannot see the point of poetry at all.
At least she is likely to pass both. I can't understand the cruelty involved in making everyone resit maths and English until they pass regardless.