In continuing with the tradition of the previous two years, I've made a GCSE thread to discuss the stress that will be loaded onto your shoulders for the next few weeks .

Feel free just to discuss exams in general, tips and advice would be appreciated. I found it was useful looking back at the older threads and seeing how many of you done it .

I'm taking:
Biology (Edexcel)
Chemistry (Edexcel)
Drama (Edexcel, already completed)
English (AQA)
English Literature (AQA)
Geography (AQA)
History (OCR)
ICT (OCR)
Maths (Edexcel)
Physics (Edexcel)
Religion (Done last year)
Statistics (Done last year)

Hmm, well I have mocks starting Monday; and a few GCSE's in there as well.

real GCSEs are:

German(reading and listening)
ICT
Biology(In June - 1 out of 2 GCSEs)
Chemistry(In June - 1 out of 2 GCSEs)
Physics(in June - 1 out of 2 GCSEs)


Good luck btw

Well, since im in year 9.. so i have choose our options, and as there are only 3 options, i picked,
Media (which counts as two.)
and Art.
I would have picked Media and ICT but our school is a ICT specialist so we have no choice and have to do it ;p

dont ask me, mine spelled out F,U,C

GCSEs

Anyway, I've had a total skive of a year this year. Being Scottish, I'm not really clued in on what these GCSEs actually are, but I've been told they're sort of like Standard Grades, but a bit harder.

I'm doing:
Advanced Higher Physics (15th)
Advanced Higher Maths (16th)
Higher Human Biology (21st)
this year. Human Biology is like reallllllllllllllllly easy.

Anyway, good luck to those who need it. Technically I can fail all my exams this year cause I have an unconditional acceptance to my university of choice, although I'll make the effort cause it looks good.

Lol looking back, you only need 3 A-C GCSE's and you're into college doing a diploma then off to uni for a degree.

Diploma's > A levels + sixth form

NO TESTS, Less Stress, Cooler People, Doing something YOU want to do and mixing with similar people, it rules, same as 4 A Levels!!!!!!


* aNILEator big's up college

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Originally posted by aNILEator
Lol looking back, you only need 3 A-C GCSE's and you're into college doing a diploma then off to uni for a degree.

Diploma's > A levels + sixth form

NO TESTS, Less Stress, Cooler People, Doing something YOU want to do and mixing with similar people, it rules, same as 4 A Levels!!!!!!


* aNILEator big's up college

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you can always join after A-Level...... or flunk out now and apply for sept start

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Originally posted by aNILEator
Lol looking back, you only need 3 A-C GCSE's and you're into college doing a diploma then off to uni for a degree.

Diploma's > A levels + sixth form

NO TESTS, Less Stress, Cooler People, Doing something YOU want to do and mixing with similar people, it rules, same as 4 A Levels!!!!!!


* aNILEator big's up college

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The only reason I am not going to college or doing an apprenticeship is because I have no idea what I want to do yet

These are subjects I have to do for GCSE there like split into modules, already done some of them.

Maths
Science - Biology, Physics and chemistery
English - English & English literature
IT
Business studies
Humanities
PE - boxing, trampolining & gymnastics
Spanish

I'm doing A-Levels, then i'm off to uni.

I am doing:

Computing
Business Studies
Physics

Also, people who talk about diplomas counting the same as 4 A-Levels or whatever, that may be true, but if just means that in terms of UCAS points, and although universities sometimes do accept pure UCAS points, all my university offers required me to have actual A-Levels, not diplomas.

However, don't think that I am some A-Level chauvanist, diplomas are a perfectly valid and better choice for some people, but don't instantly think that it is exactly the same as doing 4 A-Levels.

diploma's are more targeted, hence for some like me it's great, also you're more free and respected (well depends on teachers and college i suppose) but you're not going to be treated like little mike still by your teachers at school if you stay in sixth form

as mentioned more targeted, usually have more money and better equipment also, more help offered with unions and financial advisor's etc.

I doubt they do A-Level Multimedia Graphics Illustration Video Editing and Animation (a basic run down of my current course) hell my school still ran win 2000 and didn't have any apps other than office

Is anyone actually doing their exams this year? I've noticed there were loads the past two years .

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Originally posted by absorbation
Is anyone actually doing their exams this year? I've noticed there were loads the past two years .

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Originally posted by absorbation
Is anyone actually doing their exams this year? I've noticed there were loads the past two years .

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I know Media is on Monday. My first exams start next Tuesday with English Lit and ICT .

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Originally posted by absorbation
My first exams start next Tuesday with English Lit

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Luckily I've already done my gcses

and I'm sorry but they are ok to do, mocks were worse for me.

I took:

ICT nvq something, so it was a double award or something
double science
maths
english
english lit
art
textiles
history
re was HALF a gcse...still got a B

best advice don't stop eating, always have something in the morning, otherwise you get distracted during the exam!!!

I'm now in college doing a btec national dip in ICT, maths was pretty important to get passed to be on the course.

It's worth 3 a-levels too and I don't have to go to sixth form

I did my GCSEs a couple of years ago now and I've got to say, I prefer exams to assignments... I did absoloubtly nothing towards my geography coursework and still managed to pull it up to a C grade on the exams alone.


Media Studies AS  [D]
Psychology AS  [E]
ICT GNVQ  [PASS]  (equivalent to four GCSEs)
Mathematics GCSE  [B]
English Literature GCSE  [B]
English Language GCSE  [C]
Science GCSE (Double Award)  [CC]
Geography GCSE  [C]
Electronic Products [C]

I think the best advice is to constantly see what help you can get from your tutors. They obviously can't do everything for you, but they may be willing to give you information that could improve your grade. Get coursework checked regularly and get it done out of the was as soon as you can.

As for the UCAS points thing, I don't think I get any from what I have and I know most places I checked wanted 2 A levels or if not, they wanted high grades (A/B) in other subjects

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Originally posted by the andyman

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Originally posted by absorbation
My first exams start next Tuesday with English Lit

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Same, although there's then about 12 days till my next one. Study leave starts just before lunch this Thursday

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I've now got study leave

How is it going guys?

Science today was a horrible exam, I felt Edexcel really lowered the standards. I'm now finished with ICT (woo-hoo)

Bah, I remember those GCSE's last year... Everyone came out of Science last year (AQA) saying that it was horrible, and everyone I know doing them now said the exact same thing, don't worry about them! As for me, I'm doing A-levels, and tbh, I don't see what the big hike is about them, they're the same step up from GCSE as going from KS3 was to GCSE: sure there is more work but atleast you are doing the work for subjects you enjoy? I know I sure am, I personally love A-level Maths, Physics and Design Technology. English is pretty dodgy but bah, that's gonna go next year. Anyway, I wish everyone luck in their exams to come, and lets hope results day is a happy one, mine certainly was!

I had a Biology GCSE today, it was easy

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Originally posted by vaccination
I had a Biology GCSE today, it was easy

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Originally posted by absorbation


What board?

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http://www.wellingtongrey.net/articles/archive/20...en-letter-aqa.html
In light of that blog article, I would like to purvey my pity of people doing GCSE physics.

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Originally posted by Underlord
http://www.wellingtongrey.net/articles/archive/2007-06-07--open-letter-aqa.html
In light of that blog article, I would like to purvey my pity of people doing GCSE physics.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Underlord
http://www.wellingtongrey.net/articles/archive/2007-06-07--open-letter-aqa.html
In light of that blog article, I would like to purvey my pity of people doing GCSE physics.

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I'm taking
Maths (AQA) (Paper 1 done, Paper 2 to come.)
Statistics (AQA)
English Language (OCR) (Done)
English Literature (OCR) (Done)
Physics (AQA)               |
Chemistry (AQA)            > (Separately, not Dual Award)
Biology (AQA) (Done)     |
ICT (Edexcel) (Done)
Latin (OCR) (Done)
German (AQA):

• Speaking (Done)
  
• Listening (Done)
  
• Reading
  
• Writing

Edexcel physics is very different I find, although they have changed the specification for next year, and I did find the modules 5-6 paper was asking less Physics based questions e.g. How did man X communicate his findings in 1700's?

Although there were some very factual questions that were right or wrong, no in-between .

How did History go guys?

I do OCR History, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Pretty straight forward but the majority of the specification didn't even come up. Paper 2 next week .

Eek lots of Exams there compared to my Year 11 Half Yearly exams :/ only have 4 haha, Discrete Mathematics, Computer Science, Physical Education Studies and Geography. Education system here isnt da best in da world

I think our system has some of the most exams. We take them at a number of 'Key Stages' remember. We are publicly tested from the age of 6

Results today. Post them here when you get them .

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Originally posted by absorbation
Results today. Post them here when you get them .

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what grades did everyone get then?

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Originally posted by M73A
what grades did everyone get then?

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my mates have got theirs

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Originally posted by aNILEator
NO TESTS, Less Stress, Cooler People, Doing something YOU want to do and mixing with similar people, it rules, same as 4 A Levels!!!!!!

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Got my results.

1 B, 7 C's, 3 D's and 1 E.

Science - C
Art and Design (Edexcel) - C
Citizenship Studies (OCR)- C
English (Edexcel)- D
English Litrature (Edexcel)- D
Mathematics - C
History (OCR, Germany & Medicine) - C
D&T: Resistant Materials (AQA) (aka woodwork) - B
Media Studies (AQA)- D (2 marks off a C, teacher going to get it remarked)
Physical Education(Edexcel) - E (Bleh, only shortcourse so worth half a GCSE, but teacher didn't tell me what to do so, failed )
ICT (Edexcel) - C (worth 2 GCSEs)

Main thing is I got into college (doing IT)

My citizenship teacher at my first school was damn Hot!

Sexy accent, big tits, long blonde hair and used to bend over your table to tell you off a lot

Anyway well done great that you get into college

It may be late, but I just got home :

1A*, 5A's, 4B's, 1C, 1D

Maths (Edexcel) - A
English (AQA) - B
English Literature (AQA) - B
Biology (Edexcel) - A
Chemistry (Edexcel) - A
Physics (Edexcel) - A
Geography (AQA) - B
History (OCR, Medicine & Germany) - A*
ICT (OCR) - B (Something is seriously wrong with our entire centres coursework, there is something being investigated. Got an A* in my exams and near perfect coursework results).
Drama (Edexcel) - C
Religion (Edexcel) - A (Done last year)
Statistics (AQA) - D (Done last year)

Well.. you certainly done better then me

Congrats!

Well done to everyone else. I did surprisingly well

5 A*s, 3 As, Bx4

English Literature (AQA) - A*
English Language (AQA) - A
Maths (OCR) - A *
Science ["Double award" incorporating Biology, Chemistry and Physics] (AQA) - A* A*
French (Edexcel) - A
History (Edexcel) - A
Design & Technology: Systems & Control [aka electronics] (Edexcel) - A*
ICT [it's a GNVQ, worth 4 GCSEs] (Edexcel) - Merit (equivalent to a B I think)

Practically got into Sixth Form, just have to have an "interview" today. Doing Maths, Chemistry, Physics and ICT.

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Originally posted by the andyman
Well done to everyone else. I did surprisingly well

5 A*s, 3 As, Bx4

English Literature (AQA) - A*
English Language (AQA) - A
Maths (OCR) - A *
Science ["Double award" incorporating Biology, Chemistry and Physics] (AQA) - A* A*
French (Edexcel) - A
History (Edexcel) - A
Design & Technology: Systems & Control [aka electronics] (Edexcel) - A*
ICT [it's a GNVQ, worth 4 GCSEs] (Edexcel) - Merit (equivalent to a B I think)

Practically got into Sixth Form, just have to have an "interview" today. Doing Maths, Chemistry, Physics and ICT.

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Originally posted by toddy
WTF ? any 6th form/college would be mad not to accept you with them results. interviews are normally for the lower grades, you must go to someweird school

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Congratulations All!

Only got back home yesterday, so this is my first opportunity to post results. =p Bit late compared to the rest of you...

10 x A* and 1 x A.

A was in English Literature, A* in everything else. =]

Just chosen my GCSE's, these are what im doing:
[list]
[*]English Literature
[*]English Language
[*]Maths
[*]Biology
[*]Chemistry
[*]Physics
[*]ICT
[*]FBCS( Religous Education) (Half GCSE)
[*]Geography
[*]PE - Extreme frisby or Dodgeball
[*]French
[*]Spanish
[*]Music
[/list=1]

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Originally posted by Dr4g0n
Only got back home yesterday, so this is my first opportunity to post results. =p Bit late compared to the rest of you...

10 x A* and 1 x A.

A was in English Literature, A* in everything else. =]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Vimto
These are subjects I have to do for GCSE

Maths
Science - Biology, Physics and chemistry
English - English & English literature
IT
Business studies
Humanities
PE - boxing, trampolining & gymnastics
Spanish
Technology - Product design

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Well done Vimto, your off to a great start, but I've got to tell you the only brake you get next year is Christmas .

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Originally posted by Vimto
Maths is almost done, 3 tests down (A, A and A*) and 3 courseworks (same grades). Just one more test to do next year.

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Without modules the course would be a hell of a lot less detailed. I learnt so much more during module revision rather than terminal paper revision.

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Originally posted by absorbation
Without modules the course would be a hell of a lot less detailed

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quote:

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Originally posted by toddy

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Originally posted by Vimto
Maths is almost done, 3 tests down (A, A and A*) and 3 courseworks (same grades). Just one more test to do next year.

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so many schools take the easier route now.

much harder to get a good grade, if you have two exams (cal & non-cal) for the whole subject as you've gotta remember/know the whole gcse criteria. not just 1/2 modules at a time.

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Modules is easier to revise, but I ended up revising a lot more for Science. As a result I learnt more .

quote:

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Originally posted by toddy

so many schools take the easier route now.

much harder to get a good grade, if you have two exams (cal & non-cal) for the whole subject as you've gotta remember/know the whole gcse criteria. not just 1/2 modules at a time.

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quote:

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Originally posted by absorbation
Modules is easier to revise, but I ended up revising a lot more for Science. As a result I learnt more .

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Originally posted by saralk

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Originally posted by absorbation
Modules is easier to revise, but I ended up revising a lot more for Science. As a result I learnt more .

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I bet you didn't, you remembered more, but I bet you'll forget it pretty quickly.

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I think I know more about my Sciences than any other subject, although I'm not going to remember every little detail. Linear Geography is a complete blur, I guess I only revised it a little (because I could get away with it) and as a result I know very little about it . I believe modular exams are a better alternative, people just get bitter about it because they had nasty linear exams in their days (the rest of my GCSEs were linear).

quote:

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Originally posted by absorbation
Well done Vimto, your off to a great start, but I've got to tell you the only brake you get next year is Christmas .

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