Author Topic: Exams, Uni, College, Lesson Help.. Discussion here. (Read 222880 times)

Beef · « **on:** November 27, 2005, 10:55:20 PM »

...start tomorrow for me. I'm shitting one though. I've got like 12 exams crammed into 6 days.

I know the real exams will be spread out, but it's too much pressure having mocks. The teachers are putting extra pressure on us with coursework, and tleling us that if we don't do well on these exams then we might not even be entered for the proper exams last week.

So what I want to know is, what are they like? Does it matter if you do shit? And do you think they should even take place? Tomorrow I've got Food Tech, and History. I'm pretty good with the Food exam, but I'm stuffed on History because the teacher is shite. I've been revising like fuck, but I'm still worried that I won't do well.

Any last minute tips?

Ben_ · « **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2005, 10:58:14 PM »

Just relax and make sure you read all the questions thoroughly - all the usual crap basically and finally get to bed, you need your sleep.

Rizla · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2005, 10:59:45 PM »

Be aware they always mark mock exams harshly in order to scare you in to properly revising for the real things, which are marked more generously!

Ben_ · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2005, 10:59:58 PM »

Oh yeah, take no notice of what you get, the teachers mark them very harshly to make them look better when you do better in the summer.

Beef · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2005, 11:02:11 PM »

Getting to sleep won't be easy. I always get dead stressed over exams.

I'm going to make sure I have plenty of breakfast and fruit as well, so I'm fully awake tomorrow morning. Oh and plenty of water too, please tell me that's what I'm meant to have?

Rizla · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2005, 11:03:16 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 27, 2005, 11:02:11 PM

Getting to sleep won't be easy. I always get dead stressed over exams. I'm going to make sure I have plenty of breakfast and fruit as well, so I'm fully awake tomorrow morning. Oh and plenty of water too, please tell me that's what I'm meant to have?

Big breakfast is good, not too much water though or you might have to exit half way through for a slash

Beef · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2005, 11:05:14 PM »

Good point about the water thing.

I also think that the exams last too long as well. My food one is meant to last 2 hours. I reckon that once you've finished and checked the work, you should be able to go. It would put people off I suppose.

ttnbd · « **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2005, 11:09:19 PM »

bah mock exams. Pile of crap. Wait till your real ones.

J_Bowie · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2005, 12:54:11 AM »

These exams mean jack shit mate, my nephew did his a year or so back and they made no odds to his final grades, but it obviously helps if you do well because you get money of your parents/guardians. Well i did anyway

Nice little 20 quid for me.

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:47:37 AM »

GCSE's are a doddle compared to A-levels $:-\$

Beef · « **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2005, 12:58:00 PM »

Right now, I'm a bit pissed off.

The exams before was meant to last for two hours, after 1 hour 45 minutes, the deputy head came in, and asked us to listen - we were meant to be working, but he wanted us to stop. He said that he needed to get people out for their dinner, so if you have finished then you can go. So people started moving, talking and scraping chairs along the floor. I completely lost my concentration with the teachers trying to calm people down, in the end I was the only person left in the hall believe it or not, so I gave in my paper which still had a question unanswered. I never knew what the hell was going on, because my head was all over the place. Surely he could have made people wait that extra 15 minutes? All it would have meant was people would miss 5 minutes of their lunch break? Apart from that, I thought my food exam was good. The school is also fucked up because, it was a food exam but there wasnt one food teacher in the room. It goes by the teacher you would have at that specific time, so if I was in school I would have had Science, so my science teacher came for the first hour, then my PE teacher. Surely the teacher in the hall for the two hours should be your food teacher who has taught you all year? That is fucked up that.

Rizla · « **Reply #11 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:01:31 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 12:58:00 PM

Right now, I'm a bit pissed off. The exams before was meant to last for two hours, after 1 hour 45 minutes, the deputy head came in, and asked us to listen - we were meant to be working, but he wanted us to stop. He said that he needed to get people out for their dinner, so if you have finished then you can go. So people started moving, talking and scraping chairs along the floor. I completely lost my concentration with the teachers trying to calm people down, in the end I was the only person left in the hall believe it or not, so I gave in my paper which still had a question unanswered. I never knew what the hell was going on, because my head was all over the place. Surely he could have made people wait that extra 15 minutes? All it would have meant was people would miss 5 minutes of their lunch break? Apart from that, I thought my food exam was good.

Your school sounds a complete joke. I would seek a transfer if I were you, they obviously dont really seem to care that much about those learning under them it seems going by this...

Ben S · « **Reply #12 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:02:01 PM »

Ok then. Exams are shitty ha ha ha.

The Cappuccino Kid · « **Reply #13 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:03:20 PM »

Don't worry about them mate. They're a load of shite and the teachers just say they're important to get you in the exam frame of mind for the real ones. As well, you always tend to do better in your real exams than the mocks.

Good luck anyway

Beef · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:05:36 PM »

They can't do that in the real exam though can they? Let people go 15 minutes early and fuck everyone's concentration up?

Rizla · « **Reply #15 on:** November 28, 2005, 01:07:35 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 01:05:36 PM

They can't do that in the real exam though can they? Let people go 15 minutes early and fuck everyone's concentration up?

No

Shouldnt be doing it even for mock exams. Depends what school you go to but some really dont give a fuck about those under their care and I suspect your school may be one of these in all honesty

HIF Red · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2005, 03:06:31 PM »

Quote from: Rizla on November 27, 2005, 10:59:45 PM

Be aware they always mark mock exams harshly in order to scare you in to properly revising for the real things, which are marked more generously!

This is true. I got 7% (yes 7%) in my pure maths A-level mock. Grade U=ungraded I think!!

I ended up with an E in the real thing. I was well chuffed as I'd only been to about half the lessons anyway and the teacher was a fucking arsehole who told me to give up as I was "one of the laziest students he'd ever met". I thought this was quite an accolade as he had also taught my brother.

My parents weren't too impressed as I'd been sponging off them for two years spending most of my time in the pub - especially as also I managed to get an N in chemistry.

BTW another member of this forum who will remain nameless still employed me as an accountant, though I think I may have forgotten to mention my A-level results in the interview.

Little Alex · « **Reply #17 on:** November 28, 2005, 03:16:22 PM »

Mine start Thursday, they're just to scare you so you revise more for the proper ones. At my school we get a fancy dress at the end of them.

I'd remember your french though for speaking, last time I tried to make it up on the spot and said 'I live in a banana'.

LFC on tour · « **Reply #18 on:** November 28, 2005, 04:38:49 PM »

They mean fucking bollocks mat,e just chill out and dont stress with them. Did mine last year, didnt do any revision and spent all the time the school gave me off for revising in the park with the lads playing footie or gettin pissed, got 7 Cs,1 B and a F Couldnt of given any less of a shit. Real ones came round and i did exactly the same thing, fuck all. Sat in the park,kicked a footie round and had a laugh came home with 3 Bs,5 Cs and 2 Ds. They mark down on the mocks so that you get a shock and try harder for the end of the school term Just relax and make sure you answer all the questions. You'll probably find out you finish early on most of your exams- that was the case with mine. graphics was finished in half n hour, during a 2 hour paper so i got a kip. probably accounts for the D

Just relax

Hightown Phil · « **Reply #19 on:** November 28, 2005, 04:47:10 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 01:05:36 PM

They can't do that in the real exam though can they? Let people go 15 minutes early and fuck everyone's concentration up?

Yes they can.

SMD · « **Reply #20 on:** November 28, 2005, 04:52:49 PM »

It's a mock exam for GCSEs.

They're up there with SATs in importance and difficulty. Just chill.

Brick Tamland · « **Reply #21 on:** November 28, 2005, 04:53:18 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 01:05:36 PM

They can't do that in the real exam though can they? Let people go 15 minutes early and fuck everyone's concentration up?

I once left a 2nd year Physiology exam after an hour at uni so I could run for the train to make it from Portsmouth uni to a home match against Leicester on a Wednesday night.

Heskey 1-0. Physiology 48%.

On the balance of things I think it was worth it.

LFC on tour · « **Reply #22 on:** November 28, 2005, 04:59:13 PM »

Some lad i no left his english lit exam an hour early last year to make his flight to instanbul. Probably worth it to be honest.

stevemacsteve · « **Reply #23 on:** November 28, 2005, 05:03:40 PM »

I wouldn't worry to much about them mate but obviously they're good for practice, helps you realise what the real thing is all about really. I'd much rather be in your situation! I've just been told by my Design Tech teacher that he's had enough because year 11's have caused him to start taking tablets for his blood pressure! Says he's packing it in at the end of the week and he's the only Design Tech teacher in the school. Also found out that the I've got one A level paper which lasts 3 and half hours

! Make the most of the time you have now as it only gets harder.

Beef · « **Reply #24 on:** November 28, 2005, 06:11:18 PM »

My history exam was a complete disaster. There was so much stuff that we had to remember that my mind was a total blank, I thought I was going to vomit. To make things worse the teachers walk around having little conversations, and looking over your shoulder. The school's system is pretty fucked up like, but it's a bit late to do anything about it now. It just pisses me off, but I'll be having words with my subject teachers after the mocks anyway.

courty61 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 28, 2005, 07:00:09 PM »

I did shit all work for my mocks! My thinking was that if i do no work i know what i could get with NO revision! So with revision they should go up!

They didn't.

Rizla · « **Reply #26 on:** November 28, 2005, 07:07:10 PM »

3 bits of advice both to shaun and anyone else doing exams from someone who has been doing them for the past 10 years

1. If you finish early, you are not going to do especially well unless you are doing a science or maths subject and you are Stephen Hawking or something. Exams are the length of time they are for a reason, and especially if you are doing an arts subject, you must use all the time allowed and put in as much detail you can remember in the appropriate technical style for that particular paper then you will do well. Also read the fucking questions on the paper! [goes without saying but some still forget to do this

]

2. Some schools are quite blase about their pupils, especially I have to say if they are state schools in working class areas where there is a distinct mentality among many pupils and parents that 'Education is for puffs' [I imagine there is a fair number of schools like that in Liverpool

] However the reality is quite the opposite, it's very important especially in the service driven industries that dominate the British economy these days. You have to give yourself the best chance of succeeding and if you think the schoolteachers are slacking in their duties then complain! They wont want OFSTED on their case and would try and look in to the problems

3. There is no real need to stress unduly over the mock exams but...it doesnt half help your confidence for the real things if you do at least reasonably well...also bear in mind that if you get ill or have an accident, they may use those grades as a guide to any marks given for exams you may miss as a result

Hope that all helps

Ashfordian · « **Reply #27 on:** November 28, 2005, 07:37:25 PM »

they mark them lower so you get a kick up the ass and work harder.

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #28 on:** November 28, 2005, 08:49:00 PM »

Science paper 2 couldn't be bothered explaining the evolution crap because didn't go over it and didn't know what to write about it...so instead wrote about why i thought it was crap...was a 8 mark question...passed with a B

Indi · « **Reply #29 on:** November 28, 2005, 08:58:01 PM »

I wouldn't worry about results from mocks. I got 17% last year in an A-level biology module(lowest in year). When i got my real results I got 83/90 (joint top in year.) + they usually make it more strictly so to scare you into revising.

Beef · « **Reply #30 on:** November 28, 2005, 09:49:00 PM »

OK, got another question for you. I'm predicted C's at the moment, but here is what I think I'll get.

Maths - B
English - B
Science - U/U
IT - A*/A*
Food Tech - C
French - D or C
History - F or E
RE - D or C
Statistics - C

Basically, to go to college I need 5 GCSE's. How hard is that to acheive? I may have missed something off that list, but I don't know.

courty61 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 28, 2005, 09:56:39 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 09:49:00 PM

OK, got another question for you. I'm predicted C's at the moment, but here is what I think I'll get.

Maths - B
English - B
Science - U/U
IT - A*/A*
Food Tech - C
French - D or C
History - F or E
RE - D or C
Statistics - C

Basically, to go to college I need 5 GCSE's. How hard is that to acheive? I may have missed something off that list, but I don't know.

is that 5 GCSE's any grade A-E? or A-C?

Beef · « **Reply #32 on:** November 28, 2005, 09:58:22 PM »

A-C to get into college, or so I've been told.

courty61 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:01:46 PM »

Well if your predcited those grades then all I could say would be to revise a lot on the ones that you are on a D to bump them up to a C. Thats what I would do, of course working on the ones which you are confident in- like Maths and English in your case. In fact Maths and English are very important to get a C- but it looks like you'll be fine with that, so not much to worry bout really!

LFCMunkee · « **Reply #34 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:03:30 PM »

Shaun you're stressing tooooooo much!!! They're GCSE's any idiot can pass them! They're so easy you might as well not bother!

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 09:49:00 PM

I need 5 GCSE's. How hard is that to acheive?

Not hard AT ALL!!!

You'd have to have the IQ of a boiled peanut not to get the 5 GCSE's!

Beef · « **Reply #35 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:08:45 PM »

Some more proof of how shitty my school is right, we're also meant to be studying poetry as part of an English exam. So we've been using the AQA Anthology, and we had to write notes in it. I'd done over 20 poems in there, one day I come in, my book and about 5 other people's books have been torn to threads and thrown all over the class, the teacher then says he'll lock them away in future, I have to write all the notes out again... then he goes off sick, and the only person with a key to the cupboard in his room is the teacher himself, so we've got no Anthology to revise from so that's another mock exam fucked up.

Beef · « **Reply #36 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:54:03 PM »

How many colleges would accept you with grade D's though? Even if you had a couple of C's under your belt?

LFC on tour · « **Reply #37 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:59:34 PM »

Quote from: Shaun - Beef™ on November 28, 2005, 10:54:03 PM

How many colleges would accept you with grade D's though? Even if you had a couple of C's under your belt?

Not really sure about that, you'd probably have to re-sit. im preety sure 5 C's is the minimum, some shittier colleges may take lesser but believe me mate 5 C's is easy. 2 in Science- which is common knowledge and revising a shitload of formulas,maths and english should be Cs minimum which means you only have to a C in one other subject. youll pass easily, just forget about the whole thing mate its a load of stress over nothing take the revision time to do somethinf un, smoke a bong or something enjoy it while you can

AJ · « **Reply #38 on:** November 28, 2005, 11:00:02 PM »

I passed all of my GCSEs without any revision. Get your head down, revise and you'll do it easily.

Beef · « **Reply #39 on:** November 28, 2005, 11:02:00 PM »

No way will I pass Science. I revised like fuck for an end of unit test, got a G.

I was fucking fuming. But the coursework also plays a big part in the final grade as well, and I'm OK in most of my courseworks.