GCSE's

[Itachi Uchiha]

Its that time of year again for another set of Year 11's in Britain to do their exams and earn their GCSE's. Still as always with important exams such as these, there are always some that people dread to do, yet alone revise. As the time draws near to the start, what is going through your mind?

I myself am in a slightly nervous state as the before meantioned dreaded exams are all in the course of two days for me. These include English literature, Maths and IT. Still, even with revision as such, doubt looms in the recesses of my mind. But moving on from me; what do you lot think of these tests?

Do you doubt? Do you feel good about them? Are you confidant about doing well? Or do you just generally want to rant about them?

[Govinda]

Its that time of year again for another set of Year 11's in England to do their exams and earn their GCSE's, while Fourth Years in Scotland sit their Standard Grades.

I remember those days. I didn't really revise for them, I should have.

Now I have a mere 2 exams. One in International Relations and one in Anthrpology. 60% of my course mark rests on each. Two hours, three mini exams.

Re. revision, I am staying away from it for the most part and glancing at it cursorally every so often. I want some dinner.

[Halie]

I haven't started mine yet, but I will be next year. I'm actually looking quite forward to it, to be honest. I'm taking Art and Performing Arts, which will both be practical for my exams. I predict I'll be really nervous for the PA exams, but not so much for the Art one.

As for English, Science and Math, I reckon I'll do shit. >.> I'll be very nervous, and will wind up not doing too well. Although, I think I might do 'okay' in my English exam. The Math will be the worst, though.

[Unknown Entity]

I haven't started mine yet, but I will be next year. I'm actually looking quite forward to it, to be honest. I'm taking Art and Performing Arts, which will both be practical for my exams. I predict I'll be really nervous for the PA exams, but not so much for the Art one.

As for English, Science and Math, I reckon I'll do shit. >.> I'll be very nervous, and will wind up not doing too well. Although, I think I might do 'okay' in my English exam. The Math will be the worst, though.

I did Art and Performing Arts (Drama)! I did the Art exam a few weeks ago, and the drama exam just over a month ago! They were pretty good... little stressful, but well worth it in the end!

I'm nervous about Maths and English, purely because I need high grade in them two to get into the college I want. I have the Maths exam tomorrow, and I haven't done mega amounts of revision... Just a few hours - its really hard to revise for Maths! Especially ALL of those formulas... pfft!

English ain't too bad, though I'm still really nervous. I'm better at the part when you have to describe something - not poems or questions on the novel we learnt (Of Mice and Men).

Stress from all these exams has made me quite ill, i know after tomorrow's Maths exam, i'll be a bit better...

Anyways, to everyone who read the above, good luck with your exams! Hope you do really well!

[winterborn86]

I done mine 5yrs ago, and messed up on em good time, i wasnt nervous cos at the time i neva gave a damn bout my education (big mistake)
so i hope all of you who are facing em soon do very well, they are more important than u think they are.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE X

[Martin]

Ha, I remember those stressful days well. Three years this summer since I sat them, in a stuffy hot overbearing exam hall. English Language, Literature, Maths, Double Awarded Science, Music, History, Double Awarded ICT and Religious Studies. It was a relief when they were over. I think we suffered from being overpressured on our account - the teachers always seemed to press hom the importance of them understandably, but for a few of us it had a negative effect.

From someone who's "been there, done that" I'll give you one piece of advice. Don't panic and take your time. Granted the exams are really close by but if you're still revising, you'll be ok, just take regular breaks and most of all see your friends. Yes you're all going through a stressful time but you'll feel more relaxed and more confident. It's not the end of the world if you don't get what you expect. Just try your best, it's all anyone can ever ask of you.

Now I've finished my Uni exams for the year. I didn't do enough revision perhaps but I feel I've done ok on them, and certainly as all of my Coursework was to a high standard I should be fine.

Finally, the very best of luck to all of you in the exam period. We all know they're tough, but we'll get through them

[Rocky]

I'm not from the Great Britain or anything, but could one of you explain to me what this GCSE thing is? I have a feeling it is a lot like our standardized tests that we take over here, but could you explain to me what all this means with the revisions and such?

[winterborn86]

They the final exams year 11s take at high skool, they can determin weva ur good enough for uni, or sumtimes 6th form, i dnt actually know wot GCSE stand s for tho lol, i neva had an interest in em. gettin bad results can effect wot type of job or uni u get into

[Aerif]

Winterborn, you have a cute YouTube video in your signature, but that really doesn't give you much of an excuse to type like that, no offense but I can barely understand you.

Basically, English/Welsh/Northern Irish GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are standard level examinations that are taken by most people in the previously mentioned countries, students usually chose around 10 or so of these courses to sit in their 9th Year of education and they study the course until their 11th Year of education when they are tested on their knowledge and are granted qualifications judging by how well they did, they provide a stepping stone to A-Levels, which are similar though only 3 are chosen and they are the grades that Universities look at for admission.

Scotland however, uses the Standard Grade system, which is similar however only 8 or so subjects are chosen and the exams are slightly more difficult to balance out the number of subjects chosen by a candidate. They then provide access to Highers (5 are chosen) which are slightly less difficult than A-Levels, these Highers can be used to grant access to University however they can also be improved on through Advanced Highers (Up to 3 can be chosen, though they are optional) which are more difficult than A-Levels and can grant access to worldwide Universities.

That was a bit of a mouthful.

Its that time of year again for another set of Year 11's in England to do their exams and earn their GCSE's, while Fourth Years in Scotland sit their Standard Grades.

Let's also not forget those who are sitting Highers! (Like me - Maths Higher tomorrow )

[Unknown Entity]

Winterborn, you have a cute YouTube video in your signature, but that really doesn't give you much of an excuse to type like that, no offense but I can barely understand you.

I understood!

I think teachers DO put too much pressure on their students to do well. I feel stupid when I forget something in revision classes because of the look the teacher will give you. Its kinda scary when they give you that look, because it makes you think you aren't worth it and that you are gonna fail. My friend come out of the Maths exam today with a BIG grin on her face. She said: "That was an EASY exam! All that f**king worring for nothing!" And it was true - it WAS really easy. But all the pressure my teacher put into her do do well and get EXCELLENT grades stayed with her through the exam. To some, thats helpful, but to others like me, having that teachers voice in your head when your head is supposed to be full of formula and last nights revision is pretty anoying.

My teacher gave my class 4 revision booklets about a month ago - each having 20-40 pages in them. She said ALL of that is stuff we should know for the exam... I made my way through one of them and feel asleep... BORING REVISION!!! I say make exams less stressful!

Let's also not forget those who are sitting Highers! (Like me - Maths Higher tomorrow )

I just came back from doing my Higher Maths paper! Haha, I think I did well considering how bad at Maths I am...

Hope you did well too!

[winterborn86]

Winterborn, you have a cute YouTube video in your signature, but that really doesn't give you much of an excuse to type like that, no offense but I can barely understand you.

Basically, English/Welsh/Northern Irish GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are standard level examinations that are taken by most people in the previously mentioned countries, students usually chose around 10 or so of these courses to sit in their 9th Year of education and they study the course until their 11th Year of education when they are tested on their knowledge and are granted qualifications judging by how well they did, they provide a stepping stone to A-Levels, which are similar though only 3 are chosen and they are the grades that Universities look at for admission.

Scotland however, uses the Standard Grade system, which is similar however only 8 or so subjects are chosen and the exams are slightly more difficult to balance out the number of subjects chosen by a candidate. They then provide access to Highers (5 are chosen) which are slightly less difficult than A-Levels, these Highers can be used to grant access to University however they can also be improved on through Advanced Highers (Up to 3 can be chosen, though they are optional) which are more difficult than A-Levels and can grant access to worldwide Universities.

That was a bit of a mouthful.



Let's also not forget those who are sitting Highers! (Like me - Maths Higher tomorrow )

lol no offence taken lol, its jus my way of makin my words shorter ive always done it, prob why i nearly failed my english exam when i was at skool, i will try anmake my writing abit clearer. soz again x