Mark_G
Challenge Tour Pro
Surely 14 is too young isnt it, or am I just showing my age, is it normal for youngsters to do exams so early?
My 14 year old daughters doing one of her GCSE exams tomorrow
- Thread starter Mark_G
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NWJocko
Tour Winner
Not sure how GCSE's work as I was in Scotland.
Think Standard Grades were done when I was 15, then highers at 16 and 17.
Think Standard Grades were done when I was 15, then highers at 16 and 17.
DappaDonDave
Journeyman Pro
Yes, my sister did higher science and already had her gcse at 15. Think her first test was year 9 or beginning or 10
Mungoscorner
Journeyman Pro
Most GCSE'S are now done in modules rather than one exam at the end of school.My eldest daughter is 14 (almost 15) and did her first maths GCSE module in June last year.She has a Chemistry exam on January 18th and a Physics exam 2 days later.
Mark_G
Challenge Tour Pro
They grow up way too fast
AllyLodge
Head Pro
No.
I'm 15 and at may last year I had already done 8 gcse exams :cheers:
-Ally
I'm 15 and at may last year I had already done 8 gcse exams :cheers:
-Ally
Yer Maw
Head Pro
At this time of year it will be their prelim exams. Or mock exams for England so good practise for the real thing in May-June.
Yep, well at least now it seems to be normal. Half my year at school were 14 when we took our 1st science modules… needless to say, about 5% got a mark that they couldn't improve on, the rest resat them! My marks were quite interesting… 1st exam was 20% lower than my 3rd… not really a difference in difficulty as science was my thing, just the nerves got to me I think!
It is a scary prospect, I was very nervous and I was good at exams! But, it has to happen, and it is better to get it out of the way early, knowing you can always improve later… This isn't a great system, but it's main merit is avoiding the stress of having everything at once. Which can be real tough for some kids.
Speaking of exams though… I have got one too tomorrow, so I really shouldn't be on here…!!
Best of luck though for tomorrow!
johnboywalton
Head Pro
Yes, unlike our day, they seem to push the kids earlier, my daughter is 14 and already she has taken her geography and science GCSE and she takes her maths in Feb.
Back in the good old days, I took my English Language O level at 14 and passed. Did an advanced O Level (basically an intermediate exam between the O and A level) in English literature the following year. If you are good enough then you are old enough although I do have an issue with these parents that seem to want their gifted kids to pass everything by the time they are eleven or twelve and get a place in university. Let them have a life.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
As per homer, sat my maths o level aged 14, no worries. If you can do it, do it and move on.
Sadly maths was a different lettle of fish and I was was a real 28 handicapper at that. Finally got a CSE grade 1 but only because I averaged around 96% in the assessments throughout the year so basicaly just had to spell my name correctly on the exam paper to pass.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Only a whisker older than Murph and I went to a "good" Grammar School - don't recall anyone taking exams early, certainly not at 14...
But then maybe we were all thick..
But then maybe we were all thick..
SwingSlow
Head Pro
Depends on the school and subject. One of my (twin) daughters completed her ICT GCSE last year in year 9 (3rd Form in old money). They have both been taking elements of their GCSEs since September through controlled assessments - just turned 15 in December. In my day all O levels were tested through single exams at the end of the academic year - did Maths, English and French at the end of 4th Form and the rest at the end of the 5th Form. The pressure is relentless these days.
Richie13
Challenge Tour Pro
my best mates daughter taking a maths gcse, she only started y7 in september!
need_my_wedge
Has Now Found His Wedgie
Was just talking last night about my 11 year old taking his O level Japanese in the next 2 years. He's bilingual and already way past the level required, but the earliest he can take it is 2 years time.
I've seen people take exams early since I was at school - too long ago now, if they are ready, they are ready.
I've seen people take exams early since I was at school - too long ago now, if they are ready, they are ready.
Mr_T
Challenge Tour Pro
Nope, its not too early, I did my first gcse at 13 and I think it's a far better way of doing it, I turned 15 in the summer and by that time I had already sat 7 gcse exams. I've now sat 9. Trust me it's much better to do them early as you want to try and minimise the amount of exams you're taking in the summer. The only thing I don't like are the controlled assessments, they are so relentless, and the variation in control is astonishing, it's to stop cheating but as far as I'm aware it hasn't made a difference because I know a lot of people who have cheated in some form in them.
Mark_G
Challenge Tour Pro
Well all went well, so on to the next one, didnt realise she was getting so grown up lol.
I think the core difference is the GCSE seems a lot more course orientated (correct me if I'm wrong - I was an O level guy and GCSE's were due int he year after I took my exams) and the old O level was a one off chance pass or fail making it slightly redundant whether you actually studied hard in lessons or just crammed
Mr_T
Challenge Tour Pro
There's definitely some truth in that, you can do great in all your exams but the controlled assessments mean you can't afford to slack off, and doing badly in one can be the difference between a grade, I think this is partly why we get 10 weeks off, obviously we've finished the courses but also because you have to put so much effort in over the whole year that we'd burn out if we have to come back. Although there would b more pressure in the summer I would prefer to base it all on exams at the end, that way you could pace yourself to peak at the right time whereas at the moment I feel like its rather relentless
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