I don&#x27;t feel ready for exams and year eleven

I didn't. But I do feel similar now. Everyone knows I'll do well, everyone knows damn well I'll emerge with four As, couple of STEP papers, and trot off happily to Cambridge. Everyone except me. :confused:

However, year 11 is nothing, trust me. Your GCSEs are important, but (as long as you prepare for them correctly, and aren't terrible in any subjects) they're absolutely piss easy. A-levels are the difficult exams. Only thing is, most people don't know how to prepare for GCSEs properly, because even teachers give you stupid explanations on how to prepare for them (because, let's be honest, teachers often took their GCSEs or O-levels many many years ago and have forgotten entirely what it was like, and things have changed, and they think that if you can't remember that x = [-b ± root(b^2 - 4ac)] / 2a, there's something wrong with you :smile:

). Even if you find them difficult because you're underprepared, or badly prepared, GCSEs aren't the end of the world. There's always the possibility of resits if you really cock up, and if you don't and get a few A*s and/or As under your belt, you'll be fine.

Leaving sixth form / college sounds like it might be good for you - an assumption this may be from what you said, but I don't think you really like your friends.

In the end, things may be going quickly for you, but they're going quickly for everyone. Enjoy the time you have left and in the end, whether you want to go or not, you'll be ready to leave school and hopefully go to university.

Reply 4

OP

Thanks you two- I know I'm probably just being stupid and I should enjoy the holidays while they last. Your own aspirations are the most important; no anybody else's, but it is hard to forget others and sometimes you don't want to disappoint them by not doing as well as they expect.

Reply 5

person 34

9

I felt exactly the same before year 11. Truth is, it's a sh*t year but beause it goes so quickly it'll be over very soon. I would say just remember to keep it all real, remember to party and have fun. Don't give up life just because it's gcse year. Try not to get behind, but everyone does so that's easier said than done. And hey at least you've got loadsa cw out the way. Gcses aren't hard, teachers prepare you and depending on how you work, you will either be all organised or you will be doing revision the night before. Either way, I'm sure you'll do fine if you don't lose it. Friends are friends and your real ones will always stick by you and year 11 generally tends to be very social.

Reply 6

Dhesi

2

As long as you meet your own potential and goals what others think is irrelevant. What are your aspirations?

Reply 7

sak-y

14

I've just finished Year 11 and my GCSE's but i felt EXACTLY like you this time last year! you just think where has al the time gone and i can't believe this is actually happening and how close everything is! but trust me...when you start year 11, you kinda get into the swing of everything again and you have so much to do you don't actually really think about the exams until January time....and even then, in most subjects you have loooads of time to revise in lessons and then there's study leave as well! 8 weeks left till my GCSE's i thought i was seriously running out of time! but honestly, by the time it comes to doing your GCSE's you will feel much calmer (given that you do enough revision etc.) and after the first GCSE you do, the idea of "OH MY GOD I'M DOING A GCSE" goes away and they just seem like any other exam! the 2 weeks of exams REALLY fly by!

the waiting for the results isn't so great though! 24th august! a month 2mro! eek! :eek:

lol

Reply 8

Dhesi

2

sak-y

the waiting for the results isn't so great though! 24th august! a month 2mro! eek! :eek:

lol

I get mines august the 8th and the SQA isnt exactly helping with there ominous countdown. Look at this www.sqa.org.uk.

Reply 9

OP

generalebriety

I didn't. But I do feel similar now. Everyone knows I'll do well, everyone knows damn well I'll emerge with four As, couple of STEP papers, and trot off happily to Cambridge. Everyone except me. :confused:

However, year 11 is nothing, trust me. Your GCSEs are important, but (as long as you prepare for them correctly, and aren't terrible in any subjects) they're absolutely piss easy. A-levels are the difficult exams. Only thing is, most people don't know how to prepare for GCSEs properly, because even teachers give you stupid explanations on how to prepare for them (because, let's be honest, teachers often took their GCSEs or O-levels many many years ago and have forgotten entirely what it was like, and things have changed, and they think that if you can't remember that x = [-b ± root(b^2 - 4ac)] / 2a, there's something wrong with you :smile:

). Even if you find them difficult because you're underprepared, or badly prepared, GCSEs aren't the end of the world. There's always the possibility of resits if you really cock up, and if you don't and get a few A*s and/or As under your belt, you'll be fine.

Leaving sixth form / college sounds like it might be good for you - an assumption this may be from what you said, but I don't think you really like your friends.

In the end, things may be going quickly for you, but they're going quickly for everyone. Enjoy the time you have left and in the end, whether you want to go or not, you'll be ready to leave school and hopefully go to university.

It's interesting that you mention about friends- I do like the ones I have now, but I was in a pretty large group at the beginning of the year and now there's only two people remaining from the original group of nine. It's hard to go to school everyday and see people you used to be really close to; but then again the things that happened happened, and are probably for the best.

I know exactly what you mean about everyone telling you it's going to be fine; you're going to get x As etc. I told my form tutor when we had report reading that I really didn't think that I'd be able to get the grades they gave me for GCSE and he laughed at me. Everyone else is so confident.. but you can't help but think that it could well go wrong and then you will have disappointed everyone.

Reply 10

alispam

12

i agree about your aspirations mattering more than others, on that note does anyone feel that if you're expected to do well (by others and yourself) e.g. loads of A*s for GCSE or all As at Alevel and you achieve them you feel relieved at the fact you've got what you 'should' rather than really happy that you've achieved what you have. i.e. the joy of really good results is undermined by the fact you managed to achieve what you should. i want to do well because of fear of faliure rather than desire for success...that was badly put!

Reply 11

Anonymous

Thanks you two- I know I'm probably just being stupid and I should enjoy the holidays while they last. Your own aspirations are the most important; no anybody else's, but it is hard to forget others and sometimes you don't want to disappoint them by not doing as well as they expect.

That's true, but in the end, everyone (who is serious about their studies and has a small plan drawn up at this stage) ends up with GCSE grades they're happy with. And everyone else is too busy with their own to care about yours. :smile:

And as time goes on, teachers get less and less "YOU'D BETTER PASS CHEMISTRY GCSE OR I'LL MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL", and more and more "just do the best you can, I know what you're capable of, make sure you achieve that, and after your exam it won't matter again".

Reply 12

Anonymous

It's interesting that you mention about friends- I do like the ones I have now, but I was in a pretty large group at the beginning of the year and now there's only two people remaining from the original group of nine. It's hard to go to school everyday and see people you used to be really close to; but then again the things that happened happened, and are probably for the best.

Unfortunately, that happens to everyone.

As for the grades thing again - it's naive to expect that, once everyone has their GCSE grades, they will give a **** about yours... they won't. :p:

Strange as it is, results day is always a bit sort of chatty rather than competitive. But everyone's happy with their grades in the end.

Reply 13

OP

sak-y

I've just finished Year 11 and my GCSE's but i felt EXACTLY like you this time last year! you just think where has al the time gone and i can't believe this is actually happening and how close everything is! but trust me...when you start year 11, you kinda get into the swing of everything again and you have so much to do you don't actually really think about the exams until January time....and even then, in most subjects you have loooads of time to revise in lessons and then there's study leave as well! 8 weeks left till my GCSE's i thought i was seriously running out of time! but honestly, by the time it comes to doing your GCSE's you will feel much calmer (given that you do enough revision etc.) and after the first GCSE you do, the idea of "OH MY GOD I'M DOING A GCSE" goes away and they just seem like any other exam! the 2 weeks of exams REALLY fly by!

the waiting for the results isn't so great though! 24th august! a month 2mro! eek! :eek:

lol

Ahh thank you! :smile:

I keep saying to myself that it's probably just a continuation of year ten really, and not completely new. It sounds a big deal when you think about the exams, but essentially not much will really change I don't think. There will be the same people; mostly the same teachers and the work won't be drastically different. I just don't want it to end though- as much as I do look forward to the future, at school everything's all there for you.

Good luck with the results! :biggrin:

Reply 14

sak-y

14

alispam

i agree about your aspirations mattering more than others, on that note does anyone feel that if you're expected to do well (by others and yourself) e.g. loads of A*s for GCSE or all As at Alevel and you achieve them you feel relieved at the fact you've got what you 'should' rather than really happy that you've achieved what you have. i.e. the joy of really good results is undermined by the fact you managed to achieve what you should. i want to do well because of fear of faliure rather than desire for success...that was badly put!

i completely understand what you mean! so much pressure! you're too worried about how OTHERS will feel about you getting a B or whatever, instead of thinking about how it will affect you!

Reply 15

alispam

i agree about your aspirations mattering more than others, on that note does anyone feel that if you're expected to do well (by others and yourself) e.g. loads of A*s for GCSE or all As at Alevel and you achieve them you feel relieved at the fact you've got what you 'should' rather than really happy that you've achieved what you have. i.e. the joy of really good results is undermined by the fact you managed to achieve what you should. i want to do well because of fear of faliure rather than desire for success...that was badly put!

No, not at all. I never cared what other people think. People expect me to come out of results day with as many AS qualifications as GCSE ones. :biggrin:

Not going to happen, and although I did work my arse off for them, meh, it's not that important. What matters is that I get what I need and, to a lesser extent, what I hope for. And both of those are within fairly easy reach.

Reply 16

sak-y

14

Anonymous

I just don't want it to end though- as much as I do look forward to the future, at school everything's all there for you.

Good luck with the results! :biggrin:

You're welcome! :smile:

The last day of Year 11 is REALLY sad! get the tissues ready! :p:

Reply 17