Collaborative Post
Exams – they’re a necessary evil, aren’t they? I don’t know about you but I remember the dread I felt whenever I had one. The thought that this was the culmination of two years of studying and no matter how much I had revised, it all came down to what questions were in the paper when I turned it over. I must have been a glutton for punishment though as I carried on and did A-Levels too!
The wait for results day can also be a worry – the feeling in your pit of your stomach that never quite goes away. But there are some reasons why you or your child shouldn’t feel disheartened if they don’t get the GCSE exam results they want. Their feelings are completely valid and they deserve some credit for how well they are all dealing with these unprecedented circumstances.
This year’s pandemic has caused a lot of stress and worry to GCSE students. Many have had to rely on their mock results to ascertain their final grade and this has been devastating for some who had put the time and effort in to improve between taking those and the real exams – and who would have finished with a better grade. Teachers will, of course, be grading on both the mock results and how far they think their students have come since but there is still a worry from many that their result won’t be what they hoped it to be.
So why shouldn’t you or your child feel disheartened?
For one, this year’s circumstances are completely out of everyone’s control and we have all had to adapt and adjust to a new way of life. This includes having to work out different ways of grading our GCSE students instead of them taking their exams.
Another reason is that there will be the opportunity to resit the exams where the grades weren’t what your child wanted. If this sounds like something you or your child may want to do, find a college offering GCSE resits to help them achieve the grade they want.
Their hard work isn’t wasted either – the skills they have honed and the knowledge they now have is all because of the hard work they did in the run up to their examinations. Even though they didn’t get the chance to sit the exams, they should still be proud of all the work they’ve done in the two years running up to test time.
Finally, it is important to remember grades don’t define a person. They may be able to help you or your child pursue a subject they really enjoy, they may help them to land a job they have always wanted to do but they don’t define the person themselves. If the grades aren’t what was expected, things can always be done to improve these or adjustments can be made to accommodate the circumstances.
Whilst it may feel like a sad end to two years of studying, it is important to remember it is just the beginning of the rest of your life.
I remember the nerves at getting my own GSCE results. Thankfully they were good. I can’t believe my eldest will be starting GCSE’s next year!!
We are waiting for A level results this week and I am so nervous for my son.
I think for GCSE’s and A Levels which weren’t taken it can go both ways. Some kids will benefit from mock results, but others who had worked so hard may be disappointed. I think I would have been a little disappointed had it happened to me x
When i was at school i was worried about exams etc, but this was partly because i hadn’t put as much effort into course work as i should have, i didn’t getgrades near what i should have got, but as years have gone by its not been the end of the world, and kids should remember its not the end of the world, try your hardest etc.
I can’t imagine the thoughts that must be going through those who are sitting for their exams this year with all that has happened. You post has put things into perspective and reminds people that grades alone does not define a person.
It’s so touhg at the moment and I’m hearing so much about things like downgrading? It’ s a tough time for kids right now.
This is something that I am seeing on my Facebook feed all the time, unfortunately due to illness my Daughter wasn’t put in for exams but have seen how many other children have had tears over this
I feel sorry for kids this year waiting for results. People need to near in mind that it may seem like the end of the world if they don’t get the results they want and of course they can appeal but sometimes they may have not got the grade anyway. Grades alone are not the be all and end all, there are other options and apprenticeships are one we shouldn’t overlook too. Every child goes to uni these days and it’s not the best environment for everyone and for every job. My son has a degree and can’t get a job at the moment.
Yes you are so right here and I do think many students forget that they do have an opportunity to resit if need be x
Oh I remember how nervous I was about getting my results, though that was years ago. I can’t imagine what it must have been like this year with everything else that is going on.
I can’t imagine how the children who were finishing this year would feel, such weird times and an abrupt end to school! xo
I remember working so hard for my GCSE’s and A levels, I can’t imagine how students are feeling waiting for their grades this summer.
It’s such a difficult time. I was talking to my cousin about this that so many people are upset as mocks for a lot of people aren’t taken seriously as they cram afterwards for the real exams