#GCSE Exams

[huh-j]

“I can’t, I have to study~”

~Rory Gilmore

- Probably my most used excuse this year..

[adhdblues]

I went many years not realising that something was wrong with me.

Many years of thinking that how I feel and how I process things was normal. Everyone experiences similar things, is what I thought.

School was okay. I ended up with good grades in the end - A, A, B for A-levels.

But I didn’t realise that I was struggling to understand textbook language. I didn’t know that comprehension of that type of text could be a learning disability. I just thought I wasn’t good enough.

I never really did any work in class. I was actively involved in discussions. Always had an idea to share, and my teachers seemed to really enjoy those discussions. But putting them on paper was fucking hard.

And the research never really got any deeper than the ‘contents’ page and half of the ‘introduction’ of a book. I had piles and piles of books to look through, they all intrigued me. But they just sat there, in a pile, looking cute.

They sat there as the guilt (of not reading through them) weighed on me more as deadlines got closer.

If we had to take notes in class, I wasn’t able to focus. Notes were mandatory, as per my teachers’ expectations - that’s the only way they’d know whether we are concentrating or not. But, I would leave the classroom feeling like I didn’t learn anything that day, because it was all too fast.

Now I know why.

I knew I was smart (sometimes I truly believed that), and I knew I could understand everything that was communicated to me verbally. But the classroom setting just wasn’t right.

I never thought that I’d be one to have ADHD, or that disability they called dyslexia. It felt so foreign, so out of reach - I shouldn’t even consider it because I don’t need the help, is what I thought.

I needed that help.

I never thought I deserved extra time during exams - even though I never fucking finished my papers. No matter how fast I tried to get through the questions, I always had 3 or 4 or 5 pages left once the time was up.

I was actually never told about such things existing, I didn’t know what ‘accommodations’ were. Not until I saw a handful of classmates sitting in a separate room, taking the exams at a different time to us. But still, no one really talked about it.

I just wish that my school, one of the ‘best British schools in the country’, would take learning disabilities more seriously.

I wish they had taken the time to educate us about such things, instead of telling us off for the eyeliner or nail polish we wore.

Instead of giving us detention for wearing pants tighter than their liking.

Or the assemblies they forced us to sit through, where they would bring in alumni to talk about all the amazing things they had achieved since they left school.

If only I had been told about what learning disabilities were:

- I would have struggled less in GCSE.

- I wouldn’t have had those multiple breakdowns because I thought I was stupid.

- I wouldn’t have thought that I wasn’t good enough.

I was always so intrigued by learning new things. But the classroom setting just wasn’t right. The teachers never came to me to ask why I’m struggling, they came to me to tell me I wasn’t good enough.

My biology teacher said she’d be surprised if I get a C. Out loud. In front of the whole class. As she gave out our mock exam results.

I got an A in biology when the real exam came around. Because I studied my ass off. At home. In my own space.

She did nothing to help me.

My math teacher told the whole class that I got the lowest score in my mock exam. I wasn’t there, but my classmates told me. It was embarrassing. I fucking cried. But now that I look back, it’s because I couldn’t understand textbook language at the speed they wanted me to.

I got an A in that too, when the exam actually mattered.

I never really cared much for mock exams. They didn’t mean anything towards my final grades, or my future. I couldn’t care less and they didn’t deserve the stress I’d have to go through.

I just knew I would study for the real exams. I knew I could pull all-nighters and study better under pressure.

Now I know why.

I would wonder why it was so hard for me to keep up with deadlines. I would think that maybe I just don’t care enough. But I kind of did, because I enjoyed learning. I enjoyed discussing and sharing ideas.

But the school system just wasn’t right.

I look back and wonder what it would have been like if I got the extra help that I needed. If I knew I was dyslexic, maybe my English teacher wouldn’t always make me read out loud to the class “to help with my reading skills”.

That was torture for me and everyone else involved - (I think she enjoyed seeing students struggle though).

I remember I specifically went and asked her to stop making me read out loud. Because I felt ashamed of all the long pauses, when I couldn’t find the line I was on. Or for saying the wrong thing, or pronouncing the words wrong. I was ashamed that everyone had to listen to me struggle, because I thought I was wasting their time.

She asked me to read to the class, that same day.

[poppletonink]

Resources For People Studying 'Macbeth'

Videos

Mr Bruff's Analysis Videos

Shakespeare In Seven Minutes: Macbeth Summary

Last Minute Macbeth Revision

Macbeth Contextual Analysis

Top 12 Most Important Macbeth Quotes

Articles

Plot Summary

Characters

Themes

Form, Structure and Language

Dramatisation

Sample Exam Question

Podcast Episodes

Act 1: Scenes 1 and 2

Act 1: Scene 3

Act 1: Scenes 4 and 5

Act 1: Scenes 6 and 7

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5: Scenes 1-3

Act 5: Scenes 4-9

Character Analysis: Lady Macbeth

Character Analysis: Macduff

Character Analysis: King Duncan

Character Analysis: The Witches

Character Analysis: Banquo

Pathetic Fallacy and Symbolism

Structure, Meter and Dramatic Irony

Themes: Bravery

Themes: Power and Ambition

Themes: Violence

Themes: Choice (Fate vs Free Will)

Themes: Supernatural

Themes: Masculinity

Themes: Armour, Kingship and Natural Order

Themes: Appearances and Deception

Themes: Morality

Themes/Motifs: Women, Children and Sleep

Themes/Motifs: Madness and Blood

[milkywaiiiss]

english study sessions over the week 🫶

[iheartmoons]

my friend just said tonight is evil christmas eve. feeling the stress and nerves atm. how are all the british kids doing?

[lightningmonarchda3]

i learned that i can write "deadass. gay." on my calculator during my biology exam today.

[wereoz]

I HAVE MY FIRST ART EXAM IN 10 MINUTES!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrpoison]

I heard that if just one person dies in the exam room everybody passes.

I volunteer.

tomorrow you all pass.

[kindofcurly]

Not me actually getting into the sixth form I wanted.

I will be dead in the next year.

I'm studying chemistry, biology and psychology 🥰

[sub-at-omicsteminist]

Just want to say Good luck to the classes of 2023 starting their GCSEs this Monday!!

It’s been a weird few years and no one seems to be talking about how covid still massively impacted your learning but you all persevered and before you know it it will all be over.

It’s a stressful time so please make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating and drinking enough water, you need to look after your brain 💙

If you need anyone to talk to/vent to I’m happy to listen and if you need any last minute support with maths or physics just ask :)

[mrblazeflappybird]

I have my biology gcse exam tomorrow so imma go revise, please send help and maybe a miracle and see you all tomorrow

also if anyone has any tips or tricks send pronto i might fail ;-;

[kevin-pls-come-over-for-gay-sex]

aight results time!!

maths: 5

science: 5-5

history: 7

english lang: 7

english lit: 8

religious studies: 8

sociology: 8

[propagated-fern]

08 Apr 23 but technically 09 Apr 23 because it's 00:22

🎧 - Hugh Laurie - The Best Songs Of Hugh Laurie 2022 [Playlist ] by Celtic Music

Not too bad of a day. I did a good amount of work, read, baked, and wore a nice outfit (the highlight being the bright, warm yellow socks 🌼 when everything else I'm wearing is black and white). I'm also starting to love candles🕯a lot. And I got more tea.

To Do technically today:

Finish IT hw

Finish reading 📚 Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Decide on the pictures/media 🖍 to use for Art hw

Plan 🗒 revision for this week

[poppletonink]

Resources For People Studying 'An Inspector Calls'

Videos:

Mr Bruff's Analysis Videos

An Inspector Calls in 5 Minutes

Articles:

Plot Summary

Characters

Themes

Form, Structure and Language

Dramatization

Sample Exam Question

Podcast Episodes:

Act 1

Act 1 Key Quotes

Act 2

Act 2 Key Quotes

Act 3

Act 3 Key Quotes

Structure and Chronology

Setting, Lighting and Dramatic Irony

Character Analysis: Sheila

Sheila Key Quotes

Character Analysis: The Inspector

Character Analysis: Mr Birling

Mr Birling Key Quotes

Character Analysis: Eva Smith

Character Analysis: Mrs Birling

Mrs Birling Key Quotes

Character Analysis: Gerald Croft

Gerald Key Quotes

Character Analysis: Eric

Eric Key Quotes

Mr Birling and Pride

Themes: Class

Themes: Responsibility

Themes: Gender

Attitudes To Women

Blame and Responsibility

Socialism VS Capitalism

Abuse of Power and Corruption

Social Class and Inequality

[milkywaiiiss]

my life in exam szn so far!! - (feat. my dog) 🐕 🕯️📚

[necromancers-incorporated]

English teachers will really make you read a book that forces you to completely change your perspective on humanity and then just expect you to go on like it was nothing