Most pupils and their parents take mock exams incredibly seriously. After all, the exams, normally arranged by the child's school, are designed to replicate important tests before pupils are faced with the real deal. As such, they can helpfully indicate how the child might fare, and if they are on track to achieve their goals or need more help.
When the latter is the case, parents sometimes turn to tutors in the hope of boosting the pupil's grade. Whatever the reason the child is struggling - maybe they missed lessons due to illness or just need some extra guidance - tuition can prove very helpful for those who can access the privilege.
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But it can also prove very costly. One mum who knows this only too well has ended up forking out £700 a month on tuition for her son, ahead of his GCSE exams.
The distressed mum, who claims her child is currently in year 11 at school, opted to hire tutors "for every single subject" following his GCSE mock exams. And she says she is "having to pay" the cost after seeing the results he attained at his "well below average school".
Posting anonymously to a parenting advice forum, she wrote: "Has anyone got a son/daughter in Year 11 preparing for GCSE exams next year and hired a tutor? My son attends a well below average school and I’m having to pay £700 a month on tutors in every single subject because he got 2s, 3s and a couple of 4sin his mock exams. I'm so worried for him."
Under the current numerical system, GCSEs at grade 4 are considered a "standard pass", similar to a C under the previous system. Meanwhile, 3s and 2s are the equivalent of D or high F / low E grades.
Fortunately, fellow parents were quick to offer advice, sharing useful tips but also reassuring the mum academic success is not the only route to success.
One mum who said her daughter is in a similar position, except that they "can't afford" private tuition, advised: "My daughter is in Year 11, her Year 10 mock results were terrible too. Her teachers have assured me that this isn’t unusual and most usually turn it around."
Another parent recommended buying revision books as a a cheaper alternative, revealing they had recently paid "£60 for a few bundles."
And someone else claimed: "Schools routinely mark mocks harshly, it means those who are cruising through doing the minimum buck their ideas up. It doesn't mean your son is bad at those subjects."
She added: "I'd be wary of making a fuss and putting pressure on him. Speak to the teachers first and see what they say, GCSE's aren't the be all and end all."
Highlighting a similar point, a fellow parent wrote: "In reality some children's brains don't work in a way that they can remember and regurgitate information especially if it is something they are really not interested in. All kids have their strengths and weaknesses."
And parents reassured her not to worry if results day does not go as her son might hope, sharing their children's own varied success stories.
One such comment read: "One of mine left school with 2 functional skills (maths and English), he's 19 now and working as a lorry driver and he's loving his job. Having no GCSE's hasn't held him back at all. We can guarantee your son will do better than that but it doesn't write you off if you don't."
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