#How performance in Class 11 exams

[sagarrachnagrp]

How performance in Class 11 exams set the tone for excellence in Class 12 board exams

As we often hear how class 12 board exams decide the fate of the students and all the hype around the board exams makes us overlook the fact that class 11 exams are the base that sets the tone for the brilliance in CBSE class 12 board exams. Therefore today we will discuss how students can perform better in class 11 exams and lay down a strong foundation to score higher marks in class 12 exams.

[atlasdoe]

anything on alexander stebbins plsss 🙏 i feel like he isn’t talked abt enough

AHHHHH ALEXANDER STEBBING MY DARLINGGGGGGGGGGG

for anyone who doesn't know, Stebbins is a cannon character who was seen during the marauders owl exam in Snapes worst memory. He's told off my Flitwick for not immediately putting his pencil down at the end of the exam

HOW IS THIS GUY SO UNDERRATED???? ESPECIALLY SINCE HE WAS CANONICALLY IN THE MARAUDERS YEAR AT SCHOOL

anywayssssss as for my own hcs on him I see him as a Ravenclaw, not only because refusing to stop writing after an exam feels very much like a Ravenclaw thing to do but also because Flitwick knew to keep an eye on him

I hc Alexander to be sort of like Hermione in a sense that he's a Muggleborn that discovered the wizarding world and wanted to know everything

During primary school he was at the top of his class and one of the smartest kids so it was really intimidating for him to now be thrown into a world where he's 11 years behind his average peer. So he got every book imaginable and by the time he got to Hogwarts knew more about the wizarding world then most of his classmates.

However this definitely made him a target for purists, especially when he became a prefect during his fifth year.

Bruce Mulciber, Edmund Avery and Juliette Wilkes thought that it was a crime that a muggleborn was chosen as prefect over a smart and well behavioured pureblood like Kingsley Shacklebolt (who was nothing but happy for Alexander. Mulciber, Avery and Wilkes were just using him as their scapegoat) so during that year they attacked him using dark magic during his prefect rounds and kept doing so until he backed down

Unfortunately things only got worst for Alexander as I hc that the summer before his seventh year he was killed by Death Eaters when they performed an attacked on the block of flats that he and his family lived in.

Alexander was the first death that his classmates experience when someone their age had been murdered by the war

i made another post on alexander here with a few more headcanons on him if you're interested :)

(also i think he and Hestia Jones had a rivals to lovers arc but they never became lovers because Alexander died before either of them could confess their feelings)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASK <3

[sorakazeno]

Sailor Stars Episode 176 Concept Script

Finally another concept script from the Stars season! This one features Seiya too.

The title of the series was finally determined but there is still no cover art.

Tentative tile is "Conditions for Idols".

Title was later changed to "Fighter's Secret Identity: The Shocking Super Transformation".

No art on the back cover.

Seiya and Taiki was listed on the first page. Section under their names listed them as the idol group, Three Lights. One the next page it lists the Starlights separately. I find this all very interesting. No cast are listed for any of the Starlights/Three Lights.

Page 1. The director tells Seiya if can't do any better he will never have the lead role in the musical. This reminded me of episode 194 with the famous phrase of "Am I not good enough?"

Page 2. Seiya feels singled out and is angry. Next scene is inside the classroom. The girls are taking the exam. Usagi is trying to work on her exam too.

In the anime, the girls not shown in the episode here at all. Usagi is chewing on her pencil and then hears a frustrated Seiya behind her. Seiya has a flash back of the conversation.

The bell rings and the teacher wants to collect the exam. Usagi's answer sheet is empty. Seiya yells out and Usagi asks him what is wrong. Next scene, Usagi and Minako vow to retake the exam together.

In the anime, Seiya slams his hand on his desk and yells "damn it" before resting his elbows on the desk. Yaten looks amused at Seiya's struggle as the bell rings for class. Similar scene with Minako and Usagi but it takes place in front of the school not by where their lockers are for shoes.

Page 4. Usagi and Minako are worried about repeating the year. Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki appear out of the school. Seiya claims to be depressed. Usagi comments on his test score. Yaten mentions the musical Seiya is struggling with. Minako is all excited about a musical.

In the anime, Seiya appears telling Yaten and Taiki its like they don't care and some friends they are. Pretty much the same.

Page 5. Minako explains what a musical is to Usagi. She compared it to memorizing three things at once. Seiya says it would be easier if all he had to do is memorize things and his face is slightly sad. Everyone looks at his test score and Usagi comments on it. He yells at them.

In the anime, when Seiya discussed if only he had to memorize things he looks more like he's blushing than sad. The rest is the same.

Page 6. Rei appears out of nowhere inviting the Three Lights to join them for a study session since they all studied together to pass the entrance exams. Minako whispers to Rei she didn't have to take an exam and Rei steps on her foot.

In the anime, Rei also included a creepy laugh here. I would run away too if I was the Three Lights.

Page 9. The Three Lights are on break and the girls are present. Usagi and Rei bicker among themselves. Director shows up.

Anime is pretty much the same here.

Page 11. Director talks down to Seiya about his bad acting and complains about his bad acting. Rei recognizes the Director as Sister Angela. She puts her glasses back on. Seiya asks Rei she knows the Director. Rei knows her from her school. Director tries to deny is and asks Rei how she knows him. Rei says they are friends.

In the anime, the Director complains more about the girls being here than Seiya's acting and accused Seiya on being a pop star to be fawned on by girls. Rei recognizes the Director as Sister Angela. Taiki and Yaten slowly repeat Sister Angela. Cuts to Sailor Iron Mouse.

Page 14. Seiya and Usagi go to Rei's school. Rei is also there. (Which makes a lot more sense then what we saw in the anime.) Seiya talks with the Director and she finally tells him what's wrong. In summary, she wants the same passion and message from his performance during a Three Lights concert to the musical.

Very similar to the anime.

Page 17. Usagi and Seiya are talking at school. Usagi is confused he is still going to practice after the things the Director said to him. She thinks he's a masochist. Seiya tells her she doesn't understand. They switch out their shoes. Seiya asks Usagi if she has a boyfriend and she tells him he is over seas. He comments he has a chance and Usagi confused.

In the anime, Seiya and Usagi was having this conversation leaving Rei's school. Rest of the scene is the same.

Page 18. Usagi reminds him about the make up exam tomorrow. Next scene. Seiya shows up for practice and the Director asks him how studying is going. He tells her he can do two things at once. She warns him to not act half heartedly or she'll drop him.

In the anime, the Director is napping and Seiya wakes her up when he boasts he is ready for practice. (The outfit kills me every time.) Line was chanced to he's not satisficed unless he gives it his all in everything he does. Similar to what she told him earlier at the school. She threatens to drop him from the lead and Seiya challenges her to find someone to outshine him. They both laugh.

Page 22. Sailor Director appears and Sailor Iron Mouse leaves. Seiya tries to figure out what to do. Sailor Director attacks him.

In the anime, as she is leaving, Sailor Iron Mouse tells Seiya not to look so scary since it ruins his handsome face. The rest is the same.

Page 23. A transformation item appears in Seiya's hand and there is a transformation shout. There is dazzling light and Seiya transforms into Sailor Star Fighter. Fighter thinks to herself it is all she can do until they find that one person. She attacks. She is about to destroy Sailor Director and asks for forgiveness until Sailor Moon shows up to stop her asking if she has a grudge again the phage.

Clearly, they didn't know how to handle Seiya's transformation or phrase at this time.

In the anime, we never see a hand held transformation anime until Seiya tries to confess to Usagi at her house he is a Starlight. The rest is pretty much the same.

Page 24. Same as the anime. Fighter yells at Mars and Moon that they don't know what they had endured abandoned their home and the sorrow they have experienced. Sailor Moon is trying to understand. Fighter is about to attack again to stop Sailor Director and Mars pointing at flaming arrow at the Starlight.

Page 25. The same. Sailor Moon saves Sailor Director and Fighter hopes they are not enemies.

Page 26. Minako and Usagi's make up scores are revealed! Usagi had 60 and Minako had 61. Both are safe scores so they can relax. This conversation takes place at the school gate. Amie reminds them the end of the term is coming up. Makoto asks where Seiya is. Taiki says he's be out when he's ready. Seiya appears with his shoulders slumped staring at his paper. Usagi asks about his test score and Rei asks if it was no good.

In the anime, totally different! We only see Usagi and Minako shocked at Seiya's test score. None of the others are present.

Page 27. Seiya tells them to look at his test with 98 points. Minako and Usagi are shocked. Seiya comments he can di when he needs to. He is going to do his best in the musical too. He asks for everyone to support them. The surrounding students cheer as well as Rei and the other girls. Seiya looks up the sky hoping the message will reach everyone.

Similar to the anime but only Usagi and Minako are present. No is cheering him on to do his best for the musical.

[rjjameshiii]

RJ's Platinum Collection #62: Persona 4 Golden

Achieved on 3/3/2025 at 11:42 PM

I always had known of the Persona series, but I never actually played it. And then one day, I decided to give it a try. So I bought a Persona game, and started playing it, and I became hooked. I became obsessed. It was one of the most fun video game experiences I ever had, and I was determined to get the Platinum for it.

That game.......was Persona 5.

Yeah, I actually played Persona 5 up until the boss of the second dungeon, but then I had a catastrophic system glitch and lost my save file. I was very sad and annoyed, so I decided to take a break from Persona 5 and try something else.

That something else ended up being Persona 4 Golden. And if I thought I had loved Persona 5, I was not prepared for how much I would end up adoring Persona 4.

As soon as I began playing Persona 4, I wondered to myself "How did I miss this gem for so long?". I immediately fell in love with the game and the characters. And I also loved how different the plot was from Persona 5, and was excited to join these small town teenagers in discovering the truth behind a series of murders related to the strange world inside the TV's.

I now know that the Persona 4 protagonist has the canon name Yu Narukami, but at the time of my first playthrough, I gave him the name Rin Yamanouchi. I played the game blind, using my knowledge of the similar mechanics from Persona 5, and got three trophies early on.

1/50: The Other Self - Obtain the Persona Izanagi.

2/50: Advantage Mine - Enter a battle with Player Advantage.

3/50: A Favor for Marie - Register a Skill Card.

Now I will say that, going into this game, I had already known that there were guides on how to 100% the game as quickly as possible. Like, guides that told you exactly what to do day-by-day in order to unlock all the trophies. And at first, I didn't want to do that. I wanted to play the game completely blind.

And then I failed to rescue Yukiko before the deadline.

From that point on, I decided that I could still enjoy the game even if I was using a playthrough guide. So I restarted the game, and this time I played following the 100% Schedule Guide. I know some people might not agree with his decision, but the important thing is that I was correct, and I was still able to thoroughly enjoy the game even when I was playing following a guide.

So I continued on with Rin, now renamed to his canon name Yu, and played through the entire game day by day.

4/50: Lucky Me! - Win a prize from the vending machine.

5/50: Persona Shopper - Buy a Persona from the Compendium.

6/50: Seize The Moment - Buy a special croquette from Sozai Daigaku.

7/50: It's Working Today - Buy an item from the Capsule Machine.

8/50: Fashion Plate - Fight a battle in costume.

9/50: Tactical Fighter - Exploit enemy weaknesses 100 times.

10/50: Skilled Commander - Perform 50 All-Out Attacks.

11/50: A Prince Appears - Rescue Yukiko Amagi.

12/50: Grasping At Greed - Defeat a Golden Hand.

13/50: A True Man's Stand - Rescue Kanji Tatsumi.

Real quick note: Kanji is Best Boy. That is all.

14/50: Bug Hunter - Swing the bug net with perfect timing.

15/50: Fill Your Hand - Get 50 Sweep Bonuses.

16/50: Displaying Adaptability - Switch Personas 5 times in one battle.

17/50: The Lounge Is Closed - Rescue Rise Kujikawa.

18/50: Granter Of Your Desires - Buy 5 things from Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.

One thing to mention is that, by following the guide, there were some points where I would do things specifically to get trophies, and then reload a previous save in order to keep things running smoothly. Save files REALLY came in handy a lot in this game. You bet your ass I was making sure to use a Goho-M and save the game before any boss fight.

19/50: Movie Buff - Go to three movies at 30 Frame.

20/50: Head of the Class - Rank #1 in your class on an exam.

21/50: The Nose Doesn't Always Know - Experience a fusion accident.

22/50: Special Fusion Expert - Use 4 or more Personas in a special fusion.

23/50: Game Over - Secure Mitsuo Kubo.

24/50: A True Bond - Max out a Social Link.

25/50: Fishing Master - Catch the Sea Guardian.

26/50: Going Nova - Deal over 999 damage in 1 attack.

27/50: Boarded-Up Lab - Rescue Naoto Shirogane.

28/50: Moderate Bookkeeper - Register over 50% of the Persona Compendium.

Also I think most Persona 4 fans can agree that Rise and Yu are just meant to be. I know Yu can romance Chie and Yukiko and Naoto and a few other social link girls, but honestly? Yu and Rise just make the most sense.

Also Rise is Best Girl, I love her so much. Just give me Yu, Rise, and Kanji and I'll be a happy RJ.

Anyways, continuing on with the playthrough and getting trophies!

29/50: A Special Lady - Enter a special relationship with someone.

30/50: The Return of the Angels - Rescue Nanako Dojima.

31/50: Mr. Perfect - Max out all social qualities.

32/50: Food Fighter - Finish Aiya's special dish.

33/50: Big Bro Is Worried - Visit Nanako in the hospital three times.

34/50: Bond Maniac - Max out 10 Social Links.

35/50: Compulsive Reader - Read all books.

36/50: Fusion Expert - Perform 50 Persona fusions.

I will also say that I was genuinely thrown for a loop by the identity of the real killer. Looking back, there were plenty of hints about it, but I was genuinely surprised. I guess I just got tricked by the soft tones of Johnny Yung Bosch's voice. Sigh.

37/50: Breaking Through The Fog - Secure Tohru Adachi.

After capturing Adachi, surprisingly there is still a lot left to do in the game, so I continued following the guide to get more miscellaneous trophies.

38/50: An Acquired Taste - Drink the coffee at Cafe Chagall.

39/50: The Reaper Becomes The Reaped - Defeat the Reaper.

40/50: Cooking With Gas - Make five perfect boxed lunches.

And then it was time for Marie's dungeon. Apparently, Marie's dungeon will ONLY appear in the game if you finish her Social Link. I am glad that I followed the guide, because if I had been playing blind like my first attempt at Persona 4, I would have straight up ignored her. I find Marie deeply annoying, sorry to all Marie fans.

41/50: Welcome Back - Rescue Marie.

After that, all I had left was finishing the last Social Links and then defeating the real final boss, and I had officially finished my first entire playthrough of Persona 4 Golden.

42/50: Legend of Inaba - Max out all Social Links.

43/50: The Truth In Your Hands - Defeat Izanami.

Now it was time for my New Game+ playthrough. I was specifically aiming for the secret Margaret fight that is only available on the final day of a New Game+ playthrough, but I was also going to go for all the remaining skill cards, Personas for the Compendium, and getting 250 unique navigation lines from Rise.

That last one I will get back to.

But I ended up playing the entire game again, and this time I did whatever I wanted, only building up the Social Links that I liked the best, and being an absolute troll and menace. It was great. And by the end of my second playthrough, I got all but two trophies in the game.

44/50: Card Collector - Register 100 Skill Cards.

45/50: Thorough Bookkeeper - Complete the Persona Compendium.

46/50: The Power of Truth - Create Izanagi-no-Okami.

47/50: One Who Has Proven Their Power - Defeat Margaret.

So, you'll notice that even though I began my New Game+ playthrough with the intention of getting Hardcore Risette Fan, I did not get it. This is because I was an idiot and didn't think to keep track of the lines until halfway through the first dungeon with Rise as navigator. I ended up getting so frustrated that I just gave up.

So yes. I actually had to play an entire third playthrough of the game JUST for the sole purpose of unlocking the trophy for hearing 250 of Rise's navigation lines, this time keeping track and spending hours in a dungeon grinding out different lines. It was infuriating, but the pure euphoria I felt when I finally unlocked the trophy was indescribable.

48/50: Hardcore Risette Fan - Hear 250 of Rise's navigation lines.

After that, I only had to do the Miracle Quiz minigame. This is a quiz show where Teddie challenges you to answer trivia questions about Persona 4. And some of these questions are VERY obscure. I think one of them was "how many seats are in the classroom" at the school. It was wild. I ended up using a guide for this as well, and when I won the Finals of the game, I got the Platinum for Persona 4 Golden!

49/50: A New Quiz King - Win the Miracle Quiz Finals.

50/50: Golden Completed - Earn all trophies.

I really enjoyed what little I had actually played of Persona 5, but this game is what made me become a truly obsessed Persona fanatic. I love the setting, I love the characters, I love the dungeons, and even though some parts of this Platinum were frustrating, I loved every minute of the 150 hours it took to get it.

And as of me posting this, Persona 4 Revival has been announced, and I already know I've lost the mental battle to convince myself not to buy it. Persona 4 has a special place in my heart.

Rating: 11/10

[pass11plus]

Best 11+ Tuition, 11+ Mocks, and Intensive Courses in Birmingham

Securing a place at a top grammar school in Birmingham starts with focused preparation. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar Preparation Success Classes, we specialise in guiding students to success through expert support. From working with a professional 11+ tutor in Birmingham to taking part in realistic 11+ mocks in Birmingham, we provide everything your child needs to feel confident and ready.

Our tailored 11+ tuition in Birmingham helps students strengthen core subjects like English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Whether your child needs help building a strong foundation or refining exam techniques, our tutors are here to support them every step of the way.

Practice is essential, which is why our 11+ mocks in Birmingham are designed to reflect real test conditions. Students learn how to manage their time, handle pressure, and identify their strengths and weaknesses through detailed feedback.

Looking for an extra boost before the exam? Our 11+ intensive summer courses in Birmingham offer concentrated revision and daily practice to sharpen skills quickly. These courses are ideal for building exam confidence and improving performance in the final weeks before the test.

With a high success rate and years of experience, Pass 11 Plus Grammar Preparation Success Classes has helped many Birmingham families gain entry into schools like King Edward VI, Camp Hill, and Queen Mary’s Grammar School.

Ready to Get Started?

Support your child’s grammar school ambitions with trusted 11+ preparation. From one-on-one tutoring and full-term tuition to mock exams and summer revision programmes, we’re here to help your child succeed.

Contact us today to learn more or book a consultation.

[katharinebirbalsingh]

A note on Katharine Birbalsingh and Michaela Community School

The media narrative surrounding Michaela Community School in London mostly goes like this: Katharine Birbalsingh transforms poor inner-city (read: ethnic minority) children into academic superstars through the power of discipline. Thomas Chatterton Williams’s recent essay (full text here) in The Atlantic is merely the latest in a long line of fawning profiles that tout, implicitly or explicitly, Birbalsingh's iron fist as the solution to all that ails Britain. However, no article I have read so far has investigated other explanations for Michaela's high Progress 8 score nor endeavored to deconstruct the popular narrative surrounding the conservative superstar.

Williams begins the body of this piece by pointing out that Michaela “draws nearly all its students from Wembley, one of the poorest districts in London” in an apparent attempt to cast them as would-be low achievers, if not for Birbalsingh’s intervention. Although the characteristics of the individual pupils who attend Michaela have a greater impact on results than those of the school's neighborhood, he doesn’t bother to investigate how they differ. Among Michaela pupils who sat GCSEs over the past three years and whose prior attainment at Key Stage 2 (measured by an exam at the end of primary school) were available, 31% were high achieving, 53% were middle achieving, and only the remaining 16% were low achieving. For those who are uninterested in learning the nuances of British exam scoring, that means Michaela’s pupils were exceptionally bright even before they entered the school.

Birbalsingh furthers her savior narrative by describing Michaela's intake with unquantifiable terms such as "challenging" or "inner-city." However, only 28 of Michaela's 2024 GCSE takers (24%) were disadvantaged per the government's definition, "those who were eligible for free school meals at any time during the last 6 years and children looked after," in line with the national average of 25%. Although Birbalsingh likes to advance the narrative that she improves the academic performance of poor children—to be fair, she does, at a rate of roughly 30 individuals per year—she mostly improves the GCSE performance of middle class children.

Michaela's pupils are also self selecting, and therefore they are not representative of pupils in Wembley, London, or the UK as a whole. Any pupil who wishes to attend state secondary school in London must fill out a form indicating their top six choices, and they will be placed in one of those schools based on geography, demand, and availability. A pupil who does not wish to attend Michaela can leave it off their application, guaranteeing they won't attend. Therefore, Michaela is left with an intake of pupils who largely want to be there. By my calculations, Michaela's classwork and homework demand just over 49 hours of work each week. Although this does lead to good results, many teenagers would not abide by this; the 40-hour workweek is taxing even for most adults, who are blessed with more waking hours. Michaela's model and results cannot be easily repeated at any given school—at least not without systematic exclusion.

Williams unintentionally misrepresents a statistic when he asserts that “More than 80 percent of Michaela graduates continue their studies at Russell Group Universities.” He lacks a sufficiently deep understanding of the British school system to interpret this figure. While Michaela’s website states that 82% of its 2021 sixth form alumni attended a Russell Group university, it does not provide data on the university attendance of graduates from its secondary school, the disciplinarian institution which Williams profiles.

In the UK, sixth form (years 12 and 13, spent studying for A-levels) is separate from secondary school (years 7 through 11; the last 2 years, KS4, are spent studying for GCSEs). For Michaela, this also means a different admissions process. While there are no academic minimums to enroll in the secondary school, the sixth form requires an impressive average GCSE score of 7. Michaela has the capacity to enroll 120 students in each year of sixth form. However, the sixth form was under-enrolled by half in 2024. Michaela is a publicly-funded school, so this begs the question as to why state resources are not being utilized to their maximum capacity. The sixth form could educate more students simply by lowering GCSE requirements, but that would of course lead to less impressive university admissions—the kind that may not be displayed on Michaela’s home page. It is also possible that some secondary teachers would be pulled away to teach A-level subjects, worsening GCSE results, but that is speculation.

Thus far, all discussions of Michaela’s results have been woefully incomplete because they have not examined the effect of its narrow curriculum on its exam scores, instead focusing on the behaviorism that makes Birbalsingh’s authoritarian acolytes salivate. Williams's article is no different, only mentioning in passing that she believes “the national curriculum might force her to lower her own standards.” Depending on what changes the new Labour government implements, a revised national curriculum may indeed clash with Michaela’s philosophy. The school directs virtually all of its resources toward preparing pupils for its narrow selection of GCSE subjects or the few non-GCSE subjects that are required by the current national curriculum, such as PSHE, music theory, or PE. Birbalsingh is so focused on GCSE revision that she does not even believe volunteer work to be a "financially viable" option for Michaela pupils. Michaela's extra-curricular clubs all have a marginal cost of practically zero. In fact, several of them directly support curricular subjects, so they should rightfully be considered part of GCSE preparation.

A narrow curriculum obviously allows pupils to spend more time studying each GCSE subject they sit, thereby increasing their exam scores. Since most of the GCSE-level classes that Michaela offers are mandatory, pupils have little freedom to choose their own subjects (more on that later). Aside from that, cohort sizes stay remarkably close to 120 from year to year, and the school seems to impose a soft cap on classes of 30 pupils (120 / 4 = 30), so Michaela can hire the exact number of teachers it needs each year on a full-time basis. The school never needs to "waste" money hiring teachers for undersubscribed subjects, so it can also raise test scores by investing more in its core subjects than schools with broader curricula can afford to. On the flip side, Michaela does not offer dramatic arts, orchestra, individual sciences, computing, design and technology, foreign languages besides French, or a whole host of other popular subjects at the GCSE level. Other schools could easily raise their GCSE scores by slashing their curricula down to Michaela levels, but they offer a variety of classes because they care about their pupils experiencing joy and exploring a variety of career paths more than they care about their P8 scores.

For years, all of Michaela’s pupils have studied the same subjects at GCSE with some slight variations. A handful of pupils always sit for exams in heritage languages, but otherwise, the following paragraphs demonstrate approximately how the subject breakdown has looked over the past three years. (Earlier data has been distorted by COVID, or it is incomplete or outdated.) At the time of publication, 2024 data can be found here, while older results can be accessed through the link “Download data (1991-2024)”.

- 2022: 100% of pupils: English language, English literature, combined science, mathematics, religious studies. ~75%: French, geography/history. ~25%: Citizenship. ~25%: Art & design: photography, art & design: fine art. (I had to recreate this year from memory because individual subject entries do not appear to be retained in older data, but it is accurate to the best of my recollection.)

- 2023: 100% of pupils: English language, English literature, combined science, mathematics, religious studies. ~75%: French, geography/history. ~25%: Art & design: photography, art & design: fine art.

- 2024: 100% of pupils: English language, English literature, combined science, mathematics, religious studies, French. * ~80%: Geography/history. ~20%: Art & design: photography.

*This year, 3 pupils sat for biology, chemistry, and physics separately instead of taking combined science, but there is no explanation for this on Michaela's website.

Each year, about 90 Michaela pupils enter for the EBacc, a set of GCSE subjects encouraged by the British government. This usually works out to 75% of a cohort, but in 2024 it was 81% (94 pupils) because the cohort size was smaller than usual at only 116 pupils. Still, that means the largest class of EBacc entrants was only 32, in line with Michaela's projected class size of 30—despite Birbalsingh asserting that "class size matters little for success." Although the school comparison website does not list subject selections for individual pupils, it was easy to see how subjects were combined by cross-referencing exam entries per pupil and total entries per subject.

In 2021-2022, the pupils who did not enter for EBacc studied citizenship but neither French nor humanities. The study of art did not appear to correlate with EBacc entry.

In 2022-2023, the pupils who did not enter for EBacc studied photography and fine art but neither French nor humanities. Citizenship was dropped from the curriculum.

In 2023-2024, the pupils who did not enter for the EBacc studied photography but not humanities.

EBacc entry varies little across different pupil demographics such as gender, disadvantage, or English as an additional language. However, there is one characteristic that strongly determines EBacc entry at Michaela: prior attainment (PA). Over the past three years, out of 323 pupils for whom the PA data is available, 23% of low-PA pupils have entered the EBacc. This number is 83% for middle PA and 99% for high PA. According to my statistical analysis, the chance of these disparate "choices" arising without intervention is less than one percent.

At the end of Key Stage 3, Michaela staff pick approximately the top 75% of performers to enter for EBacc and require the lowest 25% to study other subjects.

This explains why only a few low-PA pupils enter for EBacc: although they are likely to remain in the bottom of their cohort throughout their schooling, some may improve enough to enter the top three quartiles. Although I am fully confident that my statistical analysis supports my assertion that Michaela pupils are not permitted to choose their GCSE subjects, the school has never disclosed a rationale for this practice, so the remainder of this essay will be speculation, not fact.

Michaela frequently boasts of its high Progress 8 (P8) score, and in order to understand my hypotheses, I recommend you familiarize yourself with its calculation. P8 is calculated by comparing actual Attainment 8 (A8) scores with expected scores based on Key Stage 2 (KS2) performance. This PDF explains how A8 scores are derived. (For my purposes, I will count double science as 2 GCSE subjects.) Therefore, a school with a non-selective intake such as Michaela can only change its P8 score by changing its A8 score.

Over the past few years, Michaela has refined its placement technique, presumably to increase its A8 scores. Pupils of any ability were permitted to study art at the GCSE level in 2022, but that option was removed the next year, probably so that high performers could devote more energy to EBacc subjects. Low performers who would have studied citizenship in 2022 instead studied art in 2023. Perhaps a part-time citizenship teacher would no longer be needed, and more resources could be directed to core subjects. All pupils studied GCSE French for the first time in 2024, giving each pupil 3 EBacc qualifications and finally maximizing A8 scores. However, the poorest performing 25% did not study humanities at KS4. This meant that approximately 120 * 2 * (1 - 0.25) = 180 pupils did study humanities at KS4, so with a typical class size of 30 and 6 class periods per day, one teacher could have accommodated all of them. If poor performers had studied humanities as well, hiring another teacher may have been necessary (and we already know how protective Michaela is of its budget).

The curricula for high and low performers are now identical, except for poor performers studying photography instead of humanities. Working from the assumption that Michaela intends to maximize its A8 score, this leads to one or two conclusions: it believes that poor performers will score higher on photography than French, and/or it does not want to expend humanities resources on poor performers because allocating them exclusively to high performers will raise the A8 score more. Similarly, no Michaela pupil has entered for more than 8 GCSE subjects (barring heritage languages, which do not demand too much revision time) since 2022, almost certainly to improve A8 scores. A limited class schedule allows pupils to devote more revision time to each core subject, while more exams would not raise A8, even if they did expand pupils’ horizons.

In the matter of GCSE curriculum, Michaela’s website is outdated and incomplete. It still enumerates the KS4 fine art curriculum, even though the subject was not offered at the GCSE level in 2024. It doesn’t mention that only three-quarters of pupils will study GCSE history or geography, so some parents who expect their children to study the humanities past age 13 may be in for a nasty surprise. Of course, this begs the question, what does Michaela have to hide?

It is difficult to understand how these prescribed schedules advantage Michaela’s pupils. Does the school not enroll maths whizzes who are determined to enter for mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at A-level, but who want one last artistic hurrah before starting sixth form? Are none of the poor performers averse enough to art that they'd prefer history? These prescriptions do not necessarily benefit Michaela’s pupils, but they do benefit the school’s P8.

Finally, Williams closes his article on a nostalgic note, contrasting his childhood with that of the Michaela pupil: “…my friends and I were free—luxuriously so—in ways these children possibly couldn’t even imagine. But that freedom that so many underprivileged and minority children bask in isn’t worth a damn thing if it leads to an adulthood boxed in by self-inflicted limitations.” Since the author was raised by college graduate parents and educated in private schools, and he is now a successful writer, he seems to believe that children who grow up rich can thrive on freedom, but the same is not true of the poor. Birbalsingh similarly believes that disadvantaged children need extreme discipline to succeed. However, she does not want to create a world where child poverty is eradicated so that every pupil can experience freedom, joy, and success at the same time. In fact, she envisions the opposite. She has spoken out against free meals for primary schoolers because she believes (without evidence!) that it would somehow make their parents less responsible. Even this concern were legitimate, it would pale in comparison to the necessity of feeding hungry children.

In the end, my dislike of Birbalsingh stems from her incredibly bleak worldview. She maintains that children should face the threat of starvation so their parents will be motivated to work harder. Even when testifying before Parliament, she believes the sexism that drives differences in A-level subject choices should remain unexamined. She propagates furry hoaxes—originally spread to mock trans people—to exemplify a supposed lack of discipline from parents. She believes if you don’t decorate your house for Christmas, you are destroying the country, and it is also somehow Vishnu’s problem (yes, the letter is truly that bizarre, and I recommend reading it for full effect). In her ideal world, she imagines suffering for suffering’s sake, a boot stamping on a human face—forever.

[pjo-tvs-version]

hi ivyyyyyy how are you

I'm taking this ask as an opportunity to explain my current life situation because I need to crib... But before that, thank you soo much for the ask Mish! I love the fact that always inquire about me and send asks. It means a lot to me ❤️❤️

SO I've been having my half yearlies since the 9th of August which ended on the 31st which is the reason I was inactive here for a while and couldn't answer the asks I got but know that I read every one of them and just wanted to answer them when I am in a sane state of mind. My exams were initially supposed to end on the 28th but because of a heinous crime that took place in the city I live, there were many violent protests so for safety precautions, the school postponed the last exam to Saturday which honestly sucks because had this not happened, I would have got 4 days of holiday. Right now also I just have temporary freedom as I have project vivas starting from tomorrow, practical exams next week and an English research project to finish by November. Time has flown soo quickly like I didn't even know when August came and went. On top of that since I came in Class 11 it's like a huge jump so my exams till now went awfully bad. Like it hasn't gone so bad for me ever like EVER. Our teachers aren't helping either as they just keep saying that we messed up our papers and have performed way below expectations.

However the rocky phase is almost going to end so I'm excited. I'll be going to the beach this weekend some I have something to actually look forward to! Help has sent a fic request which I'm working on which I think I'll post by this weekend too.

So to conclude this rant post life wasn't the best till now but things are improving. I just look forward to stuff to end. Thank you soo much Mish for the ask and I apologize for the long crib post.

[getmylifetogetherwme]

Reflecting on My Goals For Last Week (10/28 - 11/1/2024)

Hi, all!

It's time to reflect on my goals from last week! Let's see what I achieved and what I struggled with!

Academic Goals:

This week's goals are to: finish up my English essay, study for my physics exam, and study for my ochem exam. Also, I'd like to start looking into doctors to shadow for some good med school hours. On the same note: I want to start dedicating more time to my research lab.

Review of My Performance: I did finish my English essays up. I studied very minimally for my physics and ochem exams, which I am very disappointed in myself for. I will be trying to do better this week. I'm literally in the library right now studying for both. I haven't looked into doctors yet for shadowing. I'm not even all that sure how to approach them about it. I have, however, spent more time in my lab. I'm assisting a graduate student with some of her research! I'm very excited about it. Overall, I could have done better.

Fitness Goals:

My fitness goals are pretty much the same as always. I've been doing pretty good with consistency. People have been pointing out my muscle gains which honestly, feels really good. I'm going to keep with my 4 day split with 30 minutes of cardio everyday. My cardio of choice is usually just walking around campus after my day, but I'm on like my 4th or 5th week of cycling class, and I love it so much. It's genuinely one of the highlights of my week.

Review of My Performance: I've been doing so well fitness wise! This week I didn't get to do one of my upper body days (triceps and back), but everything else was accomplished. I've noticed a lot of changes in my body and my stamina. I'm very satisfied with what I've been able to accomplish. Especially when I take int consideration I was in the hospital for a month getting chemotherapy less than 8 months ago!

Overall, last week wasn't my best week. I was still kinda fighting that slump I told you about. I think towards the end of the week I really started getting out of it.

I'm hoping this week is better for me.

I will be uploading my current week goals pretty much right after I'm done writing this post!

Hope all is well!

And if you're a random person reading this: Hi! I'm C, and I'm a 22 year old trying to become the best version of myself! That involves a lot of studying! I hope you'll follow me on this journey!

Thanks for reading!

-C

[lucysweatslove]

I have way too much on my plate and am in such a bad mood.

Last night my parents decided to have another argument over my dad’s new speakers. For context, he got his old set in the 90s. He started looking into a new setup a couple years ago. This was a huge source of strife in their definitely not super rocky marriage (sarcasm) where my dad would go to Best Buy just to listen to cool speakers and have to hide it from my mom. Note that both my parents are working professionals and have more than enough money for new speakers. They have a very nice retirement nest egg and are well off enough to literally pay for my med school without any issues. They paid off their home years ago.

My dad is also huge into music. For as long as I can remember, his music collection has been super prized and special. Once I took one of his CDs and almost lost it, and it was so distressing to him that he moved his entire collection away from the family’s. He would put loud surfer music on to relax when I was a kid and spent a lot of time watching music performances from the 60s and 70s. He got Sirius XM when I was in middle school and would routinely quiz me on the music, saying I should just be able to recognize a band from their style. When I was a young teen, he shared another album with me when I was sick, and that was like, the most special way he knew how to connect.

My point being, music isn’t a new hobby and my parents have more than enough money to get him a fancy hifi set. My mom just kept refusing because why aren’t the “top of the line” speakers from the 90s good enough?

Well my dad finally got his new speakers but decided to move them to his (home) office. So he did. And that set off another argument with threats of divorce.

And they brought my little sister into the middle of it using hugely manipulative language. Yeah my sis is now technically an adult, but she’s still their child and it’s grossly inappropriate to put your child in between the two of you. She’s a human, not a pawn.

So I woke up in a shit mood already, and I had a busy day of a doctor’s appointment, a therapy appointment, clinical medicine workshop, then a class where I have to give a stupid chalk talk which I’ve been so sick and so busy that I just. Haven’t had time to prepare at all.

And as I start getting dressed, I realize I have no idea if I’m expected to be in professional dress for the workshop because there is no indication online if we have guest panelists or speakers or sim patients. But the professional clothes are all overstimulating and itchy and I was like *this close* to mini meltdown status, so I emailed the course lead to ask… put on clothes that were just comfortable in the mean time… packed a bag with professional clothes to change into if needed..

I get an email back that doesn’t even answer the question, stating that professional attire is required for patients, sim patients, speakers, and panelists. Which I knew. I didn’t know if we had another of those today, because there isn’t any info about it online. I emailed back but haven’t heard back.

My doctor is now running 45 min late (I’ve been here for over an hour), I had to turn off the lights in the exam room because they were too bright, and I had to cancel/reschedule therapy because it was supposed to start at 11.

I’m not mad at anybody in particular other than my parents. I’m just annoyed and overstimulated and want to crawl into a dark pit and sob.

And of course in the car to the hospital, I was practicing telling the nurse I would like to decline being weighed. Because I know it would be triggering. But when she grabbed me, I couldn’t do it.

[hanaasbananas]

saw a post earlier about how well behaved you were in school/how often you got in trouble and I can't find it again BUT it made me think of a couple of times I got completely REAMED by my teachers.

NUMBER ONE

One time when I was in year 6 so..11? I think? it was 2008/9, I'd just discovered Fruits Basket and was practically in love with Kyo Sohma. That's fine, right? Perfectly normal experience

UNTIL we got set a homework task to write a short 1000 word essay on any subject and what did I choose?

Well. I chose to copy and paste the ENTIRE Wikipedia article about Fruits Basket. The whole thing. And then I painstakingly went through my entire document, removing every single hyperlink so that "Mrs M won't know that I didn't write this and will be so impressed by how much i wrote". ARE YOU SURE. ARE YOU SURE HANAA

she did notice. Almost immediately when I rocked up with a STACK of paper and everyone else had like, one page and I still had the GALL to show off "how much work I did" to everyone else on my table. where is this confidence NOW??? when I NEED IT.

anyway turns out my friend ALSO plagiarised her paper about tigers but she didn't take out the hyperlinks so we both got yelled at for 10 minutes during break, absolutely sobbed our little hearts out and then were told to wash our faces and calm down in the last 5 mins lmaoo

I think the funniest part of this story is that Mrs M ended up being one of my favourite primary school teachers, though I never plagiarised a Wikipedia article again.

NUMBER TWO

The second instance I got absolutely WRECKED by a teacher was in year 8 dance. Yes, dance. I absolutely LOATHED dance. Despised it. Was absolutely HORRIFIED when I started secondary school in year 7 and found out it was MANDATORY for two years.

(Essentially all subjects are mandatory until u choose ur gcse options, at which point you only do the core subjects aka maths english science and then 4 other subjects of ur choice. most schools have u choose options in year 9 bc year 10 is when you sit your gcse exams but THANK GOD my school made u choose in year 8 so you could have a practise run with the subjects you chose in year 9 and change them if u wanted to)

I didn't mind doing drama, (though i HATEd having to take ur shoes and socks off in the classroom), didn't mind ICT or food tech or graphic design or DT or geography. I HATED dance.

And also, unfortunately when I started my secondary school the lessons were LONG. The day was from 8.45-2.45 (unless you were an older student and had later lessons. Having a maths lesson at 2.45 and watching everyone going home SUCKED.) and for the first 3 years while I was there each lesson was AN HOUR AND A HALF. NINETY MINUTES. So you only had 3 lessons a day if you finished at 2.45 but they were really painfully long.

(They did switch to 1 hour lessons eventually and and sometimes you'd have a double period of a subject but that was fine.)

ANYWAY back to the story- despised dance, had to do it anyway. I surilvived one year, but then I had a stricter teacher in year 8 and one time we had an end of year assessment where we'd been practising dance lifts all term and she gave us 45 mins to pair up and come up with a dance sequence that had lifts in it and then perform it to the whole class at the end.

and the thing is, I was (am) a little heavy. So I knew I'd be the one doing the lifting. No problem. Until it came to pairing up because I was shy and quiet I only hung out w two other girls.

do you see where this is going?

those two friends of mine (TRAITORS) paired up so I was left with another shy muslim girl who I vaguely knew as a friend of a friend. She was lovely, honestly but things Didnt Go Well.

and by that I mean she couldn't lift me and wouldn't let ME lift HER so we could come up with something, anything. and I was CHRONICALLY shy. so I wasn't about to go tell the teacher, then my partner would hate me!!

time comes to perform. all of us sit on the floor against the mirror as the teacher goes down the line and sees everyone's performance.

we were last

we had nothing

"what were you doing for the last 45 minutes then girls? everyone else managed to do it, why didn't you?"

i tried to explain as articulately as I could, which is v impossible when you are a 12 year old trying not to start crying as you are BEING YELLED AT IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE (SILENT) CLASS. my partner didn't cry but she also didn't tell the teacher why she didn't let me lift her.

naturally, we were given detention. and this was in the time when detention was the same amount of time as a lesson. AN HOUR AND A HALF DETENTION. I was distraught. What would my mum say when I had to stay late after school? I'd NEVER gotten a detention before I couldn't believe it!!

the ultra humiliating part was this was at the end of the day and we all got changed in the dance studio, they had like, open lockers at the back to put your stuff in so I couldn't even leg it out of class at the end I had to get changed next to my classmates all while they're sneaking glances at me and I'm just. Sobbing.

I think the teacher did feel bad about how much I was crying though because she told us that she'd email us to let us know when the detention would be and never did. I skipped class the week after just in case she remembered but I escaped unscathed.

[raviefm]

“Being independent at this age is a good thing.”

“I want a daughter as independent as you.”

BUT

“You grew up too fast.”

“Is your childhood even considered a childhood?”

Being independent at 16 is a good thing. Making your own decisions. Learning how to navigate the world. Planning a path for the future.

But always people fail to take into account that I started becoming independent at 8 not 16.

My mother stopped bothering to take care of me when I was 8. I survived on take out constantly. I went to school on my own while I watched my friends get sent off by their parents, silently wishing I was them. I listened as my friends went on and on about their parents. I had nothing to say during those conversations. Never had, never will.

9 was the age when I started travelling on my own. I would travel to wherever my mother asked me to, running errands on her behalf and meeting up w her. I started to envy my friends whose parents were always there for them no matter what. Their parents were there when it was hard, when it was easy, when it was not needed. Their parents were there for them every step of the way.

10 was the age when the scolding started. Harsh words were thrown at me with no mercy. I sat through hour-long “lectures” of my mother lamenting about her life, her bad choices and everything else in between. In my mother’s eyes, I was not a child who needed protection. I was already independent after all. The chore of cleaning the house fell on my shoulders, along with doing the laundry and preparing the food. “Practice,” she said. “You will need it for when I am gone.”

11 was the age I applied to every competition, every programme and every award possible. I wanted recognition. I wanted some sort of sign that I was something to my mother. But no matter how well I performed, how many awards I won and how many exams I excelled at, she was never there. She was not there when I received certificate after certificate. She was not there when I won prize after prize. Eventually, I did get my recognition from her, in the most negative way possible. I was simply a nuisance. Always had been.

12 was the age when I had to take a major exam. I studied day and night. Sleeping at 3-4am became the norm for me. My friends did not understand why I was pushing myself so much. They watched me push myself to the breaking point and over it. They watched as I broke again and again yet somehow always pieced myself back together. For every single exam, I walked into the exam hall, exhausted and burnt out, running on less than 4 hours of sleep. When the collection date for the results arrived, I watched as my classmates celebrated with their parents their family. Meanwhile, I was alone and so very painstakingly aware of the fact that my mother was free, she simply did not bother to come. That night, I was scolded and beaten for not scoring better grades despite scoring one of the best results in the class. But of course my mother was unaware, she was not there. She never was.

I started becoming independent when I was 8. Yet at 16, it still hurts as bad as ever, when my family is absent for one of the most important moments of my life.

Independence is a hard lesson to learn. For every lesson learnt, a price will have to be paid. In my case, the price for my independence was the loss of my childhood.

[r-ene]

Pros and Cons of being an Overloaded Student in Respiratory Therapy

during my 3rd year, where majority of the subjects are major subjects such as critical care management, airway management, mechanical ventilation and neonatal respiratory care, i took up more units than prescribed by the university due to being an irregular as a transferee (2nd year). and so i had 11 subjects with 31 to 33 units with 6 days a week of classes. i was leaning on writing how i survived it but rather i think "10 pros and cons" would be a bit better for those considering to undergo this kind of process.

this is from my own experiences tho, so... yk

Pros

you get better at time management. you drown, otherwise.

less procrastination. like #1, you drown if you do.

you get better at juggling loads of school work

you get better at putting boundaries - your body knows when it's time to study, time for family and God, time for rest (although you still need to get reminded), time to socialize

your focus becomes... great (most times)

you get disciplined.

you appreciate your early mornings, rest days, people and God (should you ever be a believer). i personally love my early mornings where i spend about 10 mins on average reading the Bible before classes, it helps me cope with all the stress and made me more optimistic. i also observed things are better (ex. grades are higher in quizzes) when i don't forget to communicate with God before starting my day

its a good practice. as a future healthcare worker, even for my internship there would be schedules of 12-16 hours aside from the regular 8 hour shift scheduled about 5 days a week, with saturdays being lecture or research days, it's a good help.

you are able to find ways how to study more effectively. i personally figured out what study style/s are best for me and when i should utilize study style A (standard) and study style B (for exams, quizzes) and so on.

you learn to compete only with yourself. most times we compare our progress and grades with others when actually, we do best when we only look at ourselves and compete with ourselves yesterday and move forward with it because you understand that you are a unique case and individual and so are others.

Cons

quick burnout = it takes a toll on your health especially when exams come where all classes would require a written one (practical exams such as in skills lab, performing airway suctioning or arterial blood gas were a blessing to me)

major subjects = major requirements. sometimes you forget that your minors need some attention too at times

i only had 1 day of rest (sundays). i love going on worship services but sometimes you just want to rest and sleep the whole day ??

you get very, very anxious and jittery when you dont have anything to do.

sleep gets put off when there are tons to do despite being good in organization and time management. i once went 38 hours without sleep on an exam week, i think it was finals ?

...it was very difficult to study for exams held on the last day, especially during finals. i loved pulmonary disease management and hemodynamics but i was just so exhausted i picked rest over studying otherwise my vertigo might act up

when bombarded with tasks (ex. case study + other major presentations or tasks all together), it's difficult not to spiral. therefore, i suggest to take a walk, especially if you have a baby doggo

if you live with your family, its a bit difficult when they fail to understand you have tons to do on a daily + need some rest. i live with my family of 6 members and sometimes we get into an argument with how im unable to help around especially while im resting after class

it is very difficult to schedule dates with friends or siblings or s/o (i don't have a significant other so that's one less thing to worry about, haha). oftentimes when my older sister asks me to accompany her to the mall for a date or just as company, i spend most of the time in coffee bean, studying. sometimes i rush there when there's an online quiz scheduled in the middle of the day even without lectures.

you gotta sacrifice a lot of things. as you can see above: you sacrifice good health, time with loved ones and yourself, binge watching or gaming (me personally i set a rule if im not on a semestral break i dont play games), good sleep, difficult to commit to other things (uni organizations or work, etc) and etc etc

this being said, i don't discourage or encourage anyone to become an overloaded student as it depends on your unique situation. with mine, my faculty wanted me to supposedly join my batchmates for this year's internship but i was still left behind because there were no offerings for the subjects i needed to complete everything during the summer term and so... yeah, hahaha

other than that, id say i did very, very well both semesters !! not to boast, but it was something i worked hard on and sometimes you just gotta be proud of yourself :)

[thesaintcomes]

[𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬]

– Livedoor News (2 February 2020) –

From Ballet to Musicals, the Girl Who Continues to Stand on Stage Since Her Childhood

- Hayakawa-san who is said to be in acting sector among the 4th generation of Nogizaka46, did you have any acting experience?

When I was little, I participated in a local musical during summer holidays. My mom told me that she would buy me a bicycle if I passed the audition, and I wanted that (lol). - (Lol). You participated every year, right?Yes. It was fun to make friends, hence I started to participate every year.

- I heard that you were also learning classical ballet.

That's right. My mom used to do ballet when she was little, so she already had leotards for me even before I was born. Therefore, I started learning naturally. I took a break when I was about to take the entrance exam though, but until then I had always been doing it all the time. Even after entering Nogizaka46 and coming to Tokyo, I tried to find classes and go when I have time.

- So you do like ballet.

That's the only thing that I've been doing for a long time. Therefore, rather than my actual love for it, the thought of "I've been doing it since forever, so I will just do it" played a bigger factor.

- But if you're not attracted to doing ballet, you would not be able to continue that far. What is the appeal of it?

You can face yourself when you do ballet. By seeing yourself dancing through the mirror, you can see not only how beautiful you are dancing, but also your facial expressions and movements. If you dance with a feeling that doesn't float, it will be seen in your movements. I think ballet will hone you through such experiences.

The Rivals Are Not the Others, but the "Yesterday's Self"

- After joining Nogizaka46, you won the fan-vote for 11 out of 16 performances in the 4th generation's first stage play "3-nin no Principal" and appeared in the second act. How was this experience?

After all, it was painful because it was revealed in front of me whether I was selected or not, and there was a great conflict within myself. But I think I got more than that. I realized that it was a fight against myself. - Fight against yourself?At first, I was just comparing myself to the others, such as "She is quick to remember the lines," or "She is praised." However, during that period one of the staff said, "It's a fight against yourself," and from that point on, the comparison target gradually became "my yesterday's self". It became like "Did I sing better than 'my yesterday's self'? Did I dance better than 'my yesterday's self'?" The rival is no other than my yesterday's self. I think I still think that way even after the stage play ended.

- You appeared as Sailor Mars in "Nogizaka46 Musical 'Sailor Moon' 2019". Did you know the work "Sailor Moon" well?

I knew it. Since my name is Seira, I was often called "Sailor Moon" (セーラームーン: Seeraa Muun) when I was little (LOL). However, I didn't watch the original manga nor the anime, so I bought and read the them after my appearance was decided. I actually had never read shojo manga before, so it became the first one in my life.

- Did you really enjoy it?

Yes. My feelings for the play have become very strong. During the "Principal" period, I was desperate to learn the lines, and I wasn't able to deepen my ability to play the roles*, but during the "Sailor Moon" period, I was able to concentrate on one role and pull it off for the first time. I went to Azabu Hikawa Shrine which is the model of Rei-chan (the real name of Sailor Mars)'s house, read the manga, and watched the anime. I really enjoyed the time when I prepared to play the role while talking with the other members as well.

- It's a very popular work, but how was the reaction around you?

The 4th generation members came to see me and said, "I too want to be a Sailor Mars." My genmates were like me, we were not able to stream "Sailor Moon" real time, but they watched it when the anime was re-aired. I wonder if the girls felt the same way (about me) as the Sailor Moon whom they admired back then. I was very happy.

*T/N: I assume it was because the roles of "Principal" were decided by fan-vote where the fans picked the roles they thought suit the members. The members performed on the same day after the roles were announced. Therefore, she couldn't be sure which role she had to deepen her ability on.

Selected As the Heroine of the Stage Play "Sumaho wo Otoshita Dakenanoni"

- And this time, it was decided that you will appear on the stage play "Sumaho wo Otoshita Dakenanoni". It was already made into a movie starring Kitagawa Keiko and became a hot topic. Did you watch it?

Yes. But I was scared and couldn't watch it (at first).

- (LOL).

I checked the synopsis of what the story was about, prepared my mind, and then watched it (LOL).

- How was it?

It was interesting! It wasn't the ghostly scary thing like I had imagined, so it was all fine (LOL). I'm completely addicted to it, and I'm also reading the original novel. I even read it back last night preparing for this interview. I couldn't stop reading after I started, to the point that even I still am wondering about the what's going to happen in the book next (LOL).

- Which part do you like?

It's like "I was deceived!" (LOL). Because I like figuring things out, it was really fun to think about how it was drawn from the perspectives of various people, there were thoughts like "Whose perspective is this?" Or "How would they pull it off on the stage play?" The process of finding out the truth is also very fun, so I hope I can solve the mystery alongside the audience on the stage play.

- This will be your first heroine on stage play alone, which means there are no Nogizaka46 members around.

That's right. I feel lonely ....

- I think the fact you have decided to work alone in this way means that you have expectations from the people around you. How is it?

The staff often asked, "Is it fun to work on the stage?" The 4th generation members also said, "I want to see you more on stage," so I feel very rewarded. About "Sumaho wo Otoshita Dakenanoni" too, they also said "I'll definitely go to see it," so I will work very hard to do my best.

Whether to Join Nogizaka46 or Go on to Higher Level of Education, Such a Big Choice in Life

- You joined Nogizaka46 in August 2018. What was the reason for applying for the audition in the first place?

I took the audition with a recommendation from my family.

- So you didn't want to be an idol?

I auditioned when I was in the third year of high school, but until then I was planning to go on to university. Therefore, I actually was sent to a cram school since the second year of high school.

- Were you prepared when you passed?

I wondered, "Is it okay?" "Am I really going to Tokyo alone?" "Is it okay to go on living like this?" I was thinking of going to university to study and find a typical job. I wanted a stable life (LOL).

- You literally jumped into a world that is the exact opposite of stability.

Yes …. When I thought that this decision would change my life, I was very worried that I even consulted with my homeroom teacher. After all, I can go to university later if I want to go. But then I thought, "entering Nogizaka46 can only be done now!" So I decided on this one.

- What did you think when you passed the Sakamichi Joint Audition and knew you were assigned to Nogizaka46?

I thought, "I'm glad I put it somehow." (LOL).

- So you weren't really thinking about which group you wanted to join.

I didn't know which group I would fit in. Of course, I was very happy when I knew I was assigned to join Nogizaka46!

- How was it when you first met the members?

I was overwhelmed by the aura. I still remember the first time I met them. Everyone had a really sophisticated beauty that I couldn't even put it into words anymore. I was super nervous ....

- Are you still nervous even until now?

I can speak more than before. I have more opportunities to work with my seniors, and I've gradually come to understand their personalities, also I think I'm not really a shy person since the beginning.

The Growth of Nogizaka46 Leads to My Own Growth

- It has been a year and a half since I joined Nogizaka46. I think you have had a lot of experience with singing and dancing lessons, recording CDs, shooting music videos, recording TV shows, etc. Do you feel that you have changed?

My top priority has changed somehow.

- Top priority?

It may not be very good to say, but I was thinking only about myself at first. It was something like "How can I live in this group?" Or "What am I looking for and what do I want to do?"

- Of course you would think so.

But over the past year, I've often felt that the group is building me up. I got my seniors who do things very well, and I also have a lot of media releases with my genmates. It's all thanks to the seniors who have made Nogizaka46 bigger. I'm often made aware of the fact that it's thanks to the group that I'm able to appear on the stage play "Sumaho wo Otoshita Dakenanoni". That's why I also started to think of the group as my top priority. Of course, there are times when I think about myself, but more than that, I also started thinking "I want to contribute to the group" and "If the group can grow, I can grow as well."

- Usually, people would notice something like that after a few years of working experience, but you quickly arrived at that point.

I think it's because I'm blessed with the seniors and staffs who also think that way. Nogizaka46 is filled with kind people, so I get attracted to Nogizaka46 that it has become an important existence. Over the past year, my love for the group has grown tremendously.

- Hayakawa-san was originally not familiar with idols, but what kind of profession and existence do you think idols are now after working as a member of Nogizaka46?

I think it's a profession that can make people feel positive. I like working on TV and radio, but I especially like the time when I can meet the fans directly, such as during live and theatrical performances. A good performance will make everyone smile. Seeing everyone's facial expressions makes me feel better. If I'm able to show my true self and they are happy about it, I would be happy too. I think idols are a wonderful job to create such a relationship with fans.

- What kind of fans do you have, Hayakawa-san?

They are very encouraging. I think I can do live concerts, handshake events, and works because of them. I feel really helped, so I'll do my best to give back as much as possible.

What kind of person is Seira Hayakawa?

- Finally, I would like to ask Hayakawa-san about yourself, so we have prepared a questionnaire corner.

1. Your personal current trend?

→ Soaking in the bathtub for a long time. Since I started living alone in Tokyo, it's fun to be able to occupy the bathroom by myself (laughs). It's cold now, I can warm myself up slowly.

2. What do you do on your days off?

→ Watch movies, go to ballet class, go shopping, or stay at home the whole day.

3. What do you like about your hometown Osaka?

→ A place where people are easy going and talking to each other always feels fun. After all, whenever I return to my hometown, I feel relaxed.

- But when you talk about it like this, I don't feel like you are from Osaka, including your dialect.

It's because I hide it! I'm interviewed for "Sumaho wo Otoshita Dakenanoni", so I thought I would be more like an actress if I didn't speak in the Kansai dialect (LOL).

4. What do you want to be when you are reborn?

I want to be a tree when I'm reborn. Something like camphor tree.

- A tree …? (LOL).

I want to live long. I want to see various kinds of periods. Isn't there a 1000-year-old tree? I think want to be that kind of tree.

[shivangisethiswiftlearn]

Easy Learning of Newton’s Laws of Motion – A Must-Watch for Class 11 Students

Newton's Laws of Motion are the foundation of mechanics in Class 11 Physics. Understanding these laws is important for solving motion-related issues in school exams or on entrance tests such as NEET and JEE. These laws are theoretical and commonly used in real-life situations and technical applications.

The blog focuses on fundamental explanations, Laws of Motion examples, and practical solutions to help students grasp how force, motion, and inertia work in combination.

Newton's first law, often known as the Law of Inertia, asserts that an object remains at rest or moves at a constant velocity in a straight path until acted upon by an external force. For example, When your car comes to a sudden stop, your body tends to lean forward, which is known as inertia.

Newton's Second Law defines the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Force is defined as the product of mass and acceleration.  This implies that heavier objects need more force to accelerate. Pushing a shopping cart is a real-world example.  If the cart is empty, it is easy to move; if it is full, it takes much more effort.

Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite response.  When you jump off a tiny boat onto a dock, the boat moves backward due to the reactive force your legs exert on it.

 Students frequently fail to connect principles with applications, such as identifying forces in free-body diagrams or solving numerical problems involving the Laws of Motion. To make this learning process easier and more realistic, we designed a dedicated video lesson that guides students through each law in detail and provides step-by-step solutions.

Watch now on Sethiswiftlearn YouTube Channel:

We thoroughly explained the entire concept using examples, formulas, and problem-solving methodologies. Go through the video, and if you have any questions, leave a comment—we'll help you out.

This is an essential resource for students seeking to improve their intellectual clarity and confidence in Newton's Laws of Motion. Strengthen your understanding and perform better in your Class 11 Physics exams and beyond.

[newlysteadytrophy]

Home Tutor in Dehradun – Personalized Learning by Saraswati Tutorials

In the evolving academic world, personalized attention is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. As school classrooms become increasingly crowded and curriculum expectations continue to rise, many students find it challenging to keep up. The demand for private, focused learning has grown rapidly, and today, having a qualified home tutor in Dehradun has become one of the most effective ways to ensure academic excellence.

At the heart of this educational shift is Saraswati Tutorials, a leading provider of reliable and result-oriented home tutoring services across Dehradun. With a team of experienced tutors, subject experts, and an unwavering commitment to student success, Saraswati Tutorials offers tailored one-on-one learning that helps students excel at their own pace and comfort.

Why Choose a Home Tutor?

While schools lay the foundation of education, they cannot always provide the individual guidance every student needs. Some students fall behind, while others may not be challenged enough. This is where a home tutor in Dehradun can play a transformational role.

Benefits of Home Tutoring:

Individual Attention: A home tutor focuses entirely on one student, identifying learning gaps and addressing them effectively.

Comfort and Convenience: Learning happens in the safety of home, minimizing distractions and travel time.

Customized Lessons: Sessions are designed around the student’s learning speed, strengths, weaknesses, and school syllabus.

Improved Confidence: With consistent support and mentorship, students become more confident in their abilities.

Better Results: The targeted approach leads to better academic performance and exam success.

Saraswati Tutorials – Your Trusted Source for Home Tutor in Dehradun

With years of experience and hundreds of success stories, Saraswati Tutorials has become a trusted name for parents seeking quality academic support in Dehradun. Whether it's foundational guidance for junior classes or strategic board exam preparation for high school students, Saraswati Tutorials offers the right tutor for every academic need.

What Sets Saraswati Tutorials Apart?

Qualified and Vetted Tutors Every tutor is carefully selected after thorough background checks and assessments. Tutors are not only subject experts but also skilled educators who know how to engage students effectively.

One-on-One Teaching At Saraswati Tutorials, the focus is always on the student. Tutors work closely with students to create a learning plan that fits their individual academic journey and personal learning style.

Support for All Subjects and Boards Whether your child is studying under CBSE, ICSE, or the Uttarakhand State Board, Saraswati Tutorials provides subject-wise home tutors for:

Mathematics

Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

English and Hindi

Social Science

Accounts, Business Studies, and Economics for Commerce students

Flexible Scheduling Understanding the busy routines of students and families, Saraswati Tutorials offers flexible class timings including weekdays, weekends, morning, or evening sessions.

Progress Monitoring Regular assessments, revision tests, and performance tracking ensure your child stays on the path to success. Tutors maintain open communication with parents, offering honest feedback and academic strategies.

Who Needs a Home Tutor in Dehradun?

The need for personalized learning is universal. A home tutor in Dehradun can benefit students across all grade levels:

Primary School Students: Laying a strong academic foundation in core subjects.

Middle School Students: Strengthening concepts and transitioning smoothly into higher classes.

High School Students: Strategic preparation for board exams, class tests, and school competitions.

Commerce and Science Stream Students: Subject-specialized tutoring for Classes 11 and 12 with exam-oriented techniques.

Additionally, Saraswati Tutorials supports students preparing for entrance exams, Olympiads, and scholarship tests with targeted guidance.

Real Success, Real Impact

Parents across Dehradun have seen firsthand the transformation that Saraswati Tutorials can bring. From children who were once shy and academically behind, to students who are now confidently scoring top marks, the impact of having a dedicated home tutor has been profound.

“My son was struggling in Class 10, especially with Science. Thanks to the consistent support from Saraswati Tutorials, not only did his marks improve, but so did his interest in the subject. We’re now continuing with the same tutor for Class 11 as well.” – A parent from Rajpur Road, Dehradun

“The tutor helped me with my Class 12 Accountancy and Business Studies preparation. Her approach was clear and exam-focused. I scored 94% in boards!” – Student, Class 12 Commerce

Cost-Effective and Transparent Pricing

Quality home tutoring doesn't have to come at an unreasonable cost. Saraswati Tutorials offers flexible and affordable packages based on:

Class level

Number of subjects

Frequency of classes

Duration of sessions

Parents can choose from monthly packages, subject-specific sessions, or intensive pre-exam courses. Demo sessions are also available to ensure the tutor is a good fit for the student.

Areas Covered Across Dehradun

Saraswati Tutorials provides home tutoring in all major areas of Dehradun, including:

Rajpur Road

Sahastradhara Road

Balliwala

Clement Town

Prem Nagar

Dalanwala

Jakhan

Vasant Vihar

And many more…

Wherever you are in Dehradun, a qualified and experienced home tutor in Dehradun is just a call away.

Final Thoughts

In today’s educational landscape, simply attending school is not enough. Personalized learning is the key to true academic success—and Saraswati Tutorials delivers just that. With expert tutors, structured lesson plans, and a proven track record, they offer the kind of home tuition that turns average performance into academic excellence.

So if you're searching for the most reliable and effective home tutor in Dehradun, Saraswati Tutorials is your destination. Their tutors do more than just teach—they mentor, motivate, and shape the future of every student they work with.

Get Started Today

Let your child experience the power of focused, one-on-one learning from the comfort of your home.

Contact Saraswati Tutorials now to schedule a free demo class or consultation.

Empower your child with the guidance they truly deserve.

[matrixschool]

📝 10th CBSE Result 2025 – Top Scores, District Achievers & Matrix School Highlights

The 10th CBSE Result 2025 was officially released by the Central Board of Secondary Education on May 29, 2025, bringing smiles and relief to millions of Class 10 students across the country. The announcement was followed by a flood of excitement as students checked their scores and downloaded their digital marksheets.

At Matrix School, the declaration of the 10th CBSE Result 2025 has once again proven the power of discipline, dedication, and expert guidance. Our students have delivered a phenomenal performance this year, and we couldn’t be prouder.

📅 10th CBSE Result 2025 – Exam & Result Timeline

The CBSE Class 10 board exams were conducted from February 15 to March 20, 2025. The 10th CBSE Result 2025 was released after a swift and transparent evaluation process. Students were able to check their results online using their roll number, school number, and date of birth.

Mark sheets and passing certificates are now also available through DigiLocker for secure digital access.

📊 10th CBSE Result 2025 – Highlights

The overall pass percentage for the 10th CBSE Result 2025 was 93.23%, indicating consistent academic performance nationwide.

Girls outperformed boys again, continuing a five-year trend.

Over 2.1 lakh students scored above 90%, and more than 57,000 scored above 95%.

Matrix School stood out with record-breaking scores and 100% pass rate.

🏆 Matrix School Performance – 10th CBSE Result 2025

The 10th CBSE Result 2025 was a moment of pride for Matrix School. Here’s how our students performed:

100% pass rate with zero failures

Multiple students scored 95%+, with subject-wise toppers in Maths, Science & English

Personal improvement: Many students jumped 15–20% higher from pre-boards to final boards

Our result once again proved that Matrix School is among the top-performing CBSE schools in the district

🎯 What’s Next After the 10th CBSE Result 2025?

After receiving your 10th CBSE Result 2025, it's time to choose the right stream for Class 11. Matrix School offers:

Stream selection counseling (Science, Commerce, Arts)

Guidance for entrance exams like JEE, NEET, NDA, CA Foundation, CUET, etc.

Career mapping sessions for early goal clarity

Skill-building programs for overall development

Our academic counselors and mentors are available to help every student take the right step forward.

🎉 Final Note from Matrix School

The 10th CBSE Result 2025 is a milestone, not a destination. Whether you topped the class or overcame challenges to pass, this is your success — and Matrix School is proud to be part of your journey.

💬 “Congratulations to all our Class 10 students on your incredible performance in the 10th CBSE Result 2025. Keep dreaming big — the future is yours!”