Personal Blogs

It is Friday the 18th of December as I type this. The flood damage in Carlisle seems to be getting under control, although there are still a few major bridges closed causing problems with traffic flow. As we approach the Christmas break I am almost half way through my final module. I received my mark back for TMA 02 which I was very pleased about, still falling within the distinction bracket. I have also been trying to get some revision done - I know from previous experience that the exam will suddenly be here and I will be unprepared. It is difficult to get motivation for something that isn't "scary" yet, but I'm trying to force myself (classic dualistic thinking!)

TMA 03 is the project and I think I have a plan to do with a study of Scottish Nationalism. I attended a day school in Sterling and feel well prepared for it. The project proposal form is about 3/4 complete. All-in-all this module feels like it is going well and is under control. It feels like the huge amount of work I did earlier this year is paying off. I am starting to consider what life will be like when it is all over. So strange to be looking towards the finish of my final module - and a degree in psychology.

Well I have 78 days remaining until the ED209 exam. In that time I have to prepare 2 more TMAs, prepare an answer for the "seen" question in the exam as well as revise for the exam generally. This module seems to cover a lot of ground and I am a little concerned about how prepared I will be - in 78 days....

I have had my application accepted for my final module, DD307, starting in October this year. That is the final payment I will have to make and it felt odd filling in the registration knowing that will be the last one on my path to a degree in psychology - unless I flub it. I remember very clearly filling in the registration for DD101 back in 2011 when I read every note on the screen and carefully considered each check-box before deciding what to tick. Now I just blam through the form with hardly a second glance.

I have read the course materials for DD307, but have put the books to one side now so I can concentrate on the final stages of ED209.

The results for DD303 were made available on Thursday 27th of November - that is just over a week early. I expected a pass grade 2 and predicted a mark of around 75% for the exam. I received a pass grade 2 and scored 72% (making 78% on the OES as a whole). Even though this is very close to my prediction I was still disappointed. I think I had told myself that was the grade I expected, while really I hoped for a distinction - which I missed by a good margin.

I felt myself pass through the 5 stages of the Kübler-Ross model quite clearly...

Denial - I can't believe it. I'll just check the web site one more time.

Anger - how dare they mark down my brilliant essays.

Bargaining - I should ask for a re-mark.

Depression - What's the point of continuing my studies?

Acceptance - While I'm not happy about it, the mark is an accurate and fair reflection of my ability in the exam and I need to put it behind me and learn from it.

I know my answers were too descriptive and not evaluative. I knew the material very well but pretty much just re-wrote the text book. I am disappointed but a pass grade 2 is not a bad result and it means I will have another chance at getting a first when I take DD307 in 2015 - my final module.

The result also means that the mark on my current module (ED209) is entirely irrelevant to my degree classification as long as I pass. Logically I should do less work on ED209 and start preparing for DD307. I'm not sure I really want to take that approach though.

It is now the end of October and the trauma of DD303 seems like a distant memory. I am unsure how I did in the exam and am waiting nervously for the results. In the meantime I am making good progress with ED209 and am enjoying a less demanding module - so far at least. The first assignment is due in a few days and I think I have done a reasonable job of it.

I took the books with me to Glencoe on a family holiday in The Highlands. It was great to get a few days away from work and relax. The weather was beautiful and it felt good to be re-connecting with the outdoors after a summer spent studying. Was the week at Nottingham University real? It feels like a different life looking back now.