Shocked at AS results ..... sad for dd and angry at college

[doglover]

I started a thread on Thursday - was it only yesterday?! - about my dd's disappointing AS result in English Literature. (She received a B but was expecting a secure A).

It transpires that she was the only candidate to attain even a B in the subject: the four other Oxbridge potentials got Cs and everyone else scraped a D or below. College are now talking about there being a 'problem' with the results - I assume they mean with the teaching - but I feel that our dc have been badly let down by college. We have an interview with staff next week but don't see how apologetic teachers will make up for affecting our dc's opportunities to study at a top tier university.

[ImperialBlether]

Can you get it re-marked? There might be a problem there. (Speaking as an ex-teacher and an ex-examiner.)

[doglover]

College have suggested this and I'm sure we will. Apparently, she is currently at a mid-range B - her teacher has her marks for the first paper but the second paper marks are not currently available online (off for moderation?) ......... If she's a mid-range B, I assume she's unlikely to leap up to an A?

[PenguinSalute]

I had this with A level English lit, albeit 10 years ago now. Expecting a secure A, came back a B with one paper marked really low. Sent all papers back for remarking and got my A, and my uni place. Worth doing, but a very stressful time. Good luck to DD!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

English Lit is linear. Her AS result won't count at the end of Yr 13 anyway.

[doglover]

Am I correct in thinking that only some colleges have entered students for the interim exams for the new linear A levels? So colleges that haven't entered students will just use predicted grades on UCAS forms whereas my dd's college will have to put this dratted B?!

[Bitofacow]

So why exactly is it the teachers fault?

A levels require student input.

[doglover]

Sorry, cross-posted with you RLBG! Yes, but will the current AS result need to be included for unis to see NOW?! What about students who didn't sit the exam?

[3littlefrogs]

The marking seems to be an ever worsening fiasco. Such a shame for kids and teachers who have worked hard.

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

Students who didn't sit an AS will use their predicted grades for their UCAS forms. Those who did will use their AS grades.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes, the B will go onto UCAS but so will the teacher's predicted grade for the student. This will be based on a combination of how she does in coursework in Yr 13, as well as on mocks etc, no just on the AS result.

By all means go ahead with a re-mark, but remember that they can go down as well as up. Other than that, I'm not sure what else you expect from the school, but don't think that you should be automatically assuming that bad teaching is the problem (it might be, but it isn't the only possible scenario).

[doglover]

I can, in all honesty say that the student input WAS there - I do appreciate that you're probably just thinking that I'm a prejudiced fussy parent, but I'm really not! Our dd was selected to attend Eton College Universities Summer School last month and achieved highly in assessments and the mock-ELAT tests there and her written work has been of a great standard. (I'm also a teacher so I really don't want to 'knock' colleagues!)

[Bitofacow]

So if her mock was good why is it the college's fault her exam wasn't?

[Bitofacow]

I'm sorry I'm being awkward something has gone wrong and it must be horrid. Please don't start blaming teachers.

[doglover]

The college HoD has said there is an "issue" - I don't want to go into any more details on here - but when 56 students sit an exam and only one achieves a B, there IS something amiss!

[DunelmBrokeMe]

Somebody I know closely has been head of dept for over 20 years. This year, his class marks and the rest of his department's marks were much lower than they all predicted. He said that the marking is uniformally more harsh. In the whole of his career, his predictives haven't been so out.

[GinandJag]

Was there a controlled assessment in this subject? If all the students have underperformed, perhaps the CA marks were scaled down on moderation. This would also be consistent with the HOD saying there was a problem.

[doglover]

It makes me feel sad for our dc and their teachers when elements of our education system are so difficult to navigate :(

[doglover]

Apparently they are doing their CA next term so I don't think this is an issue at the moment.

[Sadusername]

Do schools have actual marks for linear AS levels, my DD just has a grade. Will the raw mark be on UCAS transcript or just the grade?

Hopefully the school will be humble enough to include in their reference that there has been some sort of mess up, if no one did any higher!

[doglover]

Apparently, teachers can get marks for each question/paper online. Our dd just had a grade on her exam slip, too.

Let's hope something can be sorted out!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Students just get the grade. Teachers can get paper breakdowns online.

[SisterViktorine]

I know DHs school sent ALL the English papers back for remarking last year and the English HoD is calling for the same this year. Something is amiss.

[doglover]

It's horrible for schools and their students. It's too important for their futures to keep having these cock-ups year after year :(

[MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow]

My friend's daughter sat her English Lit A-level this year, her predicted grade was B and she was marked U as well as all the rest of her class except one girl who was awarded a C (I think). It has had a huge impact on their offers for Uni places. The school has already said it will ask for the papers to be re- marked.