GCSE Results

[EvilTwins]

So I've had a look at the AQA website and the grade boundaries in my GCSE have been increased yet again. They've gone up by 5 marks for a C and for a B, which is a massive 4% increase. I am really cross. How are we supposed to predict accurately when we're at the mercy of this sort of thing? And surely it makes a mockery of the exam board's own standardisation process? Things I've been told on standardisation courses are now void!

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I thought that I was doing ok till I checked mine. Hopefully they won't have too much of an effect.

[noblegiraffe]

A* in maths last year was 155 out of 200, this year it's 170 out of 200

[EvilTwins]

A* for mine is 127/130.

C is 100/130

In order to get a C in the practical exam, students had to hit mark band 1 in all three assessment criteria. Makes me wonder what the point of mark bands 2,3,4 & 5 are.

[ladygracie]

My daughter looked today & was really upset about the maths. She struggles anyway so is now really disheartened.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

What time can we get results online? Is it 6am?

[EvilTwins]

Yes. AQA keeps crashing though.

[tadjennyp]

I hope all yours did well. My group only had a 50% pass rate so I am gutted now. Lots of missed targets.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I am happy with the percentages but not with the grades (if that makes any sense), Very annoyed to find out that remarks are not remarks this year but a quality check on the marking methods by the exam boards.

[EvilTwins]

Is that right Boney? I'm not considering remarks but several of my colleagues are.

I'm also happy with the percentage but not the grades. Shifts in grade boundaries have shafted my kids. Grr.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Eviltwins

The information I have is sketchy at best, the news links that I can find are

telegraph

BBC

I have yet to find out exactly what it means, but it looks like (to me) that if the mark can be justified, even if it could be higher, it will remain the same.

My exam coordinator has spoken to AQA and they have said that it means that they have to review their polices not remark.

[EvilTwins]

Thanks - that's useful.

[MatchsticksForMyEyes]

54% A*-C. 34% 3LP compared to a target of 80. I didn't teach the kids but it's my dept. I feel like just giving up. Next year all of the kids are my groups and there's only 31 so the margin for a fuck up is tiny. I feel shit.

[Rosieposy4]

I dunno Evil, but whenever i predict grades i always add on afew marks for each grade boundary, based on the nearly certain premise that grade boundaries always go up. I emphasise that point to the kids too, especially over CAUs.
( never forgetting the one year, quite recently, when my second subject had grade boundaries jump madly, An A the previous year was only an E the next 😳)

[Rosieposy4]

Remarks are remarks, but only if they change the level
Eg if child A was originally given 31/45 and it was a level 3 answer, then on remark it got 33/45 and that was still a level 3 then the original mark would stand.
However if the remark gave A 35/45 and that changed the level then the remark would stand.
Do not ask me how i know this as i am not allowed to discuss it online 🙄

[EvilTwins]

Rosy - yep, I do that, but the boundaries are too bloody close to call. B, C, D & E went up by 5 raw marks. A was 127/130 this year. A was 124/130, B was 112/130 & C 100/130. 27 marks between an A and a C is ridiculous.

[reallybadidea]

Rosie, any chance you could look at my thread here and let me know what you think? Would be very much appreciated.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

found a .gov link

appeals and reviews

[Cathaka15]

Sorry I really bad at understanding all this. On what grounds can you ask for the grades to be looked at again. Ds got D in math but apparently was 3 marks off a C. But are there other reasons for a re mark?

[noblegiraffe]

cath you pay for it, you don't need a reason other than to try to go up a grade. Your money is refunded if the grade changes.

[Cathaka15]

Oh right. Had no idea. thanks noble.