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Secondary education

RE remark - missed 9 by 1 mark

130 replies

Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 08:13

Ds2 did his RE exam one year early, as did the whole school. He was predicted an 8, got a 9 in mock (based on the previous year marking) and got an 8 yesterday. I was absolutely delighted but my heart sunk as I knew he wouldn’t be happy with that. Why does he put so much pressure on himself? His Dad and I have never put pressure on him, he did so much revision, the PS4 was redundant for weeks and he couldn’t have tried harder.

So we have asked school about a review and they agreed as 1 mark off. What is the likelihood? He is aware it could go down, but he would need to drop by around 20 Marks by the looks of it for that to happen.

We are trying to speak to him already about expectations for next year, how all 9’s is unrealistic and ultimately in about 10yrs time no-one will even care what grades he got, certainly no-one would question if he had 8’s or 9’s. That said I’d love him to get a few 9’s.

Just venting really as I really hate this new numbering - a B for example is now a 6 which doesn’t sound anywhere near as good. Why the 9? As if A star wasn’t high enough without a strong A star being introduced. It really piles on the pressure for kids like mine.

Thanks for listening

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twoheaped · 23/08/2019 08:15

An 8 is not to be sniffed at, in fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Does he require RE for his chosen career?

I would save your money if I was you.

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hormonesorDHbeingadick · 23/08/2019 08:20

I’ve sent requested a few RS papers to remarked in the past (old spec). I found they would pick up extra marks on one paper but lose a few on another so the grade did not change.

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Propertyfaux · 23/08/2019 08:22

I would worry that asking for the remark will add to the pressure of more 9s this year.

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NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 23/08/2019 08:23

We had this a couple of years ago with DS. He got high Bs (missing As by just a couple of marks) in a few subjects. We wasted quite a bit of money getting remarks done for no positive outcome. It was swings and roundabouts. He would gain a mark or two on one paper and then lose a couple on the others. It left a bitter taste.

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 08:26

The teacher has suggested getting 1 paper remarked - apparently a teacher is going to advise me which one. I’m guessing they have a breakdown? So it will be £55

To be clear I think an 8 is amazing, but for my competitive son all he is thinking about is that 9.

No he doesn’t plan to have a career in RE or do it at A level.

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SavoyCabbage · 23/08/2019 08:30

I wouldn’t pay for a remark either. If it was maths and the difference between a 3&4 then I would.

You are trying to step in and rescue him from a situation that isn’t that bad. He needs to deal with his feelings. He’s allowed to be sad and disappointed and angry. That’s fine. But you don’t have to save him from those feelings.

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00100001 · 23/08/2019 08:30

Just get him to move on....


If it was something he wanted to study, or meant he couldn't do something, then maybe.

But to get an 8 is amazing.


If he hadn't known the raw score, ie, just the grade, he wouldn't be wondering about the extra mark.


Life is too short!

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00100001 · 23/08/2019 08:31

Also, maybe suggest he pays (at least in part)for the remark if it means that much to him?

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twoheaped · 23/08/2019 08:31

Tell him to give his head a shake if he doesn't need it for future.

Maybe you would be better to equip him with what he percieves to be failure, rather than grasping for that extra mark.

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SinkGirl · 23/08/2019 08:32

Assuming your child is bright and academic and will be going on to A-Levels and possibly beyond, the difference between having and 8 or a 9 in RE is going to be completely irrelevant in a couple of years. If you’re going on to study further, the most important thing really is getting the grades you need for that. Even if he wanted to go to a top university I can’t imagine that having an 8 rather than a 9 in RE would make any difference (maybe if that was his chosen field of study, but even then).

It might be a good time to teach him the important lesson that perfection isn’t always achievable and that’s okay, and that cut offs have to be placed somewhere. Chasing down that 9 might be an additional pressure for next year.

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bionicnemonic · 23/08/2019 08:38

I can see why you would (it’s only 1 mark!) but the pp have a point...if you agree to a remark are you subconsciously reinforcing his belief that an 8 isn’t good enough? If you confidently tell him that an eight is fantastic...but then equally you don’t want him to think it’s not worth fighting for things he wants...ooo big dilemma. (I’ve not helped at all...slinks off for a coffee...)

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 08:42

Believe me we have already spoken to him about expectations and you can’t always be perfect. We told him that it’s extremely unlikely he will be coming out with all 9’s next year so he needs to be realistic and accept that 7’s / 8’s are all amazing grades.

The school agrees and wants to also persus a review - better for them isn’t it if there’s another 9. They said they always recommend a review when there’s only 1 Mark in it. The teacher is going to review the papers and give us an idea which of the 3 papers to request a review of. To note he is paying for this himself out of money he is receiving from his dad for his grade (and no it’s not money motivated for the review). I believe it will be refunded if the grade changes

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 08:45

Also we are aware that it’s completley irrelevant for the future - but when you’re 15yrs old and worked hard for something you can understand why when he’s so close he would want it to be re-looked at. We are certainly not reinforcing to him that an 8 isn’t good enough. We would have been delighted with a 6/7 - the pressure he puts on himself all comes from him. We have had many conversations with him about expectations and how this will not matter one bit for his future. I can understand why he wants it reviewed when so close. So happy to support it. As is the school. He knows we think an 8 is more than good enough. I’m super proud of him

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IWouldPreferNotTo · 23/08/2019 08:50

I'm not sure about saying that all 9's is unrealistic. He's clearly motivated and seems to be capable of it, so there's no reason not to try for it.

When I was doing my GCSEs it wasn't considered unrealistic that a few children would have 10 A* results.

The worst case scenario is he aims for all 9s, doesn't achieve it and is a bit disappointed and learns from it for the next stage. I think it's good to encourage children to be competitive and to want to achieve what they think is the best they can do.

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halulat · 23/08/2019 08:52

DD got her results yesterday . Similarly to your DS, she is 1 mark off a 9 in chemistry. She has 9s in all the other sciences so wants a remark for this. In the grand scheme of things it won't make much difference but when it's one mark it does seem worth a go. DS had one of his remarked and did go from B to A so it can make a difference.

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 09:02

IWouldPreferNotTo - yes all 9’s isn’t out of the realms of possibility’s - he’s a top performing student - he got all 8’s in his mocks (they didn’t give 9’s). I think part of the reason for asking for the review is incase that scenario happened then he had an 8 in RE and we would regret not having it reviewed when it’s only 1 Mark. But we also need him to understand that if he aims high, works hard (and he really did work hard for RE, why we feel we owe it to him to ask for review too) and he gets a mix of 9’s, 8’s and 7’s that’s absolutely good enough as far as us as parents consider. He puts pressure on himself. He’s very very competitive

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 09:05

Thanks Halulat. I think it’s definitely worth going for it when it’s 1 or 2 marks. Grades can and do change. At the same time we are preparing him that it might not change and if it doesn’t he’s stil done amazingly well

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Propertyfaux · 23/08/2019 09:07

There is a difference between asking for checks at the end of Year 11 when all the results are in. Some responses, including my own is more to do with your comments on putting pressure on himself and not one mark and is it worth.

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SinkGirl · 23/08/2019 09:08

The worst case scenario is he aims for all 9s, doesn't achieve it and is a bit disappointed and learns from it for the next stage.

I don’t think that is the worst case scenario at all. I went to a girls grammar school where there was massive pressure to do well, and get straight A / A*. A ridiculous percentage of students suffered from eating disorders, needed anti depressants, self-harmed and this only intensified around exam time. One of my friends had a breakdown after mock GCSEs and ended up in an inpatient unit for two months.

OP, only you know how much pressure he’s putting on himself and whether it’s healthy or not.

From what I understand, an 8 is already the equivalent of an A so straight 8s would be the equivalent of all A?

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Ligresa · 23/08/2019 09:24

I think you are bonkers, sorry. What a nice thing for him to have, an 8 in any subject.

You pay for grades and persue remarks for a 9. You are reinforcing the belief that 8s aren't good enough. You are part of the problem.

I would absolutely not do this and I would hope that means he'd be delighted with 8s next year if that happens.

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 09:25

Sinkgirl - of course I’m not talking about worse case scenarios with regards to things like you’re suggesting. I think people are reading a bit more into this than is intended. My son got 1 mark short of a 9 and wants a review. He knows it’s not the end of the world, parents are delighted with his performance anyway and school recommend a review too. He certainly isn’t putting any unhealthy pressure on himself - he’s a bright kid who like many bright kids want to achieve top grades. He’s certainly not going to do anything risky or silly to achieve that, just work hard. As a parent I don’t think we are putting any additional pressure on him agreeing that he should ask for a review, surely for most people if they are 1 mark short of something they want badly and there’s a chance it can be looked at again they’d say yes.

He has been selected by his school for talks from top university’s and so he wants to get those top grades. Will a 9 over an 8 in RE make any difference to anyone else? No, not really. Will getting his mark changed to a 9 make a difference to him? Hugely. So it’s a no brainer really. I’m surprised so many parents wouldn’t bother when they are 1 Mark away.

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Ligresa · 23/08/2019 09:27

To note he is paying for this himself out of money he is receiving from his dad for his grade (and no it’s not money motivated for the review). I believe it will be refunded if the grade changes

So he loses his money if he stays at an 8? Mad.

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 09:28

Ligresa

You know nothing about my son or my family. I put zero pressure on him. His school want it reviewed too. I’d have been happy for him to have got a 7, as would his dad. Everyone in the real world agrees with a review. People who know my son and my family and know we don’t put any pressure on him. Many parents are requesting a review when one mark away. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. You can think what you like about our situation but you’re wrong entirely.

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Ligresa · 23/08/2019 09:28

I’m surprised so many parents wouldn’t bother when they are 1 Mark away

Dd got a few 8s. I have no idea what her marks were and won't be finding out. 8s are brilliant.

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Darbs76 · 23/08/2019 09:29

He loses £50 of the money he was getting per grade. But he gains more - but this isn’t anything to do with money.

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