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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Are remarks/review of marking just for the wealthy?

135 replies

runner2023 · 21/08/2025 19:19

I have 2 friends whose children have sat exams this year.

Parent A: Her DD got 4 A stars and an A last year for A level and had a place at Oxford. Parent A put in for a remark for the A grade and her DD then was awarded 5 A stars.
Today her DS got 2 x 6s in English, she requesting remarks and also for maths and physics because DS 'only' got an 8 and she would like 9s. This must be costing her a fortune to have 4 subjects remarked. He got 9999998877766. They are well off.

Parent B: DD got AAC and needed AAB for a place at the LSE (contextual as she goes to a low achieving school). She lost her firm and is going to City University instead. She was 3 marks off a B grade, but parent B can not afford a remark and said it the same cost as a week's shopping. Her DD is fine with going to her insurance. The family has 4 children. They are not on the breadline but money is tight.

It seems the wealthy are able to request remarks at the drop of a hat. This seems very unfair.

OP posts:
Mom2526 · 21/08/2025 19:36

twistyizzy · 21/08/2025 19:22

No-one does 13 GCSEs

Yes they do. Dd did as did her cousin, both in state schools.

catsareace · 21/08/2025 19:34

twistyizzy · 21/08/2025 19:22

No-one does 13 GCSEs

Or 5 A-levels.

LittleBearPad · 21/08/2025 19:34

My school paid for my re-mark

runner2023 · 21/08/2025 19:32

Yep, they do. DS went to the same school. They take 3 GSCEs in Yr 9/10 and 10 in Y11.

OP posts:
Slightyamusedandsilly · 21/08/2025 19:29

Hmmmm, if I was parent B, I'd have found the money somewhere. A week on pasta and sandwiches. A few hours overtime. Approach grandparents for help. Different if it were all 3 subjects, but since it was just 1...

Octavia64 · 21/08/2025 19:27

Schools will pay for the remark if they think it is worth it,

they can ask for exam papers back and check them.

we used to spend hours doing it every August.

twistyizzy · 21/08/2025 19:25

Mangetouts · 21/08/2025 19:25

It doesn't say anything about 13 ?

9999998877766

That's 13

Mangetouts · 21/08/2025 19:25

It doesn't say anything about 13 ?

Myjobisridiculous · 21/08/2025 19:24

It’s not fair but it’s about privilege and expectations.
My son’s school automatically did a remark where they felt the grade could be improved. It’s a state school.
Try asking school to look at the individual papers. They may help

twistyizzy · 21/08/2025 19:22

No-one does 13 GCSEs