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Original poster

GCSE remark - worth it?

84 replies

ClareDeLune · 20/08/2015 13:15

DS has calculated that he is 10 UMS points off the next highest mark in one of his exams (taking into account each of the three modules). He's also calculated that he's 2 UMS points off another one, in one module, that would take him into the next mark bracket.

Worth a remark?

OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 25/08/2015 20:43

Thanks for the advice about doing them one at a time, does it matter which one you choose first?

That's good news Indrid, I'm amazed there was even time to send off the paperwork and for the exam board to dig out the paper. Do you think they actually got it remarked or did they just assume there would be an extra mark to be found?

IndridCold · 25/08/2015 17:54

Yes it was thanks Smile. His teacher had advised we go for it as he was only one mark off. I was amazed it was so quick though.

thunderbird69 · 25/08/2015 17:25

Indrid - that's quick, was it good news?

We haven't put the appeals in yet, I am waiting for advice from the school.

IndridCold · 25/08/2015 17:22

thunderbird we are having two subjects remarked, and got the first result back today!

frostyfingers · 25/08/2015 17:04

I think it's 17th September for the one we're doing, but I wouldn't swear by it.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 25/08/2015 15:56

Out of curiosity what is the deadline for a remark?

frostyfingers · 25/08/2015 15:46

My DS was four marks off the next grade with the possibility of having 2 papers re-marked. We were advised that it was worth it but to only do one paper at a time as per Gloria's comment - he could go up in one paper and down in another. I wasn't too bothered but DS wants it done as it's one of his A level subjects.

GloriaHotcakes · 25/08/2015 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thunderbird69 · 25/08/2015 15:06

I contacted DS's school on Thursday morning about a couple of possible re-marks but haven't heard anything (I know they are there from last Thursday to this Wednesday and then back on 1st Sept for the start of term).
I appreciate they must be busy, anyone have any idea how long it takes for them to get through all the post-results queries?

lifesalongsong · 24/08/2015 15:47

It geography, 2 papers and a CA, I guess I'll have to pay for both then

Tisy10 · 24/08/2015 13:53

It depends on the subject as to whether they'll remark a ca. Certainly in mfl they do.

TeenAndTween · 24/08/2015 11:42

life From what I have read elsewhere:

  • they don't remark CAs
  • each paper is a separate re-mark, so if you want 2 papers for the same subject done, then you have to request (and pay) for both.
lifesalongsong · 23/08/2015 21:36

Thanks Teen I had all the pdfs but stupidly hadn't realised that there was a total mark line at the end of each of the subjects Smile

I've checked them all now and the one I was interested in was bang in the middle of the grade boundaries so no point in a remark however one of the other subjects was 2 UMS off the next grade so I've emailed the school to find out about the remark process.

I'm able to pay to get one and there's no realistic chance of going down a grade so go to be worth doing. The letter that came wit the results says that grade changes are rare, it this true and do they remark all the elements including the CA marked at school?

JanetBlyton · 23/08/2015 17:03

We went by what the teacher said who recommended a remark as one son was half a mark or something that small off an A in French (and no other subject was a B so I think he's quite like to have no Bs). Whether it will be marked up will remain to be seen.

TeenAndTween · 23/08/2015 16:25

life On DD's results slips she has the UMS for each paper (except for maths) as well as the total UMS against the final grade.

If you search something like AQA GCSE UMS boundaries you can with a bit of delving find on a pdf the UMS needed for grades for each GCSE. Similarly for EDEXCEL. Then there are convertors that you can back engineer to see how many actual marks for a paper a certain UMS is (and thus how many actual marks change is needed to make a specific change in UMS).

Sorry, hopefully someone else can explain better.

lifesalongsong · 23/08/2015 14:17

How do you know that another two marks would take him to an A?

I haven't been able to find any info on the overall grade boundaries. I have all the individual marks and in one subject the school failed the students on the CA which has dragged down the overall grade and I'm very interested to find out if a remark is worth it

QOD · 23/08/2015 14:11

Dd was predicted all B's
she's so quiet and unobtrusive that she's spent her school life invisible Angry
2 A* and 7 A's up their arse

Her new 6th form grammar welcomed her on registration Friday as "well you are an exceptional young lady"
About time someone noticed other than me!

Original poster
ClareDeLune · 23/08/2015 11:25

Thanks QOD, I know it seems ridiculous to quibble over the tiny difference between an A and a B but DS wants all his predicted grades.

OP posts:
QOD · 23/08/2015 09:41

Oh and she only cares about the Physics one but sods law she'll get A* in one of the others so ... in for a penny, in for a pound (£33.60)

QOD · 23/08/2015 09:40

I spoke to a 6th form teacher at dd's new school only Friday about this
he said 3 points or less it's worth it.
He said it's not that uncommon to gain or lose (don't forget it can go down too) a point or 2 but more than 3 would raise concerns on all marking done by that marker.

My dd has 3 subjects that we are having re marked as she is 1 point from an A in Biology and English and 2 from an A in Physics grrrr

Original poster
ClareDeLune · 23/08/2015 09:33

Yes it's the writing one.

OP posts:
Tisy10 · 22/08/2015 18:18

Unit 4 is the writing and can be remarked. If he's only 2 ums off its definitely worth getting it remarked.

TeenAndTween · 22/08/2015 18:16

Clare - what is unit 4? If it is one of the CAs it can't be re-marked anyway as I understand it.

Original poster
ClareDeLune · 22/08/2015 18:11

Spanish and AQA. In each unit he got 1) a* 2) b 3) a 4) c. But that unit 4 is 61 ums points and a B would be 63 ums points. If he got the B it'd take his overall grade to an A.

Disclaimer I don't really care what he does and tbh I think he should accept "good enough" but like his dad, he's a perfectionist. It'd take his grades to all A or A*. He's not happy about the one B especially as it's so close.

OP posts:
stonecircle · 20/08/2015 22:45

Errol - ds is one mark off a B in Eng Lit (predicted a A) so I'm thinking of asking for a remark.