GCSE 2019 support thread 6

DD has done brilliantly. She was B average in Y9 but really started to work at the beginning of Y10. She's come out with seven grade 9s and two grade 8s.

I've got to put it on here or I'll burst. Other than DGPs I'm not allowed to tell anyone!!

‘9’ seems like it should be more achievable than ‘A**’ somehow, when that isn’t the case at all. Probably something to do with the way you look at A to E lined up v 1-9 and picking the middle as a Pass. That’s the way my brain looks at it, anyway

Thank you Bimkom that's very interesting.

DD is not thinking of applying to Oxford, but we were very interested to see the 9 and 8 are considered on a par. There seems to be a lot of hype about the level 9 - maybe because it is a new way of marking?

I'm happy with DD anyway - she has met or exceeded her targets, so she needs to stop comparing herself to others!

Well done to everyone's DCs! 👏

My biggest happiness this year is a boy in my form group. His mother is an alcoholic, dad in and out of jail and brother permanently excluded in year 8. He got 5-6 in everything despite a very rocky time at school. Lots of tears 😭

Congratulations to all on some great results on here.

It's been a tough day as not great results here for DS (feel like I'm in a MN and peer minority).

Only 2 at level 4 (not the ones that matter) and the rest 3s and 2s.

DS disappointed in not getting 4s in English and Maths as he assumed he was secure in those.

He had a level 3 vocational course lined up as feels final exams are not for him () but think he'll be looking at level 2 with resits. Will be seeing the college tomorrow to talk through his options.

So many congratulations to everyone. All happy in this house - a couple of papers are going in for remarking - 2 marks off for both so I said ok and paid up!

We're well chuffed overall - all A*,As and Bs. Exceeded expectations in maths and science.

BUT we have a massive anomaly in her language. Missed a 7 by 2 marks. But looking at the split across her papers she got an 8 in 3 of them and a 2 in Reading. How is that even possible??!! She thought it went brilliantly and she judged all her other results really well. Have requested remark immediately. I just don't get it. Fortunately, 6th Form have let her do it even tho they really want a 7. I think there must be some kind of clerical error - that's what I'm hoping for anyway. Anyone heard of anything similar?

Popper you can’t wait till Monday!!!!

@blondstresshead

if you look at:
www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/medicine/pre-clinical/statistics

It says:
"The GCSE measure used was a combination of proportion of A grades at GCSE and number of A grades at GCSE (with equal weighting). For shortlisting purposes a grade 8 or 9 is considered equivalent to an A*"

That is for Oxford medicine, but I imagine it is the same everywhere. Of course this might change by the time we all get to the point of being (theoretically) able to apply to Oxford, but at the moment, at least while the 8/9s are bedding down, that is apparently the attitude.

I'm still confused about double science - her results sheet said "76". DD says that means she got between a 5 and a 6, but when I googled it suggests she got between a 6 and a 7. Can anyone shed any light?? It seems such a confusing way of marking it to me!

I think that means she got a 7 fir one and a 6 for the other (2 science gcses)

I haven't posted before but am an avid lurker. I agree, what a wonderfully supportive thread this is.

My DS has gone to Reading Festival so the envelope will be sent out first class today. However, he rang me this morning to say that he thinks he'll open it on Monday when he's back in case it's bad news as he doesn't want to ruin the weekend! I think I'll combust if I have to wait until Monday!!

Well done to all those that got amazing results to move onto the next stage of their lives and the parents for getting them there.
For those that didn't get what they wanted I feel your pain.
My son got good enough grades to be considered for his course with maths and English along side which was his biggest fear as he's worried it's too much for him. The meltdown I was fearing happened, I talked him down by suggesting differing his place and just doing maths and English, this has helped a bit, so we will talk to the college at enrolment next week.
Just cuddling up to watch a film and then cook him his favourite meal to keep his mind on an even keel. It's gonna be a long week while he stresses over which course to do. X

We had a wobble this morning as dd's results were a bit lower than predicted. She was bitterly disappointed.
But we had an enrolment appointment for college today, so off she went, expecting to be told she could not do her 3 chosen A levels. But as she was so close, and her predicted grades had been higher (we had been advised to bring her school report with us) they let her do her chosen subjects.
Dd hugely relieved and we are now chanting the mantra 'your grades are yesterday's news, they got you on to your next step so now they don't matter'.
May not be entirely true but is making dd feel better

Great to hear so many fantastic results.
Dd got
2x8’s
6x6’s
1x4 ( French- she had a panic attack in her speaking test so didn’t think she would even pass - she was in top set and only one person in her year got higher than a 6 - he got a 7 and his dad is originally from France so I’m sure there will be an investigation into the French teaching !)

I am so pleased for her and am waiting outside college whilst she enrols for her A level choices my only concern is that her marks are quite a way off her mock marks. She was one mark off a 9 in her biology mock (got a 6), 2 marks off an 8 in English Literature mock (got a 6 ) and got an 8 in maths mock (got a 6) she was upset after the English literature exam because they hadn’t covered the character that the highest mark question was about but was more confident about the others and did much more revision.
We haven’t had a mark breakdown just a list of results, would it be worth asking for marks or just accepting them and being happy that she has got onto her chosen courses?

Lot's of weird results in Eng Lang & Eng Lit at dc's school this morning. Some pupils predicted to get high grades coming out with a 6 and some people like my dc have done better than predicted. They did always say that some members of the Eng department had a tendancy for favouring certain students/styles of writing over others and we can't help but wonder if this erroneously influenced the predicted grades. It may just be that these are the subjects most different to tackle under the new style (no modular approach with course work anymore) and teachers across the country may have been worried about the results as a consequence.

dc is beaming from ear to ear. A raft of 9's, and 2 8's.

Minor hassle of a slow puncture for me to sort out now but it's hard to be too irritated by it when I see how happy dc is.

Congratulations/Best Wishes to all the Y11's for the next stage in their journey.

Proudest mum in the world here- DD got 7,6,6,6,6/5, 4,4 and a distinction. Absolutely buzzing. Did not expect a 6 in eng lang as she is dyslexic- her teacher has dragged her through the exam and is worth every penny shes paid. Also buzzing with the 6 in science as she spent her chemistry exam with her head in a bucket throwing up. The 4 in eng lit is going for a remark as its 1 mark off a 5. On holiday at the moment so cocktails all round tonight!!

I've only spoke to ds1 on the phone but he told me he got 4 in maths and was so close to a 4 in English
But because he hasn't come home yet I don't know the ins and outs.
He can do his collage course but it just means he has to do English as well. All in all I'm happy and more importantly he's happy.
Well done to everyone else's dcs

Haven’t posted for a while but have been watching.
I think this thread is the most supportive, uplifting thread ever.
Dd did amazingly well, we’re thrilled
Huge congrats to everyone, pass the Chardonnay please

Twins here, 8s and 9s each. They should be very pleased with themselves. I'm chuffed to bits.

Reality is that one twin is upset that the other got more 9s... pass the gin, please...

Congratulations to everyone on the thread, we've made it! Well done to your kids.

Congratulations everyone, so many to mention but sounds like almost all have achieved their requirements for A levels which is a fantastic result.
@Frith2013 you may be gutted right now but it’s not the end of the world although that’s possibly how you’re feeling. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves life isn’t a race! 💐
@blondestresshead yes Dds school have said the same re Oxford.
For those asking we received supplementary sheets showing each exam paper raw marks, the adjusted mark and the final “ score “ both for CIE and Edexcel. including MFL orals and listening.

DS2 very happy, results range from 9 to 5 with 8s and 9s in his A level choices. Still waiting for current school to confirm timetabling ok, before declining second option.

His AQA Lit and Lang were exactly how he thought he'd done, 5 and 6.

Thankyou everyone. My Dd got 93 in the English language papers.
So 4 marks off a 6.

English Lit she is only one mark off a 6.

She got 7s in her sciences and a 6 in maths, Spanish and history. She wants to get into nursing so not sure wether to go for the remark in English language.