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Wrong GCSE Paper!!!

110 replies

TheOnlyMrsW · 20/05/2022 12:42

Hi, hoping someone will be able to help. DD16 went into school for her first Maths paper this morning, instead of being in the main exam hall she's in a small room to the side with half a dozen other kids. No idea how they've managed it but her and the children in their room have been given the wrong paper - they got the AQA paper instead of EdExcel (the main hall students got the right one).

Phoned school a little while ago and they're apparently trying to work out what happens now..........but what can they possibly do? They obviously can't give them the correct paper at a later date as everyone else has already seen it and they may get details of the questions, will EdExcel have to send a completely different paper, or them just take the grade off the other 2 papers and skip this one?

There's very few gaps in the timetable now until the last week of exams, but what if they don't all have the same day "spare"? Out of all the exams this paper was the one she was dreading the most and now to have this to deal with is crappy 😥

OP posts:
actiongirl1978 · 20/05/2022 13:21

I am in EO she will be graded from the other two papers.

Ensure your EO has done special consideration application.

Sh05 · 20/05/2022 13:21

Why didn't anyone of the kids raise their hands and mention that they'd been given a paper by different board?
I'm sure they'll file a special consideration form and take it from there

Lougle · 20/05/2022 13:15

That is so sad! It's clearly a massive mistake because it was only picked up by the children after chatting with their mates. If the staff had picked up the error, then they could have sequestered the children and made arrangements then - e.g. hold them back to retake the correct exam. But if they've discussed questions with children who took the right exam, that's impossible now.

Johnnysgirl · 20/05/2022 13:14

They won't have used two exam boards for the same tier...
Is she sure she hadn't been entered for foundation?

noblegiraffe · 20/05/2022 13:14

Being given the wrong exam paper is listed as one of the reasons for being eligible for special consideration by JCQ so hopefully they’ll have a quick answer as to the process.

TheOnlyMrsW · 20/05/2022 13:10

@TeenPlusCat definitely the case that it was an error, the kids only realised when they were comparing notes with others in the main hall and they didn't have any of the same questions.......DD is doing the higher paper as are a lot of her friends so it was a definite mix-up.

@noblegiraffe I've no idea why they would have different boards to muddle up
either, seems bizarre to me but I'm not a teacher so don't want to comment.

OP posts:
HipsterCoffeeShop · 20/05/2022 13:01

That's a real shame for your DD.

Unfortunately no one here can answer it unless they are a current exams officer and they will all be up to their necks in GCSEs right now.

The school will be communicating with the exam board about what happens now. I'm sorry for the uncertainty, but it takes time to get the correct decision in cases of exam malpractice so things are fair for your daughter and everyone else who has done Maths this morning!

Hold tight, I expect the headteacher is spitting feathers and will be on your side. I hope you hear today about what happens next. I will say your DD will not be penalised for someone else's mistake.

TeenPlusCat · 20/05/2022 12:56

Are you absolutely sure it was an error, and not that everyone doing Foundation is AQA and Higher is Edexcel? I mean, I presume you are sure, but why on earth would they have 2 different boards for the same tier, and how could they have not noticed?

noblegiraffe · 20/05/2022 12:52

Sounds bizarre that they’d have papers from two different exam boards to get muddled up!

They won’t make her sit the Edexcel one, zero chance of that happening.

They may just use the other two papers to give her a grade, that’s what would happen if she was ill and missed the paper.

Fireflygal · 20/05/2022 12:45

I don't know but I suspect they may just use remaining exams to grade.