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Original poster

Help! GCSE Paper Re-Mark advice

162 replies

honeydue3 · 28/08/2022 15:02

Hi, Has anyone had any luck going up a grade in their GCSE after a re-mark/check? My son is missing 3 marks off a higher grade in Maths and 4 marks in English.

My DS is feeling down as now he has to change 2 of his A Level choices. he did well in his other subjects - 6 and 7s but he needs the 6 for Maths and English.
We are also applying for retakes in November but not sure how successful that will be as he will be studying his other subjects.....any advice very welcome.
One very stressed Mummy!!

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 09:13

toomuchlaundry · 30/08/2022 09:00

I thought I had read somewhere that one exam board (and could be AQA) that it was free to access the script for teaching and learning purposes but you couldn’t then apply for marking review for the same paper.

If you want original scripts, then they come later and you can't then ask for a review because you'd be out of time.
If you want them now, you need priority access. It's free.

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 09:15

All the AQA info is here: www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/after-results/post-results

Nellle · 30/08/2022 09:23

@nicetwin I mean people are literally getting conflicting info directly from AQA on Twitter, I've seen it. I haven't sought this info myself this year.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Secondary education
Nellle · 30/08/2022 09:26

Oops, responding to the wrong person about something different. Yes, @nicetwin I'm afraid it's your school giving out of date info. See below:

www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/after-results/post-results/original-marked-paper-or-recording

Good news that the scripts are free though.

Curioushorse · 30/08/2022 09:27

I marked English GCSEs this year for one of the exam boards.

Ahem.....if in any doubt, it is worth getting the papers checked. We were under rather a lot of pressure to get things marked quickly towards the end.....

But also going to say it was a joy to read the papers. I witnessed an incredible achievement from both teachers and the students. Really impressive papers, given the school experience this year group have had.

Palmtreesandsand · 30/08/2022 09:41

Does he want to do these subjects at A level? If yes then what do you have to lose? If school is being adamant he can't do them despite the mocks and being close then I would ask for a remark.

Original poster
honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 18:33

I can not seem to find the History grade boundaries for:
Edexel 1HIAAV History A Option AV
anyone find it please?

OP posts:
Original poster
honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 18:40

And why are there so many for History??

OP posts:
Cynderella · 30/08/2022 18:54

honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 18:40

And why are there so many for History??

Because there are so many possible combinations. You could do Crime, Elizabeth and USA. That would be one code. Crime, Elizabeth and Weimar would be another.

CarrotCakeMuffins · 30/08/2022 19:26

Can I ask how you know how many marks DC got, or are short by? (I know how to find grade boundaries). DC only got grades on their results sheet, no marks. Most exams were AQA. Thanks

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 19:32

The school will be able to tell you. Contact the exams officer

CarrotCakeMuffins · 30/08/2022 19:52

Thank you

Cynderella · 30/08/2022 20:55

honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 18:33

I can not seem to find the History grade boundaries for:
Edexel 1HIAAV History A Option AV
anyone find it please?

You need the paper numbers, not the entry code for grade boundaries. Do you know which papers were sat? Just three this year.

Original poster
honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 21:13

Ah yes I got it now, thank you

OP posts:
EnglishRose1320 · 30/08/2022 21:18

I've been trying to decide whether to ask for a review of some of my ds' GCSE grades. Is their a set deadline for all reviews or does it vary by exam board?
He is 1 mark off the next grade in both biology and computer science and 3 marks off in English Literature, do you think it's worth asking for those to be reviewed? I'm hoping with them being that close, that the risk of going down a grade is small.
Also does anyone know how to find out if special circumstances were added to a subject? We applied for both Business and Maths due to an incident on the day of those exams but I have no idea if it got accepted or not.

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 21:25

The deadline for non priority reviews, which this would be, is towards the end of September.
The risk of going down a grade is small but I really do suggest that you ask the centre to look over the papers first. Reviews aren't looking for extra marks so you may well find you spend a lot of money for no benefit.
The results slip should show if Spec Con was applied. If not, ask the exams officer.

EnglishRose1320 · 30/08/2022 21:29

Thanks for your quick reply. So it would be best if I ask the school to look at the papers, then decide on a review off the back of that? Ds is worried that he dropped marks in Biology because he uses a computer for exams due to his disability but some parts of the exam he had to do on paper (I think diagrams and the like) and he doesn't feel they were very legible.

The results sheet we got definitely didn't state any Special Considerations so I will definitely check with the exams officer. His psychiatrist wrote a supporting letter explaining the situation which the school said they would send to the exam board, so I was really hoping he would get it.

hop321 · 30/08/2022 21:39

A level not GCSE but my son applied for a review as he was 3 marks off an A star (which equated to about 1%).

AQA provided the papers free of charge so we (and school) could decide whether it was worthwhile. We applied for non-priority marking for one paper (you can do them incrementally) on the Friday and got the results on the Tuesday.

It was a lot quicker than anticipated and they upped his marks by 5, meaning he was given an A star and a refund of the review fee. Have to say I was surprised as I know the odds of going up a grade are low.

Hopeandlove · 30/08/2022 21:41

He has nothing to lose -he is not going to go down a grade.

Be lucky to find 3 marks though.

Livinghappy · 30/08/2022 21:42

@Olimpia06, I suspect my son did the same comp science exam as your son. He said paper 1 was straight forward but paper 2 was challenging. CS is his strongest subject, literally getting 100% in mock tests but for his actual his marks were lowered which we think was a result of the tough 2nd paper.

I know it's worrying but gcses are only a small step on an academic path. This maybe a hurdle but he can move forwards. What subjects did he achieve best in? Would he consider BTECs which could open the door to University.

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 21:46

@EnglishRose1320 yes - ask for priority scripts. They're coming back quickly (I was sent all 5 from one candidate today who asked for them last Thursday).
Get someone in centre to look them over and advise you. Unless the marks are unreasonable, they won't move, so it's not worth taking a punt for one mark unless it's an obvious problem (something correct that has been marked as incorrect) but someone in centre should be able to give advice.

Original poster
honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 22:44

Problem at my school is teachers wont be available until Thursday to check papers. I was hoping to get results back quick so we know what A levels to go for.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 30/08/2022 22:47

honeydue3 · 30/08/2022 22:44

Problem at my school is teachers wont be available until Thursday to check papers. I was hoping to get results back quick so we know what A levels to go for.

Ask for the papers by email. They'll be back quickly. Ask the exams officer to forward them to the relevant subject leaders.
Email the subject leaders and let them know what you're asking.

Olimpia06 · 30/08/2022 23:21

Hi @honeydue3 its heartbreaking though because with a 5 CS and and 6 in maths the school is not offering him a place and at this stage we haven’t found anywhere for him from Monday

hop321 · 31/08/2022 07:14

Ask for the papers by email. They'll be back quickly. Ask the exams officer to forward them to the relevant subject leaders.

This is what we did. We received them in an hour or so (I don't know if they're downloaded or emailed by the exam board).