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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU in being angry that gcse English grades have not been awarded?

14 replies

hellsbells99 · 09/03/2013 07:39

DD is in yr11. She has now finished her Gcse English language - last exam was Jan. All CAs completed. All work to date including mock has been high A or A*. She is planning to do English Lit at A level. However latest and last exam mark is very low 25/40 - this is Wjec unit 1. But we haven't a clue what grade it is as no grade boundaries released. Don't you think this is totally unfair? She wants an overall grade of an A. But doesn't know whether she will get it even though shd has finished - school have not cashed in CAs so she can still retake this paper. We could pay for a remark but its very hard to make any decision without the grades being available/awarded. This has not happened in the other subjects. The pupils are paying for Gove being a prat and all the mistakes made last year. AIBU?

OP posts:
BrianButterfield · 09/03/2013 07:42

It is unfair but there's nothing you can do about it - like you say, it's one of Gove's bright ideas. The school won't know the grade boundaries and won't be able to tell you (in fact after last year I suspect they won't even be set until after the summer exams have been marked!)

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 09/03/2013 07:53

Thanks Brian - I am just so angry about it all!

OP posts:
enjolraslove · 09/03/2013 08:02

Your school should be able to give you an idea (it is a crap situation totally agree btw but just looking for a solution rather than resitting if not necessary), we have the same problem but we can tell kids well ' worst case this is a C, best case B'. Not exact but they get an idea.
We are not wjec though so I'm afraid I can't do it for yours. All I can tell you though is that for our board 41/64 is A/B so it may be that your dds score is an A.

2013go · 09/03/2013 08:03

Yanbu! I have no idea what my students' grades equate to and it's very worrying. Last year's grade boundaries offer some guidance, I suppose, but who knows???
I am working on the assumption they'll squeeze A and A star grades this year so am not viewing less than 30 as an A and even then not sure it's safe to do that. According to last year's boundaries there are seven students on A in my class, but I reckon only those over 35 are safely A.
Desperately unfair on all concerned. Hate Gove!!!!!!!!

Rosieeo · 09/03/2013 08:12

According to last June's boundaries for the Welsh Board, your daughter got a C in the exam - and only just, the boundary was 24. Can they resit in the summer? Ours can.

I agree it's shit by the way. Lost of very upset students on Thursday :(

Roisin · 09/03/2013 08:12

If the coursework hasn't been submitted yet, there's no guarantee what grade she's got or that; as the Board can (and does) move the boundaries for that too and/or it can be downgraded at moderation.

Has she sat the exam before? (They can only have two attempts.) If not, I would recommend re-taking the paper. I don't know what the grade boundaries are for Welsh Board, but 25/40 does not sound great for an A candidate.

It's certainly not fair, but it's better than what happened last year.

Rosieeo · 09/03/2013 08:12

Lots! Although some did look a bit lost.

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 09/03/2013 08:13

Thanks all. Glad I am not being unreasonable. I hate the whole stressful exam system. Will be going though it again next year with DD2 but linear this time.

OP posts:
Roisin · 09/03/2013 08:14

Roll on linear, then all these issues, which centre around early entry strategies, will not exist.

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 09/03/2013 08:17

Was 25/40 really only just scraping a C last year for wject unit 1? DD says lots of her friends (set 1) have got the same mark. Looks like a retake may be needed then. I hate this!

OP posts:
louloutheshamed · 09/03/2013 08:45

My students did aqa. We knew before they sat the exam that no grades would be issued but we didn't tell them in case it demotivated them. We have used last year's boundaries as a rough guide.

I'm also looking forward to linear!

INeedThatForkOff · 09/03/2013 08:51

The exam weighting will be heavier than CA as well.

Amaxapax · 09/03/2013 10:02

I'm an English teacher and we use WJEC. The controlled assessments will count for 60% of her grade, so if she is in a good position there she has a bit of leeway. Last year, the higher tier boundary for a C was half marks. I can't remember exactly what the boundary for an A was, but I can look it up and PM you later. I'm fairly certain that 25 is a high B/low A. They will take the best mark, so I would suggest she retake regardless, because it certainly can't hurt. PM me with any questions. I've been fielding them all week!

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 09/03/2013 11:27

Thanks Amaxapax - I have PMed you :)

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