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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To question an exam grade for my 18 year old son?

13 replies

LolaLouise · 20/03/2025 11:52

Son in in college doing an advanced diploma in his chosen subject, he is in second year, he has offers for all the uni's he applied to, however, his firm choice and preferred uni is dependent on a higher UCAS score than the others. As its an advanced diploma, the grade is made up of course work and on going exams, not final exams liek A levels. So today he has just received grades for the two modules at the start of this year. They are graded at pass, merit, distinction. One he got distinction on. The other exam was his stronger subject area. It was made up of 2 exams, each giving 40 marks, to a possible total of 80. in mocks he was getting 30-35/40 on each exam, getting D graded every time. He has just got the grade back and he has been given 29/80 total. This is a pass grade, and ultimately means he will be very unlikely to reach the UCAS points for his preferred uni. He cannot understand how this is possible, and feels the only explanation is one of his exam entries was not submitted or marked. Each exam was saved to USB to be submitted for grading so there is the possibilty it hasnt saved correctly, or the file corrupted, the USB faulty etc. College have told him they dont have a break down of where marks were awarded, and they cant ask for a regrade? All tthey can request is a script, but no answer on how long that will take, what the script entails, and what the options are after.

He is 18, and i encourage him to raise issues himself and find solutions. However, the college seems to be stonewalling him entirely. I feel in this situation i have to step in, as this has the potential to affect his uni entry, and his future entirely.

If i do step in, does anyone have any direction for contesting a grade at college level? TIA

OP posts:
Cyclebabble · 20/03/2025 12:19

I see nothing at all wrong with supporting an 18 year old to query a grade. Some of what you say seems quite strange indeed. Usually for any external exam there is a process for checking/remarking and for ensuring that all of the material which should have been present actually was. I would push further on this and at the outset I am slightly suspicious of the college response.

lifemakeover · 20/03/2025 12:23

Oh bless him - I feel for him. Definitely support him on this.

AllyDally · 20/03/2025 12:26

Its absolutely fine to support him in questioning this, he is still at college.

If he was at Uni then I would say not really appropriate unless he had additional needs.

LolaLouise · 20/03/2025 13:11

Cyclebabble · 20/03/2025 12:19

I see nothing at all wrong with supporting an 18 year old to query a grade. Some of what you say seems quite strange indeed. Usually for any external exam there is a process for checking/remarking and for ensuring that all of the material which should have been present actually was. I would push further on this and at the outset I am slightly suspicious of the college response.

This is my concern too, that the college are basically shutting him down. The exams were saved to two seperate USB provided to them, i dont know if these came from the exam board or the college, the USB's were submitted for grading. I maybe wrongfully assumed the college would immediately have a break down of grades much like with GCSE's, but they are saying this isnt the case, they have to request the script. When he asked about regrading they told him this isnt possible, though since posting, he has been told he may be eligible to resit from one tutor, another has said this isnt possible as he has passed the exam, resits are only availble to those who failed. He just cant get a clear answer from them over the process, but they are agreeing with him that the mark appears to be incorrect, as this was his strongest area in the course, and others on the course have gotten much better grades even though they didnt attempt elements of the exam my son completed. I've emailed his named tutor for advice on the process of escalating, but i know they are teaching until 4.30 so im not expecting a reply today.

OP posts:
B1indEye · 20/03/2025 13:22

Could you ask the examining body what the process is for having a submission looked at? The college may not know the correct procedure

MathsMum3 · 20/03/2025 13:23

Definitely push this. It does sound very strange, and there seems to be scope for errors and data loss given the use of USB sticks. I would definitely want clearer answers regarding what has happened.

lifemakeover · 20/03/2025 14:36

Presumably the files that were on the USB sticks are saved elsewhere as well so it will be possible to check what he thought was submitted versus what actually was?

Cyclebabble · 20/03/2025 14:45

Agreed. In the meantime I would also give the exam body a call as others have suggested.

LolaLouise · 28/03/2025 14:04

A quick update. We have had the scripts back today, and as we thought, only half his work was graded! we can see all the work from paper B is 0. College have a back up of exam submission and have submitted it to be regraded and hopefully he gets the mark he deserves for the work he put in. We dont know if this error is from the college or from the exam board however, and i am still waiting for the call back from the department in the college too!

OP posts:
Fluffyyellowball · 28/03/2025 14:31

That's good news but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest. My daughter went from a B to an A* after asking for a remark of one of her A Levels and it turns out they had not marked part of the paper. The same happened to one of her friends and he lost his place at med school because they were unable to hold his place for the remark. Exam boards should pull their socks up and realise that kids futures depend upon these results.

Pottedpalm · 28/03/2025 14:52

Excellent news! Well done.
When it is all sorted I would approach the college and ask
for a meeting to discuss the whole issue.

Cyclebabble · 28/03/2025 20:10

Well done. I have a suspicion this is the fault of the college?

lifemakeover · 28/03/2025 20:27

Ahh well done - that's excellent news. I am sure he's very relieved.

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