GCSE Grades- is it worth reviewing script with teacher?

[Ichangedmynameonce]

DS got hod GCSE results yesterday. I've posted before about his lack of motivation etc.

He did revise but it was v last minute.

He's been lucky- passed everything but certainly hasn't achieved any of his MTG and has not achieved some of his predictions.

In a couple of his best subjects he has done worse than expected. In English language he's 2 points below the next grade up and in 2 others he's 6 points below.

His school suggests they request to go through their exam script with a teacher, ahead of asking for a remark.

We will do this with the English as its only 2 points off, but is it worth doing this with the other 2 (which are arts/ humanities).

I recognise he's very lucky to have the results he's got but obviously I'd like them to be closer to predictions and potential.

Thanks

Teacher here. Our usual advice is if it two marks to get a paper/papers remarked. Take advice from the school for whether to get one paper or more papers remarked.

If more than a couple of marks the grade is unlikely to change as remarks are unlikely to be more that one or two marks. Don’t forget a remark may also reduce the marks awarded.

You have my sympathies, my DD has missed out on the next grade up by 4 marks in three of her GCSEs

They’re offering a remark? Are they not aware that isn’t possible, you can get a review of marking, it isn’t anything like a remark.

Which of the arts had the six mark gap?

They offer to review the script , ahead of the possibility of requesting (and us paying for) a formal remark. Not sure if it's actually called a remark, but the process that could end In the mark glimg up or down

It's not a remark it's a review. 'Could the marker have reasonably awarded this grade'.
we usually recommend for 1 or 2 to have a look at the papers. If there's a question with an odd dip that looks fine to us - review.
We've had an A Level one go up 13 marks this year already.

*going

I guess they do this to manage expectations and discourage unrealistic hopes

Just to say it’s not a remark but a review. To make sure it’s been marked within the boundaries of the mark scheme. I recommend a review if within 2 marks, however I sent 15 last year and not one changed. I’m an exams manager. My own daughter is 1 mark from an 8 in English Lang and will pay to chance a mark up. She is 4 from the next boundary in maths, not sure yet as to what to do with that as 4 marks is a stretch.

That's very helpful, thanks for clarifying @MaybeMrs hope your DD gets it

We have some change every year. Already had one A Level change in a cohort of 18!

@MaybeMrs is 4 marks less of a stretch in an arts subject than maths? There was another thread yesterday where reviews were recommended for 6ish marks....thanks

DS has done less well than he’d hoped. He’s one mark off the next grade up in one subject and two marks off the next grade up in two other subjects. The school is reviewing the papers and then advising whether to get the papers reviewed, but have said already that as he was predicted higher grades and he missed all three by tiny margins, it’s worth giving it a shot. He knows not to expect a higher grade in any of the three subjects, but at least they will be looked at.

I would definitely get the papers back for the teachers to advise then go from there

It is a proper swiz this reviewing papers thing from the exam board. Last year I advised on 30 GCSE papers pre marking review - when did this system change?

Personally, I think it’s odd to send off all scripts within a couple of marks of the grade boundary with the new ‘review of marking system’. Our process is to evaluate whether a student’s grade is out of line with their typical performance, and then request a review. Remember that a student’s mark can go down as well as up! We’ve had some questionably high marks in English this year that we are accepting (of course) and in turn have some questionably low marks.

Last year, we had students go from a 3 to a 5 in both Lang and Lit (same students!) which we submitted for a review of marking due to a discrepancy against their previous performance, not proximity to grade boundaries. We’ve previously had an examiner miss out an entire Question 5 (40 mark) response!

2016

Time flies when you're having fun . I feel like it's more and more over recent years that we return in September and go through a load of papers before they get sent off.

Op, best wishes and I hope things work out.

Thanks everyone. He got a 6 in the one thats 2 points off next grade , but got an 8 in his mock and has been between 8 and 7 fairly consistently. The other 2 he also got 6s- I don't think it's fair to say he was consistently working much higher, but often.

Thanks everyone

2018 I think

2016? I stand corrected!

Yup as I went on Mat leave! They said it was because independent schools just sent every one back for remarks because they could afford it and it wasn't fair - didn't look into improving quality control!
And the cost thing is still there. It's a lot of money. And we've already had a Lit A Level paper go up a LOT.

Thanks everyone, we will review with his teachers and go from there.

One more question as I'm a bit confused- do the teachers actually have the scripts now or do they request them?

Thank you

The candidate has to request them.

Thank you

I'm in a similar stain with my daughter on 2 GCSEs grades but her most highly predicted subject she got a 1 and the teacher is saying she never handed her course work in. But this is blatantly not true as I drive her to school SPECIFICALLY to Deliver a massive gullet of course work. 4 other states have also had the C same happen to them and the teacher is refusing to rate responsibility. I've literally no idea what to do next.

@WitchyBits she should have the the NEA mark by early May at the latest - if you didn't know then about the work being missing, you must take that up with the school. Try to find their NEA and exams policies. They should be online.

At our school the candidate signs to say we can access scripts so we can access easily. If you contact the exams officer they will be able to give them to the teacher.

Hi
Eng teacher here. I've been reviewing scripts from my own school students. Send it over and I'll look at it. Private message me and I'll send you my email address. You have to be out of tolerance for marks to go up. No more 'finding a mark' to move up. I can give you more details. A level and GCSE Lit marker also. Thanks Musicalfan