Thread 36 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 - The Final Countdown to Results Day for Some?

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades. It's all relative!
Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.
Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will find a thread within the Further Ed board.
Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future? Post Results?

Previous Thread

@Heifer I must have missed that, where dos it say no resits this year??

It is difficult to know what to make of the hype. The announcement was very clear that grades would be midway between 2021 and 2019 and I don't know whether the Scottish announcement was as precise.

An extra level of complexity for A levels v Scottish qualifications is that, for some subjects, 2019 is the only year of a main cohort linear exam (including Maths), so they have no other meaningful comparisons. I am still really cross on DS's behalf that Edexcel Maths included a big question on a topic they "forgot" to include in the text book (both physical and on line), and was only available as an addendum you printed out and stuck in the back of the book!

I don't think I will mention any of this to DS, he is already stressed, convinced he got a B for PE (needs AAA to be in with a chance of a results day offer).

2020 and 2021 were unusual. They are not usually resits in the autumn.

Thanks for the tips @Fruitygal some really useful advice there.

DS doesn’t have a back up/Plan B and last time I mentioned it he refused to even consider it. He is currently at boardmasters so will have to wait until Monday to sit him down and make him listen. That’s if he doesn’t end up going straight to see his girlfriend (after he’s showered I hope!)

@Monkey2001 that is not fair! I’m cross on your behalf.

Thanks @Monkey2001 Did there used to be resits in January prior to Covid as they have also been stopped. Next resits are May/June 2023. I think that info will make DD more willing to accept her insurance (if offered) and also look at "lower" unis if needed as I really can't see her wanting to redo a whole school year for potentially 1 A level (hopefully not 3)...

Was it someone on this thread that has just had to replace a list driving license? If so, how long did it take (provisional if it makes any difference)?

@tryingmybest13 Thank you for the information!
Tbh I’ve never ‘bought into the hype’ that the grade boundaries per subject for our 2022 Corona Cohort could be ‘guestimated’ at at mid point between the 2019 ‘sat exams’ and the ‘TAGs’ given in 2021 or that the grade boundaries per subject would be lower this year.
I advised DD that she ‘ought to be paddling ‘ at the grade boundaries in 2019 for her subjects.
That said, I did think that the cumulative A star/ A grades awarded across the whole 2022 cohort would be at a mid point between those of 2019 and 2021.

@Monkey2001 Agree entirely here - there are/will be some differences (and are in terms of estimates given to SQA), but SQA always clear they were taking a broad approach (as all devolved nations were/are) to be aligned throughout UK. They said, upfront, an intermediary position. Their Awarding Report details how they did it - e.g The following principles underpinned the approach to awarding in 2022 to align with the mid-point

1. Overall, on aggregate for each level (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher),

deliver an ’intermediary position’.

1. Qualification awards do have to mean something to end users and help learners progress.

For me, the aggregate for the curve differs from what lots of Press and other inferences were making pre results (and same here in England!), where the position was read as higher chunk of A grades than are actual. The curve was always going to slope, but lots did not think this flatly.

However, grades are higher than 2019 so we can expect the same here! I wish the regulators had just said grades will likely be higher than 2019 without this mid-point stuff that led to wrong inferences.

@ProggyMat wise advice - and yes, grade boundaries are not the key: but some Press keep saying they are!

Yes DD did because she let someone use it for it and they lost it! It took about 4 days to arrive!

Thanks @Heifer DD has lost her wallet with license, bus pass, and debit card. Probably on the bus in her way to work this morning. Have frozen her debut card, which luckily had not been used in the 5ish hours it took to discover it missing. Debating whether to request new license now or wait and see if the wallet turns up. If it only took 4 days, probably worth doing!

Wow, this thread has fuelled my anxiety, poor DH is so worried about his results but I keep telling him that is normal. @Monkey2001 that sounds awful, did they say they’d adjust for that question?
I do feel like our DC are being given a very hard time, the last 2 years results of course had to be scaled back but I feel like our year has got the worst of it.
I looked at DS ucas page and everything is locked, so clearly results are in. I will be pleased when next week is over and we can plan whatever it is they will all be doing.

Sorry, has anyone got a prepaid euro card for their travelling DC? I have tried the PO online but they don’t like the details I am putting in. Is it because they are 18?

@sazzy5 my dd has a revolut card which has been great. I've got a referral link if you want it.

My hope for results day of that of all grades are generally lower, then unis will need to lower their offers as a result?

@Heifer in a normal year just English and Maths GCSE is available in January. With the old modular A levels there was a January sitting, but since linear came in it is just the summer.

Yes I think I remember saying that before @ProggyMat ..aim for 2019. It just seemed a bit of extra reassurance to think they'd apply the midpoint pragmatically.

I've looked up the boundaries for 2019 for Bs and all seem to hover around 60% all Dd needs is three Bs ... fingers crossed and everything else

@NCTDN yes please can you DM me? Many thanks

Interesting to get the expert insight @tryingmybest13.

I found a midpoint reference in an Ofqual blog published only last month!
"As we announced last September, the approach exam boards take to grading will reflect a midpoint between summer 2019 and 2021." I really want our DC to feel they have been treated fairly but in the light of recent posts it seems little weight has been given to the disruption.

@Fruitygal I have everything crossed for your DD.

Thanks @EwwSprouts fingers crossed for your DS too !! She’s emotional but had a fab summer so far with great memories with her friends. Hope your DS has had fun ?

@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee Exactly!
I posted my mantra to DD awhile ago on a previous thread that all she needed to achieve was her offer grades and not her predicted!
Only 6 more sleeps to go- TF!!!

@Fruitygal Thanks yes. A lot of sport. Four of them are going to a caravan in Scarborough after results when he is finally 18!

Not me saying it ..you Proggy lol. I was such a wishful thinker but we'll see over the next couple of days.

Monzo and Revolut cards are great for travelling youngsters.

I give my DD my personal Revolut card to use when she goes abroad - it's a pre paid card that I can top up and freeze at the drop of a hat - and I know where she is and what she's spending as it updates me in real time. Both Monzo and Revolut offer mid market rates so save a significant amount on foreign exchange commission relative to high street bank alternatives.

@EwwSprouts sounds like a laugh - went to Bridport near Weymouth when I was 18 with a bunch of mates in a static caravan - it was a great holiday!

DD is doing a late uk trip with 3 mates once one has retaken UKCAT - there’s mention of Legoland, Alton towers, Cadbury world and emma Bridgewater pottery place ?!? Last one makes me giggle ….

hard on DS not being 18 yet !! Both my DS1 (23) with a beard and DD got wine glasses taken off table when we sat down on hols - lots of explanation that both were of age plus ID 😂🤣😂

Scarborough will be so much fun