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Higher education

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Original poster

1% off a 1st - is it possible to appeal?

45 replies

earlymorningtea · 26/06/2017 23:16

DD has got 69% overall - 70% is a first. She has suffered severe migraines throughout her course and is also dyslexic (but has received extra time). Does she have any grounds for an appeal? She has been trying to contact her supervisor but has not had a response.

OP posts:
Pickerel · 26/06/2017 23:20

I don't think the reasons you mention would be grounds for an appeal. The dyslexia is already 'covered' by the extra time, and the migraines during her course would not be specific enough - she would need to have doctor's evidence of a migraine on the date of an exam or similar.

However, she can say on her CV that she has a high 2:1, and give the percentage too. It shouldn't hold her back - most employees want a first or a 2:1 in my experience.

PickAChew · 26/06/2017 23:33

I fell just short and was awarded a first after a Viva Voce exam. Not the easiest of options, even if offered, though!

AlmostNQT · 26/06/2017 23:37

I'm just about to graduate and am pretty sure if you are on a threshold like that the result goes to a board where they will look at other contributing factors like attendance.

Is that their official result or just what they have worked out from their assignment/exam scores?

BikeRunSki · 26/06/2017 23:37

I got 69.44% and appealed. I was turned down, because one of my exams (from the previous year but it counted) just scraped a pass, and the average was brought up by very high marks in other exams. I guess it might depend on the consistency of your DD's marks across the exams that count towards her final classification.

BikeRunSki · 26/06/2017 23:39

I got 69.44% and appealed. I was turned down, because one of my exams (from the previous year but it counted) just scraped a pass, and the average was brought up by very high marks in other exams. I guess it might depend on the consistency of your DD's marks across the exams that count towards her final classification.

NotMyPenguin · 26/06/2017 23:45

I don't think those would be grounds for appeal, sorry. You would need to identify a particular exam or assessment that was affected and then have specific grounds for appeal that were well documented (e.g. if she was seen by the GP for a bad migraine on the day of her exam; and A&E admission) etc.

On the plus side she can be very proud of herself for what she has achieved. A high 2.1 will give her the same job opportunities as a 1st would have, and she will always have the satisfaction of knowing how well she has done (many of her marks must have been at 1st class level in order to achieve that overall average).

I suggest she gets a transcript with a detailed breakdown of marks, as well as the general certificate she will be given when graduating. That way if she ever wants to apply for something related (e.g. further study in a particular area) and has an especially good mark in a related module, she will be able to mention it specifically in case it helps.

DelphiniumBlue · 26/06/2017 23:46

My son appealed informally, was turned down, but several months later got a letter saying they had decided the percentages had been wrongly calculated, and he got the First after all.
A lecturer friend of mine reckons they needed to up the percentage for their own targets.
If you are asking them to take into account health problems, these will need to have been notified to them in writing before the exams, so I was told. Might not be the case for every university. Bear in mind it's better for them if they can award a First, but they need to be able to justify it. So if DD can check that the marks that she was given were correct ( ie that they haven't accidentally missed giving her a mark ) that might help.

SomeOtherFuckers · 26/06/2017 23:46

Well it depends - you could appeal particular exams etc. I got a borderline 1st but tbh I think usually you have to accept the overall and appeal the individual x

Original poster
earlymorningtea · 26/06/2017 23:49

Is that their official result or just what they have worked out from their assignment/exam scores

It is her official results - she is gutted because it is so close and because she would like to do a Masters at one of the more prestigious unis. Everything this year has been graded as a first, but some of her second year results were low 2:1. Her migraines have been severe and have genuinely affected her coursework - a recent MRI scan showed scarring on the brain.

OP posts:
NotMyPenguin · 26/06/2017 23:53

It shouldn't prevent her from doing a masters at a prestigious university -- they are likely to look at the individual marks for modules, as well as at her personal statement and references (possibly the most crucial bit).

NotMyPenguin · 26/06/2017 23:55

Just a quick thought, though...

You mention that the low marks related to a particular year, and that more recently her marks have all been high.

Has she had any changes of medication (e.g. more effective migraine management) between those years, that could explain why her results in the previous year suffered? (Presume this would also be documented in GP prescription records).

Original poster
earlymorningtea · 26/06/2017 23:58

Thank you NotMyPenguin - yes, her migraines are being more effectively managed and this is documented with her GP.

OP posts:
Haudyerwheesht · 27/06/2017 00:01

I got the same mark for my degree. I didn't even think about appealing tbh but I've never quite got over that one bloody percent

NotMyPenguin · 27/06/2017 00:07

It could be worth following up, in that case. It's time-specific and documented with the GP, which is a good start.

Rather than just bumping her mark up, be aware that they may give her the option of retaking a module or sitting a new one (or potentially submitting additional work of some other sort) to replace one of the modules where she got a lower mark. This can work really well as then the new module shows up on the transcript, and would also put to rest any lingering doubts in her mind about whether the better mark is deserved.

Original poster
earlymorningtea · 27/06/2017 00:11

Thank you - I will send her a link to the thread.

OP posts:
GoneDownhill · 27/06/2017 06:34

How annoying for your DD. What subject is it?

chemenger · 27/06/2017 09:02

I am on the appeal board for my university. We don't uphold retrospective mitigating circumstances and I think this is the same for most universities. Even apparently very deserving cases, like your DD's are rejected because students the rule is that students must report things affecting their performance in a timely way. Your DD should have used the usual process for reporting mitigating circumstances before the exams, or at least before the results came out. She should read the regulations on appeals carefully and get some advice, probably from the students union welfare people, to clarify the rules in her institution and prepare her case, if she decides to go ahead. There is probably a time limit on appeals, late appeals are only accepted here if there is good reason why they could not have been made in a timely fashion.

10% of people with a 2.1 degree will be within 1% of getting a first, but it is painful for all of them. For most purposes a 2.1 is as good as a first, there is often an element of luck in the difference between a 2.1 and a 1st around the borderline. A 2.1 is a very good degree.

If the rules are different from ours, and she is permitted to retake modules, this will mean she won't graduate in the Summer and won't strictly speaking have a degree to apply for Masters courses with (although they may consider her on the basis of her existing transcript).

BikeRunSki · 27/06/2017 09:09

If it's any comfort - my 69.44% 2:1 got me a funded place on my chosen MSc course, at an extremely highly regarded university for that discipline (HEFC 5* back in the mid 1990s), and then onto a funded PhD. Not having a First has never been an issue, and I have worked or studied in the field I studied ever since graduating.

Original poster
earlymorningtea · 27/06/2017 09:17

Thank you chemanger for your extremely helpful post. DD will go to student services but it seems likely that she does not have grounds for an appeal. Hopefully, her dissertation mark will help her get on a good MA.

OP posts:
peukpokicuzo · 27/06/2017 09:20

They have to draw the line somewhere and I bet there were quite a few others who were 1% or less off a first.

However there's a good chance of getting a place on a Masters course if it's in an area of study that she got a 1st class mark for in the relevant modules.

anonymice · 27/06/2017 09:24

echo what @chemenger said. I am a Welfare Officer and we don't uphold retrospective mitigating circumstances at my institution either. I do not imagine that a high 2:1 would preclude her applying for and getting on to an MA course though, and I really hope this does not put her off doing so.

Baalam · 27/06/2017 09:29

I got the same mark. I got a very high first for my dissertation and was offered a postgraduate place at my very good uni. She'll be fine. Just be proud of what she's achieved

DoctorDoctor · 27/06/2017 09:29

It won't be a barrier to her getting on the MA. Plus I knew people who had high 2.1s who were funded for further study when they applied, over people with firsts. It's disappointing for her, but she's done really well and that will show on her transcript. In my institution we look at borderline cases like this very carefully, so I would imagine if they could have justified a first they would. In general though HE does not do 'remarking' unless there was a problem with procedure the first time round.

Original poster
earlymorningtea · 27/06/2017 09:38

Just be proud of what she's achieved

I am extremely proud of her.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 27/06/2017 09:42

Well done her, she should be very proud, I'm not sure here is anything to be lost by an appeal?

My daughter is one point off a first for her second year in law. She's at a highly ranked RG law school, it really wasn't easy to attain and she's one of the few who achieved it. She was very happy indeed

Instead of being gutted she should be delighted, I imagine it took a lot of effort for her to achieve that score. I'd get her to focus on the positive, she did excellently.