A level biology remark

[Majaso12]

Is it worth remarking A level biology that's 7 marks off an A? Would have to lose 16 marks to go down to a C. Not sure whether to get 1 paper remarked or whether it's worth the risk. My ds was very shocked and did feel he did so much better though and definitely did well enough for an A and even even A* after seeing how low the grade boundaries were.

I know what you mean. My ds1 got a low B in A level maths which for him was good, but now ds2 has got a very high B in A level maths but it's still a B. I know I shouldn't compare them but ds2 has always been so much better at maths with a high A* in gcse maths and further maths and ds1 with a low A. That's what I find so upsetting and I can't seem to move on from it. Did your dd get her biology remarked?

Yes, DD (should have said DD and not DS originally as my DS gets his GCSE results tomorrow!), DD does have her first uni place secure - she got her first place thanks to her receiving A* in her extended project and her degree major so that's a relief. She has chosen to defer for a year and have a gap year but it's nice to know it's secure. I think we may opt to have one paper re-marked and see how we get on - I just wish there was better consistency between marking.

No we didn't in the end - she had her place and she decided to let it lie.
I think it was a huge benefit actually. She felt she had something to prove and focussed on what her c.v. Would look like post uni.

Now compared to her friends that got perfect A* A levels, she wouldn't swap her c.v. For theirs!

And honestly, once they've started uni A Levels drop into insignificance

Has anyone ever heard of a remark resulting in going down as much as 16 marks? Just can't decide what to do. If he was say 2 marks off, I'd definitely go for it, but 7 marks is probably unlikely. Just wish I could get the mark schemes.

Last year with the AS Biology we had both DD's papers reviewed (remarked). One paper went up by 1 mark and the other went down by 1 mark which ended up cancelling out the 1 mark gain!

Majaso DS2 had a remark for an A Level which went up by 18 marks from an A to an A* three years ago so if it can go up that much it can also go down. I would be very cautious, given the risk/ benefit calculation. This was not coursework either, just an ordinary examination paper. DS3 had a similar result the same year with an AS.

Was that just one paper that went up 18 marks? I've just rang my ds's university and asked if the remark did go down what would happen and they said that he would lose his university place. Didn't even look him up so didn't know his grades.

He's saying he thinks it would go up though, but without the mark scheme we can't tell.

It is unlikely, under the new review guidelines, that a paper will go up by 8. It is also unlikely to go down by 16. Changes are only made now where a mark scheme has been applied "unreasonably", rather than where there is a difference in professional judgement over the application. Three years ago it was different.

What does your son's gut feel on this?

I got An A level remarked years ago and went up a grade so it does happen. But my uni place wasn't at risk. Have you checked with the uni that the place would definitely be at risk by an altered grade?

They did say he would lose his place, but they didn't take any of his details. Said he would have been accepted with the grades he has.

It's 7 marks he needs in biology. He keeps changing his mind, but if his uni place wasn't at risk then he would want it remarked as he feels he should have gained more marks. On a 4 marker he said he wrote exactly what he's been told and what was in his textbook but not gained any marks.

Yes Majaso, in the case of both DSs it was a single paper each.

That was a lot of marks in 1 paper. We've still not done anything. Hoping to be able to speak to someone tomorrow at the school seeing as it's gcse results day, so someone should be there. I've emailed exam officer, head of science and ds's biology teacher and not had a response from any. I think the lack of support from his school when results are out is awful.

Just ask yourself this:

How would you feel if he lost his place?

And that will help you decide what to do. It's a tough choice.

Awful, wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

He didn't get his firm or insurance, but both were almost same grade requirements. He's now going to Exeter which was one of his original 5 choices and was thinking of choosing it as his insurance and it is the course he applied for.

Yes Majaso it was a ridiculous number of marks, for each DS. Unusual I think (same subject too - English) but I'm just sounding a cautionary note because I was stunned . Even a small risk of going down may not be worth taking.

Jeeps you are scaring me now. Ds has sent off for a priority remark because a 1 point increase on the paper would mean he would gain a whole grade.
His teacher encouraged him to do it and didn't mention any risk of the final mark going down

Hiugo that's awful! Marks can go down but I do think the majority stay the same.

Sorry hugo didn't mean to rattle you. Very unlikely though, esp so close to the upper mark. Fingers crossed he'll move up.

Sure he'll be fine Hugo but disgraceful that the school didn't warn you.

Got the biology mark schemes and can definitely see 1 mark she should have got. Can't mark the long mark questions as too difficult. There isn't a biology teacher available until September to look at his papers and whether they will then, I'm not sure. He's confused because he was told to be specific in the detail questions but they wanted broader answers and then other ones he gave broader answers, they wanted it more specific. He doesn't agree with the mark scheme and said he's right on some m, but think that's the trouble with biology.

He should have got not she

The mark scheme is the mark scheme though so if theyve applied it correctly his mark will stay the same.