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Applying for Uni 2019 Part 7: IB and A Levels are but a memory, we're relaxing and let's not even think about the 15 August yet!

970 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 26/06/2019 19:51

Carrying on from the previous thread which filled up very quickly.

Gin, Wine and Cake for everyone Wink

OP posts:
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blametheparents · 08/08/2019 17:21

@MrKlaw - We didn’t do an exam results present. DS’s birthday is pretty near results day so difficult to know what to get and also they should want to get the results for themselves - this should be enough for them. DS was ecstatic with his results (he did IB so had had his results for a while) - I don’t think anything we bought could’ve added to that.
For his 18th we got tickets to an event for him rather than an actual gift. So maybe tickets for a show, or a sporting event or festival?
His laptop is ok, but we’ll probably buy him a printer before he goes to uni, and maybe some new rugby boots so he starts the year off with everything he needs. Then it’s up to him to replace stuff as and when he needs it and he’ll have to learn to start budgeting for this - or wear cheaper rugby boots!! Grin

Mustbetimeforachange · 08/08/2019 17:54

How many of you are doing graduation presents?
No, it never occurred to me. We will go out for a meal, I expect (any excuse!).
Mine have never really used their printers at uni.

sluj · 08/08/2019 17:59

DS1 has not used his printer either. DS2 who will be 18 on the 15th is hoping for some Euros to take on his Boys holiday 3 days later.
I'd like to think we won't be in the throes of panic and clearing in between the 15th and the 18th but that Edexcel maths is keeping us guessing Shock

Xenia · 08/08/2019 18:43

Mine took their shared laser colour printer and found it very useful. The halls printer was often broken or out of ink. However most students manage fine without one.

Mine had a fee I agreed per A and B grade etc. which their older siblings had got. I cannot remember the exact amount.

justasking111 · 08/08/2019 19:24

18 birthday was last month, we got him nothing but a promise to take him to Cheshire Oaks for a spending spree. He received money from family as well. Tuesday was the day, we had a lovely day, because he is going to a much colder area than he is used to we found a feather and down parka type thing in Tommy Hillfiger he loved, also some t shirts, trainers. He is happy. He had no interest in a gold pen, signet ring, cufflinks whatever used to be the defining rite of passage.

justasking111 · 08/08/2019 19:24

When you say graduation do you mean A levels or degree?

errorofjudgement · 08/08/2019 19:50

No presents for results here, though I have booked the day off and was planning to take DD out for a nice lunch. However it’s her first day at her new job, and then she’s been invited out clubbing with friends from her old school (which I’m really pleased about as she’s not had that much contact with them in the 2 years she’s been at boarding school)
I’m wondering now whether to offer to go into work anyway....

Shimy · 08/08/2019 20:00

@ifonly4 & Piggy thanks for the birthday wishes. Hopefully we’ll celebrate more next week.

ifonly4 · 08/08/2019 21:07

DD's birthday is nine days after results and she'll be away abroad with friends. Works out to celebrate her birthday 16/17 August, very close to results. On top of lightweight suitcase, laptop, supporting her through uni, 18th birthday, a present is the last thing on our minds. She'll be celebrating her first choice enough if she gets it. Not knocking those who have other ideas though, please celebrate and be pleased and proud of your DC

bizzey · 08/08/2019 21:37

Hello all again !
Joing back in for the last leg . Not had much to say really.

End of term and prom went well .
Then holiday with dad and brothers...and they all came back ill and then diagnosed with samonella (? Sp) !!

No plans for results day pressies here.
Thinl my budget was spent on all the extra food and snacks him and his GSE brother during study leave and exam time 🤣🤣

bizzey · 08/08/2019 21:44

Scary thought though .. i read on another thread that UCAS/Unies get the results tomorrow!.
I suppose it makes sense
1st choice uni gets them ..if rejected it goes back to UCAS to send them to 2nd choice.
Ready for us ..ahemm i mean them the students for thursday.

Ds is not going to go on tracker..he is just going in to get the results.

errorofjudgement · 08/08/2019 21:53

The choice to look at track or get your results first is quite interesting.
Several of DS2s friends found out from track they had their firm uni place so assumed they’d got the correct grades, and were then disappointed to learn they’d actually dropped grades (though obviously delighted to still get their place).

bizzey · 08/08/2019 22:12

Errror i think that is his way of thinking .
He wants his results ...not the uni place .
Don't think i have explained that well , but i know what he means !

bizzey · 08/08/2019 22:15

Though he could be doing it this way to prolong my torture 🤣🤣

errorofjudgement · 08/08/2019 22:17

@bizzey Grin

ZandathePanda · 08/08/2019 23:09

Dd won’t go to collect her results until she’s heard from track.

Ragwort · 09/08/2019 07:34

My DS’s first choice is NTU & looking on their website they have loads of courses in clearing (including the one he is applying for), do you think that means they might be a little more lenient with grade requirements?

Piggywaspushed · 09/08/2019 07:56

I presume so rag. Everything my DS applied for is also in clearing. Am beginning to wish he had gone for his highest offer but what's done is done!

Danglingmod · 09/08/2019 08:14

Came home from holiday to loads of begging letters/postcards from ds's rejected choices!

Decorhate · 09/08/2019 08:17

We are away at the moment so that is taking my mind off results day a bit. Ds is very laidback about it all. I don’t know if he is naive or confident!

We will get him a laptop for uni so I suppose that counts as a results present?

I thought his course was in clearing at his firm but when I looked further it said only places available for oversees students.

Fingers crossed for everyone.

Shimy · 09/08/2019 08:52

Can anyone in the know explain a bit about remarking. DS2 brought it up last night and I quickly so “No, we won’t be doing that!”, but then couldn’t explain why properly.
Apart from it only being worthwhile if you are very close to grade boundaries, I’ve heard:

Remarks are being discouraged
Remarks only benefit humanities( DS has done STEM)
They don’t actually Re-Mark” they just recount your marks to make sure they are correct.

Can anyone enlighten me?

MarchingFrogs · 09/08/2019 09:33

It is explained on the websites of the exam boards, also on the JCQ site.
www.jcq.org.uk/Download/exams-office/post-results-services/post-results-services-june-2019-and-november-2019

Possibly the most pertinent may be:

Priority Service 2 (Review of marking)
The service is available for externally assessed components of both unitised and linear GCE A-level specifications.
This is a priority post-results review of the original marking to ensure that the agreed mark scheme has been applied correctly.
A marking error can occur as a result of:
an administrative error;
a failure to apply the mark scheme where a task has only a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer;
an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement.
The awarding body will train its reviewers to conduct reviews of marking accurately and consistently. Reviewers will not re-mark the script. They will only act to correct any errors identified in the original marking

I'm surprised that your school hasn't given you / the candidates the information already, though?

(Although, come to think of it, although we have had the relevant details from DS2's school re GCSEs, if there has been anything from DD's wrt A levels, either I've missed it, or she has failed to mention. All scenarios are possible, tbh. I think I resorted to looking at the exam timetable on DS2's school website to find out when DD's exams wereHmm).

LIZS · 09/08/2019 09:42

Yes a "remark" is now an admin exercise and sensibility check of the grade banding rather than a full reread and remark of the script. Unless there is an obvious error the grade will not change.

Piggywaspushed · 09/08/2019 09:44

I am expert here!

On the record, they have rebadged remarks as 'reviews of marking' to discourage them. And , on the record, one should only bother if v close to upper grade boundary.

Off the record, in practice, they are just renamed remarks and plenty of affluent students and schools continue to submit for 'reviews' and are successful. Even those more than one or tow marks away from a boundary,

errorofjudgement · 09/08/2019 09:44

I’m going back a few years here but we had two physics papers re-marked for DS. They found 12 extra marks!!

As a result his UMS went up, his grade went up, and he got his place at his firm choice which had originally rejected him.

This was pre the overhauling of re-marks, but looking at the extract from @MarchingFrogs I would hope the errors would still have been picked up under the second category - a failure to correctly mark a task that has only one ‘right’ answer

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