University 2020 :4: The wait for grades and better days ahead

[MillicentMartha]

New thread for us. Interesting times.

Old thread here

I thought last year was the first year that they used the numerical grades across the board and the previous year it was a mixture of numerical grades and letter grades? Having said that, DS did IGCSE do it might have been slightly different.
God knows what they’ll do about IGCSEs because how can you moderate across the world when different countries have experienced different levels of disruption? Will they say no countries can allow IGCSEs exams to rake place? How can they standardise moderators in say, China or India against those here?

TheDrsDoc is right about GCSEs, our Y13s did them with 90% 9-1, just a few minority subjects and DT on the old grades.

But they did the old style KS2 SATs. The current Y10s were the first to do the new ones in 2016.

DS did do some level 6 papers for SATs though, which was new.

I don’t think mine have ever done SATs ever. No teacher has ever mentioned them and I’ve never heard any talk about “levels.”

They did used to do yearly CAT tests at the primary school and the top score used to be 144, I think, where 100 was the standardised average. But I doubt a any test taken at primary level would have any bearing on performance at 17/18.

Also, what is the point to of having all different exam boards - AQA, Edexcel etc? Even within IGCSE there are different boards, Edexcel and Cambridge. Last year, I found it odd that the IGCSE Edexcel board included the actual mark achieved out of the total mark on the sheet they collect on results day. The grade boundaries are online so, most of them, if they were only one or two marks off the next grade boundary sent off for a remark. In most cases, it was marked up. The IGCSE Cambridge board, on the other hand, did not include marks, only the grade awarded, so hardly anyone sent in for remarks as they were none the wiser.
I don’t know why they just don’t insist that all schools do the same papers. This year will be even more complicated as a result of the idiosyncrasies that exist as it is.

Solars, are you in England? Every state primary school does SATs in Y6.

Solara sorry.

And the SATs scores are how schools’ progress is measured at GCSE, obviously not at A level.

@millicentmartha sorry yes it was the L6 papers that were new.

Just found out that STEP 1 has been cancelled. DS’s insurance offer was dependent on it which made it lower than his firm. Now they are both the same offer. Not sure if contacting Birmingham maths admissions would help at all?

Hi folks -my DS has offers for his preferred university for the main Mathematics degree if he got his predictions or the foundation if he didn't.

However my XH and a close friend work in university admissions so I just wanted to share their views. This year it will be a buyers (students) market. Because of Brexit and other factors there will be an over supply of places this year for the number of candidates. Usually universities over offer on places because they know that not everyone gets their predictions but it shouldn't matter this year if they all get them.

I certainly hope so @Bouledeneige! Not Manchester or Birmingham by any chance?

Let's hope so @Bouledeneige

Not A-levels, but I was wondering if anyone has any idea what will happen to children who have been Home Ed'd who are / were about to sit GCSEs.
It just occurred to me earlier that someone dd knows through a hobby is at that stage. I wonder how on earth they will evidence / predict her grades ??

I think that DC not in regular education for whatever reason but taking exams will be part of the reason it’s taking so long to produce the guidance.

DS did do some level 6 papers for SATs though, which was new.

Level 6 papers were available from 2011 to 2015, iirc. So the first to sit them would have been the current university second years and the last, the current year 11. Our primary school only entered pupils for Maths in DD's year (2012), but both Maths and English in DS2's (2014, currently year 12).

There are twin girls at Dds school who came over from the USA... Neither have sat exams in the UK.. Both girls predicted straight A*s for A Levels. I think 3 of their subjects they had no prior knowledge of either... ine holding offer for Cambridge the other Durham.. Predicted grades were accurate (both incredibly bright girls).. So there are alsorts of 'one off' issues..

I'd rather Ofqual take their time and get it right.

Changing the subject slightly, DD applied for her student finance and it came through within days.

@solara schools/exam centres have access to the breakdown of marks so should advise where borderline. In practice very few marking reviews change grades.

Edinburgh has released some of their virtual open day material.

Millicent - I would hold off contacting Birmingham for now but maybe try later when things are clearer. My contact in a uni says they are all still in the dark atm as to what the plan is for admissions this year. Hopefully guidance is on the way but may well be dependent on the DfE statement yet to come.
If there's anything new I will try to post here, confidentiality etc permitting. Fingers crossed for your DS

Should have said, there seem to be contributors higher up the food chain for admissions on here so I am sure the info will be forthcoming soon for you

Just wondering what work others have been given? My son has a few essays for business and history but nothing for his third subject. We’re now on holiday and I’m paranoid he’s going to be hit with a test or something when term restarts. It was left, still not sure what’s going on but will update you.... We forgot to chase and then end of term happened! So he was just asked to go through his notes.
Not impressed with this teacher as she ignored my son’s emails and I had to step in asking what he was supposed to be doing.

Also (sorry lots of questions) does anyone know when the teachers put the grades in? My son has an electronic reader (very dyslexic) but it wasn’t put in place until January so a lot of his evidence will be prior to that. They’ll need to take that into account.

Finally (!) does anyone know if teachers allow a trajectory of improvement? My son was predicted B in History and was working at a B/C prior to Christmas. His mock in early March was just a couple of percent off an A so I’m hoping he might get an A?

Thanks for any help/insights/experience!

I’m sure schools will have to allow for a trajectory of improvement, as I would think there’s very few students that this wouldn’t apply to?

I’m surprised to see that GCSE reviews don’t lead to many mark-ups because, in the case if DS, he was one mark off a 9 in Physics last year. After a “review” he was four marks over the 9 boundary. About six of his friends had similar mark ups in different subjects and I can only think of one case where the mark stayed the same. But clearly that’s not typical and, as I say, this was IGCSE.

Also, I’m not sure independent schools do SATs?
If they do, they keep it very quiet.

Sorry to hear about the extra uncertainty with STEP being cancelled.

How can you be on holiday?