Page 19 | A levels 2023 - Results day and beyond

HereWeGo2023 · 2023-08-17T05:47:35+00:00

Hi all. I thought I’d make a new thread as the countdown one is filling up. Results day is here and I’m sure we will all value each others support, today and for the next stage of their journeys.

TeenDivided · 17/08/2023 15:13

Springbunbun · 17/08/2023 14:55

I work in the apprenticeship industry - if you need any help give me a message.

if it’s a level 2 or 3 apprenticeship he can do his functional skills alongside it with the provider

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I may be way out here, but I assumed it was a high level apprenticeship needing a C for Maths A level, e.g. in engineering.
(But as iGCSE results are also out, I'm probably wrong.)

Darkbutstarrynight · 17/08/2023 15:18

@troppibambini6 Suspect my DD will be doing law at Sheffield too!

It's his insurance but waiting for a remark to see if gets his firm of LSE or not but not holding my breath!

In other news, seems they have been very harsh on coursework for history and EPQ at least. Lots and lots of blind cross marking yet for first time ever, boards have docked teacher's marking.....by at least 8 points from full marks in some cases which is a whole grade. Never had it done before and also teacher's aren't agreeing with the comments given in some of other marking. Will be good of those grades change....but it's the random B that is the issue so clinging onto hope for a little longer...

UcasSchmucas · 17/08/2023 15:19

My DD did IB and missed her Bristol (Law) offer by 2 points (she got 16 at HL instead of 18). We have been hoping that Bristol would still give her the place as she got 31 in the LNAT but found out today that it's a no.
I'm so envious of those DC who have dropped grades but are still being offered their first choice uni course.
Well done to all and good luck to those who will start a different path from the one they were hoping for.
poetryandwine you were so helpful and kind on my other thread - thank you.

WombatChocolate · 17/08/2023 15:26

kidstaxidriver · 17/08/2023 15:07

@Katbum possibly very wise words!
@LoserWinner sorry this is all new to us, can you clarify the ‘it’s not a remark’? Is it not? How does it work? Is it just a checking the marks total up to the same figure?

If they are one mark off the next grade and there are plenty of marks between what they got and the next grade down…….I’d find out the marks on the 2/3 papers to see where the weakness or unexpected mark was and I’d go for a review of marking. (Called this instead of re-mark - they look at marking and esp in essay subjects it’s relevant as they can see if it’s within the correct band on mark scheme. If it is, marks are not changed, even if they would have placed them at a different point within the band. Marks only change if it’s deemed to be in wrong band. Humanities subjects often have wide bands. Subjects with lots of shorter answers have small bands)

People say ‘it doesn’t matter if you’re into your choice of uni, no-one cares about A Level results later’

I beg to differ. This student cares…it is for their satisfaction and because they hoped for and felt they could get the grade above. Those A Level results go on your CV when you apply for jobs. Some jobs won’t be bothered by A Level results but some will. Therefore, if you are entitled to a higher grade (and you’ll only get it if you’re entitled to it) then why not have it? Yes it will cost. But after 2 years work I think it’s worth it.

Students in selective schools and indeoendnet schools which are a mark or two off a boundary won’t be deciding not to bother. Errors are made in marking. Why not look into it. It’s only worth it if you’re close to the next boundary and far off the one below (marks can go down….not so common but it happens) and you have to accept that the new mark stands, but if you are close to the next grade and many marks off the one below, the chances of going down are small.

I’d be going for it after discussing with teachers.

poetryandwine · 17/08/2023 15:28

@kidstaxidriver the situation in my earlier reply was a bit different. @Khara ’s DD would gain a great feeling if her A in FM goes to A star but A is already an excellent grade. I don’t see it as an issue for her self confidence. It would help her school’s statistics, however.

Your DS has a trickier decision because he’s in, and that is the most important thing, but I understand what you mean: raising that B to A would genuinely boost the confidence of most DC. But the boost is artificial, because it is about 1 mark! A grouchy or dyspeptic examiner, a series of small unlucky things. It happens to a few every year. Can he come to appreciate in his heart that it’s meaningless? If not I wouldn’t discourage him from seeking a remark.

kidstaxidriver · 17/08/2023 15:33

All such valid points! He’s on 203/300 and the A is 204, with the drop to a C being 175, so it just feel like it’s just literally within reach with the risk of going down really quite slim! And yes at the moment, he’s seeming to suggest it’s important to him. Thank you for all your useful feedback, definitely helpful to mull over. Will have to look at marks for each paper and decide what to do

CurlyTandtheTangles · 17/08/2023 15:36

Oh I do feel for those who didn't get the grades. Wishing them well.

@DailyMaui thanks for the updates on your DD's girlfriend. Hope it's calming down at yours now and the visit to Uni puts aside any more wobbles.

Been relatively calm here. We've been deliberately "it will all be ok whatever happens " for a few months. DS struggled with one subject and we kinda wrote that off, then he's amazed himself with decent grades for all 3 exams and the Degree Apprenticeship accepted.

DS got results then driven away to be at a festival helping with staging. I understand the team have celebratory cake and lager ready for much later tonight. I'm envious!

Cafeconleche · 17/08/2023 15:44

@Thefatbutteredpig - I really feel for you and your DD, but once she gets over the disappointment of missing out on her first choice, your DD is going to fall in love with UEA and won’t look back. Norwich is a great little city, full of bars and bookshops, and housing is relatively cheap and plentiful - something your DD will appreciate on such a long degree course. And the UEA campus is green and safe. My DS is going into his 3rd year at UEA (having turned down his place at Manchester on results day) and has just landed in the States for his study year abroad at a top US university. He has friends who are studying medicine - some of whom had UEA as their insurance, but now can’t imagine being anywhere else.

LoserWinner · 17/08/2023 15:45

kidstaxidriver · 17/08/2023 15:07

@Katbum possibly very wise words!
@LoserWinner sorry this is all new to us, can you clarify the ‘it’s not a remark’? Is it not? How does it work? Is it just a checking the marks total up to the same figure?

A senior examiner checks for three things:

Clerical errors, for example, have the marks been added up correctly?
Has the mark scheme been applied correctly?
Is this a fair exercise of academic judgement? They are not allowed to ask ‘what mark would I have given’ and change it if they might have given one or two marks more or less within the same band. They must ask ‘is this a reasonable mark given the marking criteria?’

In the case of essay type answers, there’s no one ‘correct’ mark, just a range of fair marks. The person doing the review can only change the mark if there’s a clear ‘no’ to one or more of these checks, and if a change is necessary, the mark is equally likely to go up or down.

ono40 · 17/08/2023 15:46

Finally got round to reading all the messages on the thread. Congratulations to all those whose DCs got into their firm or insurance unis and big hugs to those who didn't and are now trying to console and help their YPs.

DS got two A stars and a B plus A star in EPQ. As he hasn't applied to uni, we have spent all morning feeling at a bit of a loose end (after going out for a celebratory brunch!)

Of those we know about, one dropped three grades but was accepted to his firm, one missed his firm but was offered and accepted an alternative course at the same uni, one got his insurance and one went through clearing. They are all off clubbing tonight after he finishes work and luckily he has the day off tomorrow to recuperate!

Motherland2624 · 17/08/2023 15:46

My son got ABB
needs AAA to study medicine
Sheffield rejected him straight away
no word from Plymouth
he is devastated

Mommybunny · 17/08/2023 15:49

Just to add to the “data” - my DS went to an independent school and was predicted A*AA, and needed that for his law course at a RG. His results were online at the stroke of 8am at ABB. Lots of cursing and fretting with DH and me having our phones at the ready because we thought it meant his firm and insurance were both unachievable. A minute later the email from the firm uni arrived with congratulations on having his place confirmed.

So yeah, his grades were all a full “step” below his predictions. Sounds like that happened a lot this year.

Congratulations to all who have settled places, and lots of hope and concern for those who are still working in it. All of the kids who don’t yet have places clearly have parents who love and support them - you can read it in the posts - and with that love and support they will be ok.

Advicerequest · 17/08/2023 15:52

Very many years ago this happened to me and another boy in my cohort. Both of us applied to oxbridge both of us were pooled, both of us reapplied the following year and both of us got in the second time round

Advicerequest · 17/08/2023 15:53

So sorry - the whore went - it was in respnse to the person who asked ahwther it was worth waiting / regrouping
reapplying a year later

Fourcandlesx · 17/08/2023 15:54

Ooo @Darkbutstarrynight that's interesting about the history as my son is one of the A star to B shock stories which has lost him his place at his firm and insurance. Are you able to tell me where you have read about that please?

Violinist64 · 17/08/2023 15:55

Congratulations to those who have done well and commiserations to those who are disappointed. Some years ago, my daughter was disappointed as she missed her first choice university but got into her insurance. We told her how proud we were of her and reminded her that second choice need not mean second best. She thrived at this university, so much so that she returned to do a masters and graduated with distinction.

Dixiechickonhols · 17/08/2023 15:57

Mommybunny · 17/08/2023 15:49

Just to add to the “data” - my DS went to an independent school and was predicted A*AA, and needed that for his law course at a RG. His results were online at the stroke of 8am at ABB. Lots of cursing and fretting with DH and me having our phones at the ready because we thought it meant his firm and insurance were both unachievable. A minute later the email from the firm uni arrived with congratulations on having his place confirmed.

So yeah, his grades were all a full “step” below his predictions. Sounds like that happened a lot this year.

Congratulations to all who have settled places, and lots of hope and concern for those who are still working in it. All of the kids who don’t yet have places clearly have parents who love and support them - you can read it in the posts - and with that love and support they will be ok.

That’s great news i’m watching with a yr 12 hoping for RG law next year.

mrsm43s · 17/08/2023 15:59

Another one whose grades were good, but lower than predictions (by 1 grade for one subject and 2 grades for another subject), but who was accepted into her firm. Luckily we found out the firm had been accepted before going to school for the results, so very philosophical that the grades are fine in themselves, if not quite what hoped for, and that they don't really matter in the bigger scheme of things as they are on the course wanted.
School are doing a review of one paper for one subject, as it was an unexpected drop, plus that one paper was significantly out of line with the marks on the other two papers which scored as expected or even slightly higher than expected. Won't bother with a remark unless the teacher feels there's an error, since it's not needed for uni entry.

SB1971 · 17/08/2023 16:01

Did all yours children get marks as well as grades?
My DD didn’t and wondered if that was unusual?

Darkbutstarrynight · 17/08/2023 16:02

@Fourcandlesx
It's basically what his history teacher has told him and gave him the breakdown. Bizarrely low in paper 3 and he had full marks (40) in the coursework but has been dropped down to 32, as have several others. Same in EPQ full marks and dropped way down as did others. The teachers cross mark and check across the linked schools - never before had a drop of this much and this many. And he is a genuine A* student in history and has been throughout - scores low and they have said they disagree with the examiners comments re content...the teachers said it seems to be common in their school this year a d was completely unexpected

Mumof2lads · 17/08/2023 16:10

does anyone know if Newcastle or Birmingham were generous today - ie. letting people in with missed offers?

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 17/08/2023 16:14

Motherland2624 · 17/08/2023 15:46

My son got ABB
needs AAA to study medicine
Sheffield rejected him straight away
no word from Plymouth
he is devastated

If Plymouth haven't made a decision yet, it may be worth him contacting them and asking when he might hear from them. He can also use it as a chance to reiterate his enthusiasm for medicine in general, and Plymouth in particular.

Are either of the Bs close, or worth going for a review/appeal on?

I understand he's probably really struggling, but if he's able to be proactive, then he may be able to salvage something from the situation?

DailyMaui · 17/08/2023 16:14

CurlyTandtheTangles · 17/08/2023 15:36

Oh I do feel for those who didn't get the grades. Wishing them well.

@DailyMaui thanks for the updates on your DD's girlfriend. Hope it's calming down at yours now and the visit to Uni puts aside any more wobbles.

Been relatively calm here. We've been deliberately "it will all be ok whatever happens " for a few months. DS struggled with one subject and we kinda wrote that off, then he's amazed himself with decent grades for all 3 exams and the Degree Apprenticeship accepted.

DS got results then driven away to be at a festival helping with staging. I understand the team have celebratory cake and lager ready for much later tonight. I'm envious!

It has been weird here because there's one ridiculously happy teen and one teen a bit like a deer in headlights. She's lost her mum, her gran is really ill, they fled DV just before mocks... poor thing has been through the mill. I just so want her to have some good times and something positive to look forward to.

Sounds like your DS is having the apres results evening dream - I fancy a festival with lager and cake!

Fourcandlesx · 17/08/2023 16:16

@Darkbutstarrynight thank you. It's a weird one. He has always been A star in history and sat AS levels last year so got a chance to have his paper externally marked. I think he got 88% or something in AS history but it was way above the boundary for an A star so we genuinely don't think he was over predicted. He felt the exam couldn't have gone better too so to get a B was a real shock ( it's highly possible it was his handwriting!) Anyway he doesn't want to get his paper remarked as he has taken a place in clearing now and is happy with how things have worked out. I would still like the school to just have a look at the paper for any glaring errors but I don't suppose they will unless he asks. Clearing was very very easy with an online form and and offer within about 60 seconds so at least that wasn't stressful. Good luck with your son's remark. Sheffield Law dept was great with lovely staff and students so he won't go far wrong there anyway.

mizu · 17/08/2023 16:18

How is everyone working out the marks? How do you know grades were almost the next grade up for example?