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Higher education

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Original poster

Ds didn't see 5 questions on maths paper 1 and has missed his A by 7 marks. What would you do?

190 replies

AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:19

Ds thought he'd reached the end of the paper at Q10. There were 5 more questions. I contacted school as soon as he got home (he realised when he overheard students in the bus talking about questions he hadn't seen). School checked immediately that he didn't have a faulty paper. He didn't.

We knew his A star was lost, but remained hopeful for a A (based on conversations with his maths department who said that even if the grade boundary shifted upwards by 5 points, which was their feeling it could do, he could scrape the A. The boundary went up by 10 points. Had their boundary prediction been correct, he would have indeed just scraped the A)

He has lost his uni place as the A in maths was a hard line.

He got 3As. And a B in maths.

His marks per paper breakdown are:
Paper 1: 55/100
Paper 2: 65/100
Paper 3 69/100

Raw score 189, A boundary 196.

He can: apply to see his scripts. Or ask for a review. Or move on.

He's spoken to the uni, who have said no based on the B. He wants to retake the maths and reapply for 2024.

But we've been discussing whether we should get the scripts and just see if those 7 marks could be found in a review. We know 7 marks is a lot to find in a review.

We found out on results day that the school applied for special consideration but it was rejected by the exam board. We didn't know they'd done that.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Doidontimmm · 19/08/2023 10:22

Is this England or Scotland?

ClassicHummus · 19/08/2023 10:23

As a Head of Maths, I would say that chances of picking up 7 marks in a review are close to zero, unfortunately.
Do you know the exam board? If Edexcel, the school will be able to access a copy his script and this might inform if there are any additional marks to be found.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:23

Sorry, England.

OP posts:
CinnabarRed · 19/08/2023 10:24

I’d let him resit next year. It’s a really hard lesson to learn about reading the exam paper properly, and my heart goes out to him. But I think the chances of finding 7 points, and in Maths of all papers, is pretty negligible. That said, I’m not an expert - it’s just my view.

2chocolateoranges · 19/08/2023 10:25

Unfortunately I doubt that they will find 7 points by rechecking it. It’s a hard lesson learned but you need to make sure all questions are answered when you sit exams.

he either needs to resit it next year or choose a different uni to study at this year.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:25

ClassicHummus · 19/08/2023 10:23

As a Head of Maths, I would say that chances of picking up 7 marks in a review are close to zero, unfortunately.
Do you know the exam board? If Edexcel, the school will be able to access a copy his script and this might inform if there are any additional marks to be found.

Edexcel. This is why we didn't rush into a review. We do know that 7 marks is remarkably unlikely.

OP posts:
Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:26

He has indeed learned a lesson in exam technique.

He won't go to uni this year. If there's nothing we can do about this, he will resit and reapply. He's certain of that.

OP posts:
DaisyChain16 · 19/08/2023 10:27

Get the school to send your son the papers and get his teacher to look at them. It's free and can be downloaded electronically with your son's permission.

7 marks super unlikely but the only way you'll know is looking at the papers.

Rainbowqueeen · 19/08/2023 10:28

if his heart is set on a particular uni and course I’d let him resit next year.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:30

DaisyChain16 · 19/08/2023 10:27

Get the school to send your son the papers and get his teacher to look at them. It's free and can be downloaded electronically with your son's permission.

7 marks super unlikely but the only way you'll know is looking at the papers.

This is what I think. It's free, gives us more information, may not change anything, but we won't know for sure if we don't request the papers. But we need to be fairly quick about the request.

Ds is swinging between being very mature about it, taking it on the chin, and feeling completely stupid and embarrassed.

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/08/2023 10:33

Do ensure his chosen uni accepts resits, not all do and a gap in Maths, if he does not redo the year itself, can be particularly tricky.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:34

Thanks. Uni have confirmed that they'd accept the resit.

OP posts:
RunnerDown · 19/08/2023 10:35

This will feel pretty devastating just now. My youngest ds made a bad choice for his first course at uni . He dropped out at the end of the first term and re-applied for alternative courses. He was 19 when he restarted and the extra years maturity made a big difference. ( it’s not just me saying that- my son told me that he feels he got better results than he would have if he started earlier) He worked before starting his second course and had a bit more money too.
Your son will have learned a valuable lesson too.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:40

He knows all of this. But it doesn't stop the hurt he's feeling. He hasn't celebrated his As at all. But he will get over it and he will see that it's not the end of the world.

It was his first exam and he had panic attacks in most of the others thinking he was missing vital parts. He spent huge amounts of time checking each subsequent paper. How he got the As in the face of that, I don't know! But he did.

OP posts:
ThisOldWoman · 19/08/2023 10:45

There's really nothing you can do. If he resits next years then he has a year only preparing for one A Level. He can have a kind of semi-gap year, do whatever interests him, get a part time job and save for uni or whatever. Then go to uni with a year's additional maturity. I'm sure the disappointment and embarassment is hard but it won't actually do him any harm in the long run. best thing you can do as the parent is try and help him see that.

rachelagain · 19/08/2023 10:45

If you can afford the re-mark, I'd do that, just in case.
My DS missed out on his first choice uni place last year by getting a B in one subject when he needed an A. He was v upset and after talking to his tutors we ended up getting the whole subject re-marked. A week later his B had gone up to an A, picking up 7 marks. He went to his first choice uni and has had a brilliant first year.
So I'd say it's worth a shot, while planning for other options of course. Sympathy to him and you - that was a LONG week last year, and it's awful when they don't feel they can celebrate their results at all.

Friggingfrog · 19/08/2023 10:48

Bless him, how frustrating for him. I would also do the resit. Maybe he could get some work experience in this year as well and save up some money. Once he’s in uni this time next year he’ll probably feel fine but he must feel awful right now. I would def resit if he has his heart set on the uni

Felixinthefactory · 19/08/2023 10:50

DC missed an A in Maths by 2 marks last year. Had it rechecked and went up by 5 marks. This was AQA. I'd say it's worth the £200 (or whatever it is now) just in case.

Original poster
AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 10:54

Yep, we're supporting him. And trying to help him see that this is one of those things.

And yes, I agree that a gap year is a fantastic opportunity.

I'm just wondering what others would do in this situation, because, well, maybe I'm not thinking as clearly as I could be. And time is tight too!

OP posts:
caringcarer · 19/08/2023 10:57

He won't get 7 additional marks on a maths paper. It's occasionally possible on humanities as they are more subjective. He either goes to a different uni or resits next year and spends this year earning money for when he goes to uni next year. My nephew did the latter and he saved £16k pounds to take to uni with him. It meant he didn't end up with debt when he graduated. He worked in a supermarket in the day and a pub 3 evenings a week.

DragonFly98 · 19/08/2023 11:00

Have you explained the reason to the uni they may make an exception. They want to know his capabilities and clearly he is capable of an A.

Bitsadtoday1 · 19/08/2023 11:01

I’m really sorry this has happened to your son. I’m a maths teacher, this is surprisingly common and nothing to be embarrassed about- exams are stressful times for everyone.

I would like to pass on my congratulations to your son for his amazing results. He has done remarkably well, and although he won’t feel like it now, he has done something to be proud of.

I didn’t get the results I needed way back. I panicked looking at any old course, calmed down and had a great year working, earning some money and planning the next year. It came round so quickly.

I loved uni the following year, worked really hard being just a tad more mature and happened to meet my dh in my gap year which would never have happened otherwise.

I think things are meant to be, that’s all, and your son will fly through the resit and get on with his life, just a few months later than planned.

Well done to him and good luck xx

Youwho2 · 19/08/2023 11:01

Can he try to apply to uno through clearing?

LadyPenelope68 · 19/08/2023 11:02

He can apply to see his scripts, but unlikely (infact almost impossible) to get 7 marks found in errors. Unfortunately, he’s learnt the hard way and needs to move forward and make a positive decision about his future.

Wouldyouguess · 19/08/2023 11:02

Is this uni a single opportunity, like, no other places offer the course and he is dead on set that one particular one?
I have has amazing students miss the marks and applied for other things through clearing and ended very happy with their choices.