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

AguaSinGas · 2023-08-19T09:19:59+00:00

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?

AccountsConsult · 19/08/2023 14:30

I work in one of the big 4 accounting firms and have therefore worked with apprentices, graduates, apprentice degree people etc
What I have found is that a significant number of the young apprentices / 18 or 19 year olds really struggle and underperform and often really hate it. They are more than able to do the role and are really bright (the competition as you note is extreme) but they just aren’t mature enough to cope with an office environment which has that level of expectation. High standards are expected every day for each piece of work - clients pay us a lot of money. It’s so far from school; feedback is direct, they are judged against others of the same grade who are 4 years older, comparisons are made, there is no time to pander ……. Yes, some thrive but they are often the outliers.

So a year out to retake and widen his horizons and mature and see more of the world could be a huge blessing in the long run.

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 14:42

AccountsConsult · 19/08/2023 14:30

I work in one of the big 4 accounting firms and have therefore worked with apprentices, graduates, apprentice degree people etc
What I have found is that a significant number of the young apprentices / 18 or 19 year olds really struggle and underperform and often really hate it. They are more than able to do the role and are really bright (the competition as you note is extreme) but they just aren’t mature enough to cope with an office environment which has that level of expectation. High standards are expected every day for each piece of work - clients pay us a lot of money. It’s so far from school; feedback is direct, they are judged against others of the same grade who are 4 years older, comparisons are made, there is no time to pander ……. Yes, some thrive but they are often the outliers.

So a year out to retake and widen his horizons and mature and see more of the world could be a huge blessing in the long run.

Really great insight, thank you.

I think a year to breathe (it's been a full on couple of years for him, he's also sat various grade 8 exams!) and to learn how to be an adult will not do any harm at all. He also put off learning to drive because he was so busy. So he can do that and that will help!

I know it's not the end of the world, I do.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply. I just wanted a sense check on what to do while the window for review/obtain script is open.

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XelaM · 19/08/2023 14:58

OP - your son sounds like my brother who also (to everyone's shock) missed his Maths mark at school, even though he's a super-talented mathematician who taught himself stuff way beyond the curriculum. His hobby from the age of about 9 was "speedcubing" 🙈Anyway, he also missed the too grade in Maths which he was a shoe-in for, but ever since he got to uni he has never had a lower exam/course work/ dissertation result than 85% and usually all his results were in the 90%. He now has an amazing career in IT on six figures at one of the IT giants and he's still only 27.

Anything can happen to anyone in an exam and it won't define your son's future.

XelaM · 19/08/2023 15:00

top mark*

AngelinaFibres · 19/08/2023 15:01

You learn far more from the things that go wrong than you ever do from the stuff that goes smoothly but it is absolutely excruciating at the time. It's awful for him and for you as his parents. If the school are happy to help you look for extra marks then at least you will know without doubt that he got a B and that door has closed. It will work out, it always does but it is so so hard when you are up to your ears in it. I didn't get a teaching job I really really needed. It went to a friend who only applied for a laugh and then decided to take it. I was their second choice. I was a single parent of 2 and terrified about how I would manage ( no UC 27 years ago). My landlord was selling our home. It was an awful time. I bought a paper and a tiny advert in the houses for rent section changed my life to the amazing,fabulous life I have now. If I had got the original job I would never have net my second husband.

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 15:15

XelaM · 19/08/2023 14:58

OP - your son sounds like my brother who also (to everyone's shock) missed his Maths mark at school, even though he's a super-talented mathematician who taught himself stuff way beyond the curriculum. His hobby from the age of about 9 was "speedcubing" 🙈Anyway, he also missed the too grade in Maths which he was a shoe-in for, but ever since he got to uni he has never had a lower exam/course work/ dissertation result than 85% and usually all his results were in the 90%. He now has an amazing career in IT on six figures at one of the IT giants and he's still only 27.

Anything can happen to anyone in an exam and it won't define your son's future.

I'm actually going to tell him that anything can happen to anyone in an exam and it doesn't define you. I love that. I've been trying to say it, but clumsily. This is fab, thank you.

And yes, they sound very similar!

OP posts:

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 22/08/2023 06:32

Just an update for anyone interested.

We got his papers back yesterday. There arent 7 marks to be found. On the questions he got right, he got them right with full marks in the main. Then, there are a few questions he got completely wrong and the others, he dropped a mark here or there and he can see why.

The marking is bang on. So we wont be applying for a review of marks. Hes accepted the damage that missing those 5 questions has done. He also looked at those 5 questions. One of them he actually answered the day before as revision and another he did in his head there and then. The remainder he said were easy enough.

But its helped him come to terms with it. Hes put together a CV and hes decided to make the best of the year ahead. He even managed a giggle about how daft he was.

Thanks for all of the responses. Maybe I'll be back next year with another update.

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grass321 · 22/08/2023 06:36

Glad you've had closure (of sorts) and hope it all turns out well for him. As you say, a year out can be a very positive experience as school life is so busy.

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 22/08/2023 06:41

Thanks @grass321

As an aside, i was shicked at how neat his papers were! This is a kid who for a long time had illegible handwriting. I actually said are they definitely yours?

I know its a weird thing, but it made me a bit more proud!

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grass321 · 22/08/2023 06:45

My son got an 8 in history last week (having had a 9 for his mock) and I'm sure the examiner got fed up of having to read his illegible handwriting. I know I would.

By the end, he'd stopped bothering to cross his 't's so they all looked like 'l's.... Teenagers aren't exactly open to that type of sensible feedback!

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 22/08/2023 06:50

grass321 · 22/08/2023 06:45

My son got an 8 in history last week (having had a 9 for his mock) and I'm sure the examiner got fed up of having to read his illegible handwriting. I know I would.

By the end, he'd stopped bothering to cross his 't's so they all looked like 'l's.... Teenagers aren't exactly open to that type of sensible feedback!

Bloody kids, eh?

My dss handwriting has been improving steadily over the years. But honestly this looked like another person had written it. I asked him how come it was so neat. His maths teacher refused to mark anyyhing thay wasnt neat enough and would make them redo it. He soon got sick of that apparently. He even put zero down for students that handed in for a second time and didnt tidy up, which ds said would have screwed up the calculations for predicted grades and he definitely didnt want that. Go on that teacher!

Incidentally, this is the first I'd heard of this!

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grass321 · 22/08/2023 07:26

Good for him (and his teacher)!

It's such an easy way to potentially improve your mark. No one wants to wade through a messy script, particularly for essay subjects.

Panic71 · 22/08/2023 07:36

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

What a lovely post ❤️

Loverofoxbowlakes · 22/08/2023 07:39

joan12 · 19/08/2023 11:06

Honestly I think this is a good example of why this cohort were disadvantaged by not having sat public exams before and learned about this sort of problem and how to manage papers under stress. There's nothing to be done but resit or take a place at a different uni but your son should not feel bad - these lessons are often learned with expert, which he didn't get, until the real thing. Big hugs and onwards now.

Nah, this lot did their GCSEs (albeit a strange, differently marked version) and will have had numerous mock exams to 0repare them for exactly this scenario. It's shit op, but it happens.

Resit next year.

Whowhatwherewhenwhy1 · 22/08/2023 07:42

This is a tough and steep
learning curve for him but ultimately his own fault and there is nothing that can be done to regain the grade. It is drummed into students to read and reread the paper to ensure nothing has been missed so not sure how he managed to cock up so badly.
Let him repeat and get a job this year and look on it as gaining some work experience and saving some funds for Uni

JanieEyre · 22/08/2023 07:55

grass321 · 22/08/2023 06:45

My son got an 8 in history last week (having had a 9 for his mock) and I'm sure the examiner got fed up of having to read his illegible handwriting. I know I would.

By the end, he'd stopped bothering to cross his 't's so they all looked like 'l's.... Teenagers aren't exactly open to that type of sensible feedback!

I did a spell of marking professional exams once. I have to admit that bad handwriting tended to put me in a bad mood. I tried not to let it affect the mark, but I suspect that subconsciously if did. In any event there was a danger that I would simply miss a valid point that the candidate made if I couldn't read it.

ColinTheGenderMinotaur · 22/08/2023 07:59

Delaying going to university by one year meant my sister was in Hall of Residence flat of girls directly opposite a flat of boys, one of whom is now her husband of 25 years plus.

Sliding doors moment.

Glad your son is able to find the positives of an extra year in his home town.

ActDottie · 22/08/2023 08:59

Chances of picking up 7 marks on a maths paper is slim. Maths is very objective to mark and I say that as someone with a maths degree.

Number one rule of any exam is to identify where all the questions are. It’s always marked clearly with END OF EXAM and then on the front page it should also say how many questions. It’s a harsh lesson but not the end of the world.

In his situation I’d simply encourage him to retake and apply to uni for 2024. And get a small part time job so he can save a bit for uni too.

ClimbEveryLadder · 01/09/2023 22:09

AguaSinGas · 19/08/2023 14:08

I hear you. But the school were honestly happy to do whatever to help him. Getting the scripts won't create extra work for the teachers, the exams officer said he would apply and they'd be emailed over to my son. I didn't get the impression that teachers would even look at the scripts.

He also said the review of the paper requests are administrative only (from the schools point of view) and the exams officer is processing lots of them, so again was happy to receive the application from ds. The exam board do the review.

Have the school given me the wrong impression here?

Show quote history

This post is relevant https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4885638-to-tell-you-reviewing-your-gcse-paper-isnt-free

to tell you reviewing your GCSE paper isn't "free" | Mumsnet

I've never begrudged putting aside a few hours for genuine disappointing shock grades, or when a student has so nearly made the grade they need for th...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4885638-to-tell-you-reviewing-your-gcse-paper-isnt-free

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 02/09/2023 16:40

ClimbEveryLadder · 01/09/2023 22:09

This post is relevant https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4885638-to-tell-you-reviewing-your-gcse-paper-isnt-free

Show quote history

@ClimbEveryLadder i can see that this gets your back up.

At dcs school they employ an exams officer. This member of staff has no teaching duties. I was assured it was an administrative task that they were happy to perform. The scripts were emailed to my dc within an hour of the request. They have not been reviewed by the exams officer or a member of staff. They were sent, by email directly to my son.

We are not in the business of asking teachers to go above and beyond, or putting their noses out. I have the utmost respect for them. I told them so on results day and was quite clear that I understood that the mistake my dc made was their own.

My dc has lost out on a prestigious place on a prestigious course. The package he was offered was worth app £150 k. It also gave the school a huge amount of kudos. It's the type of achievement you shout about on the front page of your schools website (which most schools whose pupils get into this course, with the fully funded/salaried element do shout about. If you Google the course you see quite a few results of exactly this kind of post).

To lose it meant a lot to the school as well as dc.

They seemed happy to help. I took that at face value. If it pisses you off, well, I don't know what to say! We haven't asked for a review, we haven't been emailing the school, or calling them incessantly. We haven't blamed them. We haven't even asked then for an opinion! We were informed of the options (copy of scripts, free of charge; priority review, per paper, £55 or a review of paper, £40 ish. And that summer resits were available at the school as private candidates with a cost of a couple of hundred quid per exam) We took them up on what I thought was a genuine offer. Your sourness about this is getting on my nerves.

I am pleased that we saw the scripts. It really helped ds come to terms with his silly and costly mistake. He will also, no doubt use those papers as part of his revision for his resit. If that pisses you off, so be it.

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SophiaElizabethGrace · 02/09/2023 16:54

Your son sounds like a lovely lad and from what you've described, could actually benefit from having a year out. He's had a huge shock and massive disappointment but appears to have dealt with it really well. I can't honestly say at that age I'd have been the same.

You sound v supportive and have come across as being v realistic about his options.

I wish him all the best for the future.

Panic71 · 02/09/2023 20:13

Out of interest, what’s the earliest he could do a resit?

Original poster

AguaSinGas · 03/09/2023 07:14

Thanks @SophiaElizabethGrace i think he's handled it well too.

And @Panic71 I <think> the earliest would be a Jan sit, but the school don't offer it and as it would be after the Ucas deadline I don't think it would be enormously useful. If there had been a November resit, he'd have totally gone for that, but there isn't.

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Aslockton · 03/09/2023 08:39

The next resit date for A levels is summer 2024.

DarkChocHolic · 03/09/2023 11:40

OP
Best wishes to your son and I will look forward to your good news regarding his resit.
Moments like this truly make a person.
I believe it.
Hope it goes really well for him and you will be a proud parent regardless of what route he takes next year.