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Original poster

A Levels 2023 - Results Day & Beyond: Part 2

370 replies

SlightlyJaded · 19/08/2023 12:28

The previous post is filling up and as i seem to be one of the few still in limbo, I thought I'd start a new thread.

A place to discuss 2023 A level results and navigate our way through clearing/frustrations/questions and anything else.

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4873934-a-levels-2023-results-day-and-beyond?page=10&reply=128536278

Waiting till the old thread fills up before we hop over here.

Page 38 | A levels 2023 - Results day and beyond | Mumsnet

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, t...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4873934-a-levels-2023-results-day-and-beyond?page=10&reply=128536278

OP posts:
NotDonna · 25/08/2023 17:10

@Darkbutstarrynight bloody two marks! Do hope he’s ok about it.
Thats great news @UnfunnyJester - I’ve no idea but didn’t school/college say?

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 17:17

@NotDonna no. They just said 'please find attached letter' etc

Ds is thrilled and we've got everything crossed for acceptance on his course.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 25/08/2023 17:36

@Darkbutstarrynight @UnfunnyJester Sorry you got no traction on the remark. Hope your DC are both ok and hanging in there. Still waiting on DD Geog remark which we paid 'speedy service' for. She needed 4 marks so even less likely but school really pushed and on the day - with everything going to shit - it was something we could do. Not holding out much hope and not sure if it will change anything now, but it might boost her confidence and it's her 'subject' so I still think worth the bump if the Universe is smiling on us.

DS (GCSE) got mucked about a bit today. Had his enrolment interview at his first choice Sixth Form at 1pm. Missed the first day of Reading Festival to attend and got a text at 12:15pm saying that they were at capacity and so sorry, not to bother coming in. Enrolment slots were based on distance so it was always a possibility, but 45 mins from 'a home run' was really mean. We really have had a shitty exam summer.

Good luck @moshmoshi and @Ruth222 Hope today brings some answers.

OP posts:
tribpot · 25/08/2023 17:39

Good news @UnfunnyJester , hoping you hear something back soon.

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 17:44

@SlightlyJaded ds got his 4 marks so he's gone up a grade. I'm just annoyed it's a bank holiday weekend and we have to wait for so many days now to get further news. Smile
Fingers crossed for your Dd.

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 17:45

Thank you @tribpot

WishIHadAButler · 25/08/2023 18:02

My nephew has just gone up 16 marks in just one of his English papers and bumped his grade. How can exam boards get away with this??

DinkyDaisy · 25/08/2023 18:11

I am shocked at how much remarks can change things. Ds close to A star border on 2 papers (3 marks for one and 4 for the other). Not chased at all as got the University he wants but this is really food for thought!

MorePressureMoreRelease · 25/08/2023 18:35

We had a recheck (or whatever they call it now) and DS went down one mark and up two so got the * as was only a mark off. However it is proof that it can go down as well as up @WishIHadAButler

Thefatbutteredpig · 25/08/2023 18:48

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 17:17

@NotDonna no. They just said 'please find attached letter' etc

Ds is thrilled and we've got everything crossed for acceptance on his course.

As I understand it, the exam board update ucas and they then confirm to the uni by a daily file update. I ‘m sure its daily and I read it on ucas www

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 20:08

Thanks @Thefatbutteredpig
Hopefully they can sort everything from their end then.

UnfunnyJester · 25/08/2023 20:12

It's crazy @WishIHadAButler. I said to Ds that maybe we should have given all his papers for remarking. I wouldn't be surprised if there were big discrepancies.

Well done to your ds @MorePressureMoreRelease. Yes, always that chance. Ds was really worried about his mark going down but it would have had to have gone down by 20 or so marks.

I also feel annoyed that we've gone through all this stress and paid quite a bit of money for something that should never have happened.

Ruth222 · 25/08/2023 20:21

Do you think it's worth asking for remark for 10marks?
It's in her chosen subject but I would hate for it to go down.

It's such a shame because if it was last years they all would have had higher grades.
Also the fact Wales and NI were graded according to last year too

DailyMaui · 25/08/2023 20:43

Ruth222 · 24/08/2023 16:39

Looking for a bit of advice please?

DD didn't apply for unis, I think this was because she wasn't expecting to pass and she kept saying she didn't want to go.
Was quite happy with whatever she decided. Told her we would support her in any decisions she made.

She actually got BBB, which we were so happy about and I think it made her realise how capable she is.
She was away for results day but has now obviously left it too late for clearing. She wanted to go to a London uni (we are just outside London, she wanted to stay at home) I think that's why she didn't apply because most of them wanted AAA.

She could however go to our local uni, which is quite average but seems to be getting better every year. They have confirmed she could get a place there.

She doesn't want to retake, but she's worried that if she takes a gap year the universities will require higher marks next year so no guarantee of her getting in.
Im not sure how to advise her, my gut is saying take the local place but I don't want to push her into the wrong thing.

We have never pushed her to go to uni but she is really good at her chosen subject and I really think she would enjoy studying it and would do well.

Hey Ruth

My son did a gap year an actually found it better to apply knowing that the universities had his grades. He knew that when the offers came in - if they came in - it meant he'd be going. He chose very carefully, making sure there were two that he knew for def would accept his grades that he really liked and could see himself going to, and three with higher published offer grades that he loved. No chance to visit as he was deep in the covid years. He got an offer from one with higher grades and he had accommodation sorted nice and early (and easily). It was way less stressful than going through this year with my daughter, especially after the Sunday announcement that grades were going to be lower - the stress levels were off the scale and if the education minister had been anywhere near our town she may have been tarred and feathered.

Thefatbutteredpig · 25/08/2023 20:48

Ruth222 · 25/08/2023 20:21

Do you think it's worth asking for remark for 10marks?
It's in her chosen subject but I would hate for it to go down.

It's such a shame because if it was last years they all would have had higher grades.
Also the fact Wales and NI were graded according to last year too

We were 13 points off the next boundary for biology

School wouldn't entertain a remark

Dd exceeded her firm offer in terms of tariff points but Bristol chose to reject her as she didn't get a B grade in bio.

She was heartbroken but her insurance accepted her.

Did something similar happen yo your daughter at Bath @NotDonna ?

Screw you Bristol Uni :(

WishIHadAButler · 25/08/2023 22:39

Some good schools are proactive in telling kids to request remarks and some parents can afford it. It’s not a fair system, as always. I would request a remark if in doubt I think but that’s easy for me to say.

NotDonna · 26/08/2023 02:20

Yes @Thefatbutteredpig she needed AAB and got A*BB and was rejected. The Astar was in economics and she’d applied for BSc Business so quite strongly aligned. We didn’t get any of the B’s reviewed or request the papers - school had the raw marks and said she was 6 marks away for one of the Bs but only recommends reviews if max 4/5 marks away, so we left it.
@UnfunnyJester y you get your money refunded if there’s a an uplift in marks? Did your DS tell the uni they were going for a review and request them to hold the place? Your DS should probably email and let them know the outcome as soon as possible. Is he bang on their offer now?

NotDonna · 26/08/2023 02:31

16 marks uplift!! butler that’s crazy! I know English is subjective but still! I wonder if some subjects are more likely than others to be mis-marked?
It’s making me wonder if we should have asked the teachers to look at DDs history as 6 marks off the elusive A. It feels too late now though. I’m also not sure how far away she is from the grade boundary below.

WishIHadAButler · 26/08/2023 06:38

NotDonna · 26/08/2023 02:31

16 marks uplift!! butler that’s crazy! I know English is subjective but still! I wonder if some subjects are more likely than others to be mis-marked?
It’s making me wonder if we should have asked the teachers to look at DDs history as 6 marks off the elusive A. It feels too late now though. I’m also not sure how far away she is from the grade boundary below.

It’s crazy. And it was not even his ‘worst’ English paper 🤯

UnfunnyJester · 26/08/2023 08:10

@NotDonna ds sent an email to the uni to let them know we were going for the remark and they emailed back and said if the remark is successful, he would be able to do his chosen course and to just let them know by a date in early September.
So, that bits all done now and just waiting for confirmation from the uni 🤞

UnfunnyJester · 26/08/2023 08:12

@NotDonna the money gets refunded? We haven't been told anything by the school. That would be great!

NotDonna · 26/08/2023 08:46

@UnfunnyJester Oh that’s great if the uni have already agreed! Yeah 🎉
Im 99.9% sure it’s refunded. So good news all round if I’m right

WendyWebersdrugget · 28/08/2023 18:35

@NotDonna just wanted to say I’m sure all will be well at York. DS1 about to go into third year and loves it. In the first year he got Halifax college - 9th on his list and basic but he was absolutely fine there. Has found really nice accommodation in York for years 2 and 3.
Regarding reviews of marking, DS2 refuses to discuss as he met his offer for Southampton, which was all he cared about. I did suggest it might be worth checking the grade boundary in one subject but he isn’t bothered. It’s starting to dawn on me that he’ll be there is a month!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/08/2023 19:22

Dd1 stayed on campus all 3 years and loved it. They were also v good about not charging her rent for the weeks she was stuck at home theough the pandemic unlike some places.

Dd2 has joined the uni and accommodation chat groups and is getting some perspective in terms of how many people didn't get the first choice of flat. Also appreciating the fact that we will fill my Tucson with whatever she wants to take as some as coming on the train and others are limited to whatever they can fit in their luggage allowance on their flight!

abterol · 29/08/2023 07:48

@WendyWebersdrugget My DD is going to York, also Halifax,also about 9th on her list, she wanted an ensuite but didn't get one, it's not far from her department though, so she's decided she's happy with it. She actually chose it over Bristol and UCL. Reasons: the campus was lovely (even on a miserable November day), compact so not too far to walk/cycle anywhere, the lecturers were lovely, kind and caring, and also a couple of neighbours/work colleagues had children who went there, and their children loved it. They particularly talked about the program they have in freshers week and beyond to help students settle in and support for students who might be homesick.