A level re-mark

LucyLastik · 22/08/2023 17:32

We had similar with DD last year. Decided against a remark as she didn't need it for uni and could've gone the other way

MrsHamlet · 22/08/2023 17:49

Which exam board?

Porseb · 22/08/2023 17:50

AQA

bananasplitwithcherry · 22/08/2023 18:06

They (school) should request access to scripts and get the mark schemes, then decide whether there is a case worth triggering a review of marking.
Reviews can cause the raw marks / grades to go down as well as up. While it sounds like she's near the top of the grade band, and thus more likely to go up than down, I wouldn't ask for a review unless I'd seen the script and mark scheme and was fairly sure it was more likely to go up than down.
For what it's worth, I've requested 8 scripts, but only requested 3 reviews, and all 3 were marked up by 2-3 marks. And I've had no trouble getting the mark schemes within 24 hours of results coming out, though these were all edexcel not AQA.

HappiDaze · 22/08/2023 18:09

It's not at all necessary but I can see both my DC wanting to get the remark so would go ahead in your situation

MrsHamlet · 22/08/2023 18:44

The mark schemes are available on centre services so they should be able to see them. I can.

Original poster

Roja7 · 22/08/2023 18:49

Thank-you - she has both AQA and EdExcel papers

OP posts:

mickjaggerxo · 25/08/2023 09:29

Roja7 · 22/08/2023 17:27

DD is one mark off a grade for Biology and is getting it re-marked on recommendation of school.

She's also 4 marks off Chemistry and school have said she could consider a re-mark of 2 papers but they've also said "as we do not have access to mark schemes yet, we are best to leave interpretation to senior examiners at this time."

So it sounds like they can't give us a steer around whether she should get her chemistry re-marked.

We've no experience of re-marks so hoping to hear other experiences.

She doesn't need this for uni as she's taking a gap year and already has an unconditional offer for 2024 so this would just be for personal satisfaction.

What would you do?

Any updates on this? DD is 2 marks off a grade in biology aqa and is (im)patiently waiting. So nerve-wracking!! xx

Sillybilly24 · 25/08/2023 09:40

My DS got a remark for English lit- 3 marks under an A and came back exactly the same. Remarked 2 papers. To be honest regretted doing it as didn’t need for his firm offer and stress waiting detracted from celebrating - so would definitely do it again if Uni offer counted in it but if not then I wouldn’t.

nipersvest · 25/08/2023 20:01

We're waiting on a re-mark. AQA Biology. DS has got into Uni but he really struggled with Biology and had a lot of extra tuition so it's a personal thing for him. He was 1 mark off a B so College are funding a remark of one paper, on the advice of his teacher they went for paper 3. He needed ABB and got ABC but his first choice took him anyway.

He'd just love to be able to say he got ABB though, it's a pride thing. He's already decided if the remark doesn't change his grade, he's not going to take it any further, says he was so close he'll just say it was a B anyway.

Thefatbutteredpig · 25/08/2023 22:56

nipersvest · 25/08/2023 20:01

We're waiting on a re-mark. AQA Biology. DS has got into Uni but he really struggled with Biology and had a lot of extra tuition so it's a personal thing for him. He was 1 mark off a B so College are funding a remark of one paper, on the advice of his teacher they went for paper 3. He needed ABB and got ABC but his first choice took him anyway.

He'd just love to be able to say he got ABB though, it's a pride thing. He's already decided if the remark doesn't change his grade, he's not going to take it any further, says he was so close he'll just say it was a B anyway.

Good Luck. Please let us know what Aqa say

CartChat · 26/08/2023 05:44

AQA history moved by 5 marks on a paper to an A.

AQA French moved by 7 marks on a paper to a B. I small silent part of me thinks paper 2 hasn't been recorded properly, should be doubled for the total mark but at this point will take that and move on.

Finally got the celebration rather than the shock.

Original poster

Roja7 · 26/08/2023 06:08

We're still waiting to here for AQA Biology. Didn't go for priority re-mark, just regular re-mark so May take a few more days to hear.

OP posts:

Hashtag1 · 26/08/2023 07:38

My Child’s Eng Lit Paper 2 went off for a remark as was 2 marks off an A. Went up 12 marks. Really shocked! Nearly cost them a place at 1st choice university but was luckily let in on results day anyway. If they hadn’t been so close to the threshold I would not have tried for the re mark and we would have been none the wiser!

CartChat · 26/08/2023 07:55

12 marks, that is quite something @Hashtag1
DS got his reserve but if his third subject also shifts, would have got his first choice.
We're now committed to accomodation and we've spent the last week finding every reason why the reserve is better. Trash talking Oxbridge.
I never imagined it wouldn't be a straight forward yes or nevermind, move on. It's been hard getting hold of the exams officer, the teachers, weighing up the money and prolonging the uncertainty.

Hashtag1 · 26/08/2023 08:00

CartChat · 26/08/2023 07:55

12 marks, that is quite something @Hashtag1
DS got his reserve but if his third subject also shifts, would have got his first choice.
We're now committed to accomodation and we've spent the last week finding every reason why the reserve is better. Trash talking Oxbridge.
I never imagined it wouldn't be a straight forward yes or nevermind, move on. It's been hard getting hold of the exams officer, the teachers, weighing up the money and prolonging the uncertainty.

The school were shocked too. Said that was the biggest change in a mark they’d ever seen. And that was just one paper! Have you requested a re mark? I wasn’t going to but my child was and school thought the mark wasn’t reflective of general capability in English

CartChat · 26/08/2023 08:17

@Hashtag1 we've so far had papers in subjects shift by 5 and 7 marks.

I feel relieved that we weren't just looking at a single mark, nudging over a grade boundary but then that leads back to the anger I was consumed with earlier in the week!

KefaloniaKid · 26/08/2023 08:19

I’m increasingly concerned about the lack of marking consistency this year. My DS jumped 15 marks in politics after review (9 in one paper, 6 in another).

flotsomandjetsome · 26/08/2023 08:32

Waiting for a re-mark for DS who was 1 mark short on one subject and 3 in another (although not priority as he has his firm).

Interesting convo with Head of Science on results day who said in years gone by he would very rarely suggest a re-mark, but in the last year or so he's changed his mind. If it's very close or the student wants it they will always do it now - he's seen too many come back with different marks.

Laburnam · 26/08/2023 08:37

It’s absolutely all over the place, my niece had a remark in crim and gained 10 marks only 1 mark off an A in History but that came back the same

Hashtag1 · 26/08/2023 09:14

I feel like I’ve lost all confidence in the marking system now. I can’t imagine how 12 marks could have been found in a 60 mark paper. Interesting to hear how many of you have had similar outcomes.

mrsconradfisher · 27/08/2023 09:24

The school have finally got the scripts for DS(only taken since results day!) but no one in school to sort out sending for the review of marking so we are stuck in this weird limbo.
His Psychology tutor has checked one of his papers (she is an examiner so I trust her judgement) and she can see an easy extra 6 marks, some they haven’t added on properly and some that have been marked at the wrong level.He needs 2 marks to get the A star he has been working at throughout 6th form. The tutor was because they had no teacher since Christmas btw!

The other one is the shit show that is OCR PE. Constantly achieved A/A star but came out with a B thanks to the whole cohort being moderated down by 10 marks in their practical and Paper 3 only getting half marks. He needs 6 marks which we thought was a stretch but his teacher has checked it and again marks haven’t been added correctly and most questions have no marks at all just “Too vague” written next to them. It’s almost like they haven’t marked it at all just written something. Whilst I appreciate he’s not going to get full marks for each question, his teacher has confirmed that there should be at least 1-2 marks given for those that say “too vague” next to it.

I’m so incredibly angry with the whole thing.

Thefatbutteredpig · 27/08/2023 14:07

Has anyone had anything back from AQA Biology?

we believe the school have access to the mark scheme.

On results day they said dd was 12 points away from the boundary and they wouldnt even entertain looking at scripts / appealing

I just have this nagging feeling that perhaps things havent been marked properly. Looking at her scripts and the marks table, her papers look like they were marked at 0100 and 0430. I guess I am clutching at straws but question how someone’s marking at 0430 could be accurate.

Dd lost her firm. Was accepted by her insurance so perhaps we shouldn't rock the boat bit I just have this nagging feeling.

Would be interested to hear if anyone has had any luck with AQA Biology or any thoughts

mrsconradfisher · 27/08/2023 14:17

Thefatbutteredpig · 27/08/2023 14:07

Has anyone had anything back from AQA Biology?

we believe the school have access to the mark scheme.

On results day they said dd was 12 points away from the boundary and they wouldnt even entertain looking at scripts / appealing

I just have this nagging feeling that perhaps things havent been marked properly. Looking at her scripts and the marks table, her papers look like they were marked at 0100 and 0430. I guess I am clutching at straws but question how someone’s marking at 0430 could be accurate.

Dd lost her firm. Was accepted by her insurance so perhaps we shouldn't rock the boat bit I just have this nagging feeling.

Would be interested to hear if anyone has had any luck with AQA Biology or any thoughts

Wow that’s a crazy time to be marking something so important.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2023 14:20

At what time of day should examiners be allowed to mark? And how do you know they're marking in a BST time zone?

@Thefatbutteredpig if she wants her paper reviewed, they can't prevent that. It belongs to her.