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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A level re-mark

85 replies

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?

OP posts:
ono40 · 30/08/2023 11:37

DS is going to ring school and seek advice from the exams officer about appealing for paper 1. I had a look at the script but I am not a teacher or subject matter expert so I don't know why they originally awarded two marks, then took them away, I hope school can advise. Appeals cost £120 whereas remarking paper 2 would be £48.

CartChat · 30/08/2023 11:46

There's lots and lots of anecdotal tales of the initial' 'review' of papers (the £50 a pop stage directly with the exam board eg AQA) across Mumsnet and Facebook but I dont think I've seen anyone talking about the next stage, the appeal which is done centrally by OFQUAL.
Our Exam Officer I'm certain knows less than me about the timing and statistics of exam reviews and appeals so dont get your hopes up that you'll be any clearer.
Let us know how it goes.

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2023 11:50

The next stage isn't an appeal to OFQUAL: it's an appeal to the exam board. That asks them to check that their procedures have been completed properly.

If a mark has been changed at review, you should be able to see why. There is likely to be a code (C, M or J) and a reason - which is likely to be directly taken from the mark scheme.

BriocheForBreakfast · 30/08/2023 12:07

We were in this situation last year. DD was 1 mark off a B in physics. Actually needed AAB but got ABC and was offered a place on a foundation course at her chosen uni but also offered a place at her second choice. She accepted the foundation course but had deferred anyway as was going on a gap. Anyway we got paper 3 remarked on the advice of the teachers and she went down two marks. 🤦🏼‍♀️ So in for a penny we got paper two remarked and she went up 3 marks so got the B.

She has since deferred to next September (extended gap year to two years) and her uni have discontinued the foundation course. However because of her grade change they've offered her a place on the 3 year degree so she's delighted.

Good luck with whatever you and DD decide.

ono40 · 30/08/2023 12:17

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2023 11:50

The next stage isn't an appeal to OFQUAL: it's an appeal to the exam board. That asks them to check that their procedures have been completed properly.

If a mark has been changed at review, you should be able to see why. There is likely to be a code (C, M or J) and a reason - which is likely to be directly taken from the mark scheme.

Edited

Thanks - that is exactly what his review shows. I can't remember offhand what the code was but one marker awarded two points and another didn't think they were relevant. I think the appeal to the exam board needs to come from the school, not the candidate, so when they are back in on Friday for INSET day, hopefully they will advise. He is taking a year out so there is no mad rush. They could even get paper 2 back for a look and then advise whether they think there is an extra mark lurking somewhere

MrsHamlet · 30/08/2023 12:20

Reviews aren't looking for extra marks, though. And appeals are also not looking for extra marks.
I'd definitely advise getting the scripts back first.

economicsmum · 30/08/2023 16:08

We've just had DS's review back for his Economics A Level (Edexcel). His school thought paper 3 was 'off' after reviewing his script, particularly one essay mark. They also suggested getting a review on paper 2.

The review came back 4+ on Paper 2 and 6+ on Paper 3 - and he went up a grade.

I'm a bit shocked that he went up by 10 marks.

Original poster
Roja7 · 30/08/2023 22:33

So we've just had paper 3 Biology (AQA) back and went down by 2 marks so now 3 marks off the grade boundary instead of one. 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
ono40 · 30/08/2023 23:45

Roja7 · 30/08/2023 22:33

So we've just had paper 3 Biology (AQA) back and went down by 2 marks so now 3 marks off the grade boundary instead of one. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I hear you @Roja7 - we had Psychology papers 1 and 3 reviewed. Paper 3 went up by 3 marks which would have been enough to move his grade to an A. BUT...paper 1 went down by 2 marks so frustratingly still one elusive mark short

DinkyDaisy · 31/08/2023 09:36

My ds decided to not bother with remarks of edexcel A level politics. He got an A though expected A star. However, got preferred university place. Also, now seen marks for each paper. Not what he expected. Did okish on 2 and extremely well on one (paper 3 comparative politics). He has tentatively contacted fellow politics students. One of his friends lost Cambridge due to politics grade and all contacted with dropped a grade. Teacher said in email harsh marking on paper 1 across the board for class. Feel for teachers as guess post mortum held....

CartChat · 31/08/2023 11:08

DS is still waiting for Geography AQA to come back.....been 8 days but including the bank hol weekend, must be soon.
The other two subjects have both gone up a grade.

DinkyDaisy · 31/08/2023 11:12

I do find it worrying that grades can change so much. Like a previous poster said, if big change surely all that examiners marking should be checked...

FlancyFoo · 31/08/2023 13:31

@CartChat Could I ask what AQA History module you had reviewed?
DD has asked for a review of Tudors (non-priority) as it was came in at just over a B for that module but her other (weaker) module was an A and coursework A*.
2 of her friends have lost History uni places because of this paper. Fortunately DD got her first place uni but she was very disappointed and confused by the History result.

Fourcandlesx · 31/08/2023 14:03

@FlancyFoo yes AQA History Tudors paper was the paper that was most harshly marked for my son too. In fact he got a C and 1 mark off a B despite always achieving A star for all his history, including the equivalent in AS last year. He missed out on his first choice and insurance as a result as he came out with a B overall.

It's annoying because he is too many marks off an A to send it for a review. From looking at the scripts it seems the examiner decided all his answers were level 3 and therefore the marks are limited to within that range. They work really hard on ensuring their answers hit the mark for a level 5 mark but it's hard to argue as it's down to the examiner to decide the level and that seems quite subjective.

This was what led to my point earlier really. If some students close to the border go for a review on a particular paper and get their marks increased by 5 or 6, then all papers marked by that examiner should be reviewed in my opinion.

English results have apparently also been way out of line with student expectations. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would certainly say that long essay subjects are a very risky choice and even students consistently achieving A star have come out with grades B and C and lost places on competitive courses as a result.

seymour · 31/08/2023 14:21

@CrystalTits and @mrsconradfisher my daughter had the same issue with OCR PE. She got a C and was predicted an A, my daughter isn’t a straight A student but this is “her” subject and doesn’t make sense. She missed out on first uni choice for Sports Science. Not sure whether to get re-marked. Did either of you bother? She’s got in to her second choice but I think for her own self-esteem it might be worth trying. I think she was 6 marks off though so probably not worth it but the “too vague” comments made me wonder! Perhaps we should get the scripts back in the first instance?

CartChat · 31/08/2023 14:51

@FlancyFoo I see you too have become an expert!
Did get Tudors remarked, no change, 48, B ( 53 for an A)
Nazis went from 54, B to 60 (58 For an A)
Coursework 37

Enough to nudge the grade into a A.
Was an A grade student, not exceptional but hard working in a state comp, had an offer from Oxbridge on the table. Gone for the reserve but was gutted to have missed by so much, two upgraded reviews so far.

mrsconradfisher · 31/08/2023 14:52

seymour · 31/08/2023 14:21

@CrystalTits and @mrsconradfisher my daughter had the same issue with OCR PE. She got a C and was predicted an A, my daughter isn’t a straight A student but this is “her” subject and doesn’t make sense. She missed out on first uni choice for Sports Science. Not sure whether to get re-marked. Did either of you bother? She’s got in to her second choice but I think for her own self-esteem it might be worth trying. I think she was 6 marks off though so probably not worth it but the “too vague” comments made me wonder! Perhaps we should get the scripts back in the first instance?

We’ve got DS’s back and they are sending Paper 3 to be reviewed/remarked as soon as the exams officer is back in school. Paper 1/2 were fine, it’s paper 3 for him which has been marked weirdly. Plus the practical had been marked down for the whole cohort.

He was predicted A/A star but we knew that would be a stretch as his practical would let him down but he was certainly predicted an A and should have got it relatively easily. It’s his subject too and he is also doing Sports Science. He got rejected from his dream Uni back in April (Loughborough) so his plan was to get his grades which he was confident he would get then try Loughborough again but this PE grade has completely thrown that.

He is also 6 marks off. Paper 3 he only got 34/60 compared to really high marks on the other 2 papers so it’s definitely worth looking at them. Where is your DD going now?

cosmos4 · 31/08/2023 14:55

Roja7 · 22/08/2023 18:49

Thank-you - she has both AQA and EdExcel papers

With Edexcel the school can already see the scripts - some teachers are not clear that they can already do this at no extra cost and it's a major advantage to be able to see them before actioning anything. They need to ensure they have access to scriotviewer from the exams officer and then there is no need to send off for anything. They can then go through the paper to see if any marking is awry.

mondaytosunday · 31/08/2023 15:01

Do universities see the actual marks? Or do they just get the letter grade?

seymour · 31/08/2023 15:38

@mrsconradfisher This is so interesting. My daughter also did poorly on paper 3 with a similar mark. I’m so sorry he missed his first choice. My daughter is now going to Exeter but her confidence is knocked as she got Bs in her “weaker subjects” and a C in what she is going to do her degree in!

mrsconradfisher · 31/08/2023 16:51

seymour · 31/08/2023 15:38

@mrsconradfisher This is so interesting. My daughter also did poorly on paper 3 with a similar mark. I’m so sorry he missed his first choice. My daughter is now going to Exeter but her confidence is knocked as she got Bs in her “weaker subjects” and a C in what she is going to do her degree in!

Yes exactly the same. He had firmed Birmingham then decided to try UEA (it’s a more social sports science though) then doubted his ability to do anything sport related so has ended up taking a Gap Year whilst we try to sort out these remarks.

Exeter is one he has looked at for next year though…we are on Norfolk/Suffolk border so it’s a long way away.

FlancyFoo · 31/08/2023 18:04

@CartChat@Fourcandlesx

Thanks both for the responses - I'm sorry that your families have have to go through the stress and frustration, especially after going through the UCAS/Oxbridge processes and gaining offers. It is rubbish - that's me being restrained and not swearing, I can't write what I really want to say about the situation😀

sadly, yes I have spent far too long looking at grade boundaries and trying to help DD understand where it had gone 'wrong'. I had hoped your Tudors paper was the one to change as she got 45 for that one, which is way off what she normally gets. She needs 4 to push up her grade to an A so we'll wait and see how the Tudor review goes and then consider if a review of the French Rev paper is needed.
She was an A grade student ( as were her friends) at a state, but high achieving school, with very experienced history teachers who were baffled on results day as to what had happened with the results. They'd never had so many students drop grades, especially as their nea marking had not been moderated downwards - the Tudor paper seems to be the issue, as it was at another local school. We've not heard yet if there has been any (un)successful reviews at her school. There were a couple of other subjects at the school out of line and all were AQA.

seymour · 31/08/2023 20:51

@mrsconradfisher I’m so sorry to hear that. Do feel for this year’s cohort. I hope he gets his confidence back and enjoys his gap year. Exeter looks good so fingers crossed! I should also add that my daughter got the highest grade for PE at her school with a C! The kids predicted Bs/Cs got Ds and Es. Definitely something going on.

MurphyM · 05/09/2023 20:07

it's incredible. Did you request something specific?.

MurphyM · 05/09/2023 20:10

Do you know if remark can be done twice on the same paper? My teacher said 3 marks could be possible but got only 1 mark.