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Higher education

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Original poster

Worth requesting a remark?

226 replies

PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 12:10

DD is 3 marks from an A in her best subject, which she is gutted about as she was predicted an A star and her results look well below her normal marks. She is going on to study this subject at uni, will also need postgraduate qualifications.

She is also 1 mark from an A in her 2nd favourite subject - this one was a shock the other way as she’s achieved a lot better than we expected!

She has met her grades for her firm so doesn’t technically need higher grades, but for her best subject especially she’s absolutely gutted and can’t stop crying. I think it’s really knocked her confidence about studying it at uni.

I can just about afford the remark costs but it will be tight. I’m just a bit unsure what to do for the best. We didn’t get to speak to teachers at school this morning as DD was distraught, trying desperately to hold her tears in until she got to the car. I’m trying to reassure her that BBB is actually really good, that she’s in to her firm but it’s not really sinking in.

OP posts:
SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:11

I was under the impression a remark was free? Or is that if it’s successful? Definitely worth it for the 1 mark out, maybe speak to college/sixth form and see what they suggest.

SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:14

DD was hoping for better grades too, she wanted A* A B but got AAB, and is really gutted. Even more so as she isn’t close enough to warrant a remark, but she has done amazingly well, as has your DD.

I have said to her she has every right to be gutted and disappointed, and she probably will always be annoyed, but, the results are amazing. Hope your DD stops being so hard on herself soon.

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 12:17

SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:11

I was under the impression a remark was free? Or is that if it’s successful? Definitely worth it for the 1 mark out, maybe speak to college/sixth form and see what they suggest.

It’s an independent sixth form and we have a list of prices per paper per exam board. I thought those were the exam board fees but I don’t really understand the system tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 12:18

SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:14

DD was hoping for better grades too, she wanted A* A B but got AAB, and is really gutted. Even more so as she isn’t close enough to warrant a remark, but she has done amazingly well, as has your DD.

I have said to her she has every right to be gutted and disappointed, and she probably will always be annoyed, but, the results are amazing. Hope your DD stops being so hard on herself soon.

It’s so hard seeing them beat themselves up when in reality their grades are really good!

Best wishes to your DD Flowers

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 14/08/2025 12:18

It won't be a remark, it will be a review of marking. A review of marking checks that the mark scheme was applied correctly and that examiner decisions were fair and consistent.

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 12:19

twistyizzy · 14/08/2025 12:18

It won't be a remark, it will be a review of marking. A review of marking checks that the mark scheme was applied correctly and that examiner decisions were fair and consistent.

Ahh yes, that’s what I meant Smile

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 14/08/2025 12:20

I teach A level and if a student wants a remark they typically contact the exams officer. Ours has just sent me a paper to review to see if it’s an obvious marking error and if it’s worth going for, so that might be your best option.

SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:21

I know at GCSE DD had hers done for a science and she met ths next grade. I didn’t pay for this.

She isn’t at an independent though so it may differ, I think the general rule is 2 or less is worth considering.

Could you request the script and see if you think there’s something you can spot?

Seagull43 · 14/08/2025 12:22

What’s the point? You’ve already stated it won’t make any difference to her next step so I’m struggling to see the motivation.

You’d do better spending some time teaching her some resilience instead.

MargaretThursday · 14/08/2025 12:24

Speak to the school.

You should be able to request the papers for free, then see if the teacher, or perhaps a private teacher if they won't, will go through the paper and see if it's worth a remark.
You will have to pay up-front, but if it does change then you get the money refunded.

At least you know you've tried then.

Aparecium · 14/08/2025 12:31

If you're headed for university, A-levels are a means to an end and not a final destination. She's got into her first choice uni so it's really not worth going for a remark or review. It's time to move on.

My dc has had a complete shocker of a results day: got a C for their strongest subject, that they have been consistently achieving A/Astar in for years. Truly a G&T student in that subject. They've been accepted by their first choice, despite not meeting the offer, but we have still paid for priority remark/review because they need the grades for their bursary. Otherwise we would, as we did with another dc who missed out on top grades by a 2-3 marks, move on.

TheTwenties · 14/08/2025 12:41

The school have more information so they are best placed to give an idea if it’s worth it so check with them first. Contrary to many people posting on the likes of the WIWIKAU group today, I disagree that results are a stepping stone to the next stage. A) if a student falls short of what they were expecting they may need to fully understand the result as much as they can and a review/check will at least make them feel like they can go some way to doing this rather than forever wondering if things might have been different and B) until the next stage is completed the results in hand are what you have. Many students start and don’t finish a degree so whilst it might have got them on the course, if they don’t complete it their A level/other qualification results are what they have to move forward. It’s very short sighted to just think of getting onto a particular course IMO.

Thedoorisalwaysopen · 14/08/2025 12:49

Seagull43 · 14/08/2025 12:22

What’s the point? You’ve already stated it won’t make any difference to her next step so I’m struggling to see the motivation.

You’d do better spending some time teaching her some resilience instead.

this. She is going to her first choice uni - congratulations! That's all that counts. Nobody will be asking about individual marks.

poetryandwine · 14/08/2025 13:05

I agree that the best bet is to get guidance from a subject teacher in both cases. Surely an independent school ought to provide this.

Remember that upon official checking marks can go down as easily as up: the exam board will be reviewing the marking for maximum accuracy. It isn’t their remit to ‘find extra marks’.

As a former Russell Group admissions tutor, I would only advise submitting for review if the subject teacher went over the marks scheme and thought DD had a strong case.

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 13:07

TheTwenties · 14/08/2025 12:41

The school have more information so they are best placed to give an idea if it’s worth it so check with them first. Contrary to many people posting on the likes of the WIWIKAU group today, I disagree that results are a stepping stone to the next stage. A) if a student falls short of what they were expecting they may need to fully understand the result as much as they can and a review/check will at least make them feel like they can go some way to doing this rather than forever wondering if things might have been different and B) until the next stage is completed the results in hand are what you have. Many students start and don’t finish a degree so whilst it might have got them on the course, if they don’t complete it their A level/other qualification results are what they have to move forward. It’s very short sighted to just think of getting onto a particular course IMO.

Thanks for this. I think a review would be helpful for DD in her uni subject as at the moment she’s not sure where she went wrong, so at least if we get the scripts then she can go over them.

Her teacher has now emailed her anyway suggesting a review so DD is going to email her back once she finishes work.

OP posts:
Clearinguptheclutter · 14/08/2025 13:12

Def speak to the teacher in the first instance
howevet the most important thing is she got what she needed to go to her first choice uni which is Fantastic! Celebrate that.

not very relevant as was years ago but my independent school organised a review of my B grade without us even asking the question. Back then we weren’t told how many marks off a grade we were but I was upgraded to an A in the autumn.

Dery · 14/08/2025 13:58

I know someone whose son’s grade increased from B to A-star as a result of a review of the paper. Like your DD, the result was in the subject that he proposed to study at uni and for which he had consistently been predicted A-star and his firm had accepted him. But the result still bothered him so he had it reviewed, very successfully as you can see.

theysayimthespitofyou · 14/08/2025 14:01

Similar situation here - doesn’t affect the uni place but affects her happiness with the result. I had to pay £55 but apparently refunded if the grade changes.
I think if you’re very close to the grade up and that’s what you should have got it’s worth doing. At least then you know!

CautiousLurker01 · 14/08/2025 18:26

My DS is 2 marks off an A in one paper. It’s only AS Level, but the school told him he should request a remark. It costs about £50 per paper (we’ll do both papers) but I understand that if the grade does go up, that fee is refunded. Seems silly over 2 marks, but he had a GCSE disaster last year (5/6s when he expected 8/9s) so applying to uni later this year with 3xAs at AS, will mean 3xA* as predicted grades [apparently] so, given that he wants to expunge the trauma of last year, it’s worth it to us to pay and see what comes out in the wash…

Given that the A Level grade is a reflection of 2 years work, I’d personally support them in having the remark despite the cost.

Zanatdy · 14/08/2025 19:46

I’d say go for it if you can afford it. My DS was 1 mark off a 9 in his GCSe RE that he did in year 10 and we had all 3 papers reviewed which cost £150 plus in total, but mark didn’t change. I don’t regret it though. He was quite happy the following year to get lots of 9’s so that 8 (which was already amazing) was forgotten about.

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 20:35

Thanks all for the words of advice, we’re weighing them up carefully.

If we do end up going for a review, is it usual to ask for all 3 papers? Two of DD’s papers were A, it’s just one that she dropped marks on.

OP posts:
theysayimthespitofyou · 14/08/2025 21:04

We are just doing the one paper for my DD - the other 2 were very high (over 90%) but the third was so low we are hoping there was a missed mark or something. Speak to the teachers, they should be able to advise.

LIZS · 14/08/2025 21:24

PushItToTheMax · 14/08/2025 20:35

Thanks all for the words of advice, we’re weighing them up carefully.

If we do end up going for a review, is it usual to ask for all 3 papers? Two of DD’s papers were A, it’s just one that she dropped marks on.

Do one at a time. Otherwise you risk one paper dropping and negating any increase.

FreshAirForwards · 14/08/2025 22:04

LIZS · 14/08/2025 21:24

Do one at a time. Otherwise you risk one paper dropping and negating any increase.

Show quote history

This!
Request the scripts, submit to the HOD to advise on which paper to have reviewed if any. The weakest paper may well not be the best one to have looked at. As PP has said, send them in order of likelihood of successfully picking up the stray marks.
I’m reviewing papers for kids sitting on -2 from the next boundaries at the moment. I have yet to find any marks……

1diamondearing · 14/08/2025 22:07

SunSeaSangria · 14/08/2025 12:11

I was under the impression a remark was free? Or is that if it’s successful? Definitely worth it for the 1 mark out, maybe speak to college/sixth form and see what they suggest.

It is "free" if you can get a teacher give up all of their time for nothing. Which happens is state schools, but wont happen in independent schools - and TBH shouldn't be happening in state schools either

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