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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:
1diamondearing · 16/08/2025 06:57

Foodaddict1 · 16/08/2025 06:48

I know the refund wouldn't come out of the reviewer’s pocket, but I was wondering whether exam boards discourage adding marks in order to avoid giving refunds. Perhaps I’m just being cynical, but do they give reviewers any incentive (direct or indirect) to leave grades unchanged? I’d really like to hear about this from someone with first-hand reviewing experience.

Show quote history

No they don't. That would be pointless and stupid. I honestly can't see why you think they would, or HOW you think they would.

MrsHamlet · 16/08/2025 07:30

Foodaddict1 · 15/08/2025 22:56

I was wondering; if a candidate is refunded when their grade goes up, could this create an unintended incentive for reviewers to leave grades unchanged to avoid issuing refunds? I know the system isn’t meant to be treated as a business, but it does make one think.

No. Reviewers have no idea where the grade boundaries are - their job is simply to review the marking.

MrsHamlet · 16/08/2025 07:31

Foodaddict1 · 16/08/2025 06:48

I know the refund wouldn't come out of the reviewer’s pocket, but I was wondering whether exam boards discourage adding marks in order to avoid giving refunds. Perhaps I’m just being cynical, but do they give reviewers any incentive (direct or indirect) to leave grades unchanged? I’d really like to hear about this from someone with first-hand reviewing experience.

Show quote history

Absolutely not.

Loz2323 · 16/08/2025 09:20

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.

She has the grades she needs to get into her firm/uni or whatever she needs them for so don't understand why she is getting all upset just because she didn't get a specific higher grade. As others on here have said she needs to work on her resilience, if she is getting that upset by this even though she can get into whwrever she needs to get into with them then god help her if she ever comes across a proper rejection or set back! Sorry but getting that upset by something that in reality is actually a non issue seems a tad silly to me.

JW13 · 16/08/2025 09:38

It’s a long time ago now, but when I did my A Levels I was 3 marks off of an A in English which was my best subject and I’d always been predicted an A. It was re-marked/reviewed and went up 12 marks. Whilst I had my place to study Law at Uni, A level grades do still matter in law recruitment processes so it was important for me to have that grade.

Depending on what your daughter wants to do in the future, her A level grades might still be looked at for later applications/recruitment processes so I’d go for the re-mark/review personally.

MigGril · 16/08/2025 09:41

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.

No its £50 a paper for AQA and its more for Pearson.

DD was one mark off her main subject as she is going on to study this subject we have asked for a remark of her papers. If it was more then 2 marks I don't think we would have bothered or would have asked to look at her papers first which you can do and is free.

I was up for just remarking her 2 lower papers, but DH just said do them all. There is a possibility the marks can drop, but as she is so close to an A it would be highly unlikely she'd end up with anything other then still a B so felt it was worth it for her as this is the subject she wants to work in and an A may help with doing postgraduate study.

Foodaddict1 · 16/08/2025 10:20

MigGril · 16/08/2025 09:41

No its £50 a paper for AQA and its more for Pearson.

DD was one mark off her main subject as she is going on to study this subject we have asked for a remark of her papers. If it was more then 2 marks I don't think we would have bothered or would have asked to look at her papers first which you can do and is free.

I was up for just remarking her 2 lower papers, but DH just said do them all. There is a possibility the marks can drop, but as she is so close to an A it would be highly unlikely she'd end up with anything other then still a B so felt it was worth it for her as this is the subject she wants to work in and an A may help with doing postgraduate study.

Show quote history

Did your DD get into her first choice anyway?

Nojudginghere · 16/08/2025 10:23

1diamondearing · 14/08/2025 22:23

With respect, you are part of the problem.

If you accept extra workload as and when instructed, then you put that expectation onto everyone else too. Managers demand more of teachers, teachers burn out, and the whole education system suffers.

Last year I worked straight through the night every other night for over a week trying to keep on top of the "remarking epidemic"

This year I am point blank refusing. You should too, for the sake of the education system

Show quote history

As a teacher, I am in complete agreement that many of the expectations currently placed on us fall outside the “1,265 hours of ‘directed time’ per year” and into the “reasonable additional hours". Many of these have no impact at all on pupil progress, often having a negative impact as they take up time that could have been spent on more useful tasks.
These unreasonable, pointless tasks are the ones we should be fighting to get rid of, to allow time to do the other “reasonable tasks” necessary to be able to do the job well - and that would make a whole different thread!!

BUT, I think it is totally reasonable that teachers in a leadership/ head of department role, would be expected to be available on exam results day and be prepared to support students and look over exam papers with surprising marks to identify potential errors in marking - I’m not sure why any teacher would think it wasn’t part of their job?

1diamondearing · 16/08/2025 10:35

BUT, I think it is totally reasonable that teachers in a leadership/ head of department role, would be expected to be available on exam results day and be prepared to support students and look over exam papers with surprising marks to identify potential errors in marking - I’m not sure why any teacher would think it wasn’t part of their job?

It was always the norm for most staff to be there for GCSE, and A level results day, but then it became 2 days for each, and then it became an extra day for BTEC level 3, and then there was the days we were expected to be available for students rejected by other schools to come and talk to us. And the days at the end of august for enrolment. This was on top of the days in the Easter holidays and June half term we were expected to run constant revision sessions - the half terms are paid, the Easter and Summer are unpaid, we have the salary from the term time spread out over the whole year, so some people don't realise that.

You are looking at around 4 weeks voluntarily on the premises full time per year, on week days.

We also run revision on bank holidays and there is the Saturday sport we are encouraged to support. (8 consecutive Saturdays in my school) And the PTA fayre...

I withdrew from an interview last year when I heard about the rota for taking the "Homework oncall" phones home (one per department), and having to be available 4pm to midnight several times a month......

There is always a reason why this particular task at this particular moment is so important that teachers have to work voluntarily. We should all refuse, at all times, we are letting the children down when we agree to support a failing system

NorseHorse123 · 16/08/2025 10:57

I’m going to sound harsh, but this is part of life - she’ll get setbacks throughout life like we all do and this should hopefully teach her that she can pick herself up and move forward. At the end of the day she got the grades she needed. End of.

Spacecowboys · 16/08/2025 11:15

1diamondearing · 16/08/2025 10:35

BUT, I think it is totally reasonable that teachers in a leadership/ head of department role, would be expected to be available on exam results day and be prepared to support students and look over exam papers with surprising marks to identify potential errors in marking - I’m not sure why any teacher would think it wasn’t part of their job?

It was always the norm for most staff to be there for GCSE, and A level results day, but then it became 2 days for each, and then it became an extra day for BTEC level 3, and then there was the days we were expected to be available for students rejected by other schools to come and talk to us. And the days at the end of august for enrolment. This was on top of the days in the Easter holidays and June half term we were expected to run constant revision sessions - the half terms are paid, the Easter and Summer are unpaid, we have the salary from the term time spread out over the whole year, so some people don't realise that.

You are looking at around 4 weeks voluntarily on the premises full time per year, on week days.

We also run revision on bank holidays and there is the Saturday sport we are encouraged to support. (8 consecutive Saturdays in my school) And the PTA fayre...

I withdrew from an interview last year when I heard about the rota for taking the "Homework oncall" phones home (one per department), and having to be available 4pm to midnight several times a month......

There is always a reason why this particular task at this particular moment is so important that teachers have to work voluntarily. We should all refuse, at all times, we are letting the children down when we agree to support a failing system

From your posts, I think you sound really burned out.

FreshAirForwards · 16/08/2025 12:39

@PushItToTheMax
have you requested the scripts?

DipsyDee · 16/08/2025 13:44

NorseHorse123 · 16/08/2025 10:57

I’m going to sound harsh, but this is part of life - she’ll get setbacks throughout life like we all do and this should hopefully teach her that she can pick herself up and move forward. At the end of the day she got the grades she needed. End of.

Absolutely this. I think you both need to get a bit of a grip here. She has her place unlike many others who haven’t been as lucky. Rejoice in this news rather than feed into the drama of it all and start preparing for university life.

Elektra1 · 16/08/2025 14:19

I applied to have 2 of my son’s GCSE subjects reviews a few years ago and both ended up being bumped a grade up. I did have to pay (state school) but it was well worth it (can’t remember how much it was - enough to think about but not horrendous, though of course that’s subjective depending on personal circs)

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 16/08/2025 14:23

FreshAirForwards · 16/08/2025 12:39

@PushItToTheMax
have you requested the scripts?

we have, and Dd has read them and is querying some of the marks. Her subject teacher has asked for the scripts and will also look over them before we make any decisions.

To those saying DD needs to learn resilience, I actually agree with you to some extent. However, by actually wanting to look over the scripts in the first instance is a huge step forward for DD so I’m happy to be guided by her.

We won’t be requesting a review for her 2nd subject as when she could look at it more rationally she could see that it was a really good mark for her as she usually got Bs with the odd C thrown in in end of year exams. But, as she knows she wants to do postgraduate study in her main subject, which is already a very competitive field, we’ll be guided by her teacher (HOD) as to whether to put in for a review.

I fully appreciate that some teachers do this in their own time, and also appreciate other teachers who choose not to give up their time during the holidays. I seem to have opened a bit of a can of worms and for that I apologise, but I don’t apologise for wanting the best for DD, as I’m sure most parents would strive for.

OP posts:
Worriedmotheroftwo · 16/08/2025 14:33

1diamondearing · 16/08/2025 10:35

BUT, I think it is totally reasonable that teachers in a leadership/ head of department role, would be expected to be available on exam results day and be prepared to support students and look over exam papers with surprising marks to identify potential errors in marking - I’m not sure why any teacher would think it wasn’t part of their job?

It was always the norm for most staff to be there for GCSE, and A level results day, but then it became 2 days for each, and then it became an extra day for BTEC level 3, and then there was the days we were expected to be available for students rejected by other schools to come and talk to us. And the days at the end of august for enrolment. This was on top of the days in the Easter holidays and June half term we were expected to run constant revision sessions - the half terms are paid, the Easter and Summer are unpaid, we have the salary from the term time spread out over the whole year, so some people don't realise that.

You are looking at around 4 weeks voluntarily on the premises full time per year, on week days.

We also run revision on bank holidays and there is the Saturday sport we are encouraged to support. (8 consecutive Saturdays in my school) And the PTA fayre...

I withdrew from an interview last year when I heard about the rota for taking the "Homework oncall" phones home (one per department), and having to be available 4pm to midnight several times a month......

There is always a reason why this particular task at this particular moment is so important that teachers have to work voluntarily. We should all refuse, at all times, we are letting the children down when we agree to support a failing system

I withdrew from an interview last year when I heard about the rota for taking the "Homework oncall" phones home (one per department), and having to be available 4pm to midnight several times a month......

Oh My God - what have I just read?! Are some schools really doing that?! No wonder nobody wants to be a teacher!!

We should all refuse, at all times, we are letting the children down when we agree to support a failing system

I agree. Every time we agreed to work for free, we are allowing working conditions to remain terrible (or get worse), which makes teaching a less desirable career. I can understand that the parents just want what's best for their child in that moment, but they don't understand the knock on effect it has longer term (and that this is the reason why, for instance, their child is being taught Maths by a Drama Teacher or English by the PE teacher).

Worriedmotheroftwo · 16/08/2025 14:39

1diamondearing · 15/08/2025 19:21

The A levels are mostly before term starts, but the GCSEs mostly can't be done until the A levels are finished, and that is 100x the workload.

I am sorry you have to put your DD in holiday club to work on days you are not paid for - There really has to be a better system - but of course paying people to do it costs money that noone is prepared to put into education

Show quote history

Yeh we'll be doing this too - my kids will be in a holiday club for GCSE results day next week, costing us £100 total. Just so I can be there for results and deal with questions/emails. I won't be paid for this additional work. Then I will be dealing with email queries over the next week or two while looking after my own kids. I will say no to looking at papers though.

Vse500 · 16/08/2025 17:11

NorseHorse123 · 16/08/2025 10:57

I’m going to sound harsh, but this is part of life - she’ll get setbacks throughout life like we all do and this should hopefully teach her that she can pick herself up and move forward. At the end of the day she got the grades she needed. End of.

Totally agree. Can't believe re-marking is actually an allowed thing when kids don't get what they want.

MillyMolliMandi · 16/08/2025 17:17

So DD is 'looking over her exam paper and querying some of the marks' ... who would be an examiner or a teacher. She clearly thinks herself the expert.

jessiejojo · 16/08/2025 17:24

You child has probably put her heart and soul into working for these exams and may feel very invested in getting the grade she expected (and wanted). If she wants a remark for her own peace of mind, it is entirely worth it. Under pressure examiners do get it wrong and people are sometimes upgraded, especially when they are so close. Even if she isn't upgraded, she will never think 'what if?' If she was that upset, it sounds important to her- and that's all that counts. Some kids may take a more 'transactional' view and see these grades just as a stepping stone. Neither approach is wrong, just different. I would definitely have wanted a remark for my favourite subject had I been that close. Best of luck to your lovely daughter. I hope she has a wonderful time at uni.

Spacecowboys · 16/08/2025 17:31

Vse500 · 16/08/2025 17:11

Totally agree. Can't believe re-marking is actually an allowed thing when kids don't get what they want.

Show quote history

Reviews are allowed because mistakes are made. Exam boards don't even dispute that.

MrsHamlet · 16/08/2025 17:34

MillyMolliMandi · 16/08/2025 17:17

So DD is 'looking over her exam paper and querying some of the marks' ... who would be an examiner or a teacher. She clearly thinks herself the expert.

I'm a teacher and am examiner. We are still only human.

Dropthepilots · 16/08/2025 17:39

@PushItToTheMax I would request a review. My DS was predicted an A in his favourite subject which he is now studying at Uni. He came out of the exams feeling pretty confident which was unusual for him. On results day he got a B and was devastated. After thinking about it for a few days he asked his subject teacher what they thought, and the teacher said they were really surprised at the result and to request review. He put in for review and the exam board came back in just over a week to revise his result to an A. His teacher suspected that the marks from one long question hadn’t been added in the first time and that it’s not that uncommon. DS got into his first choice but it made a big difference to him to know that his confidence in his own exam performance was correct.

Original poster
PushItToTheMax · 16/08/2025 17:54

MillyMolliMandi · 16/08/2025 17:17

So DD is 'looking over her exam paper and querying some of the marks' ... who would be an examiner or a teacher. She clearly thinks herself the expert.

Not at all, and how rude! She is questioning some marks and her teacher has kindly offered to go over the scripts with her. That way DD will have a better understanding of either where she went wrong, or where a review may be necessary.

OP posts:
Foodaddict1 · 16/08/2025 19:42

MillyMolliMandi · 16/08/2025 17:17

So DD is 'looking over her exam paper and querying some of the marks' ... who would be an examiner or a teacher. She clearly thinks herself the expert.

Bit rude