Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Exams 2024 appeals

244 replies

HGC2 · 19/08/2024 17:49

Lots going on in the original exam thread but thought I’d start one only for appeals as I’m curious how many of our DCs will be successful.

Mine submitted one for chemistry today, took 2 minutes online

OP posts:
Original poster
HGC2 · 22/08/2024 21:14

I do wonder if SQA are reconsidering the appeals process for next year or if this is just it now

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 22/08/2024 21:34

HGC2 · 22/08/2024 21:14

I do wonder if SQA are reconsidering the appeals process for next year or if this is just it now

Given that our school are now not doing prelims for s5 and s6, I think this may be “it” now :/

Original poster
HGC2 · 22/08/2024 21:54

ThatsNotMyTeen · 22/08/2024 21:34

Given that our school are now not doing prelims for s5 and s6, I think this may be “it” now :/

Show quote history

That’s a bold move!

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 22/08/2024 22:01

HGC2 · 22/08/2024 21:54

That’s a bold move!

Show quote history

Yeah…my eldest really pulled his socks up after s5 prelims as his results were far off the 5 As he’d been predicted (and subsequently got). My youngest did bugger all for his last year and it enabled us to read him the riot act to study for n5. We’ll see how he goes for highers….

Original poster
HGC2 · 22/08/2024 22:04

ThatsNotMyTeen · 22/08/2024 22:01

Yeah…my eldest really pulled his socks up after s5 prelims as his results were far off the 5 As he’d been predicted (and subsequently got). My youngest did bugger all for his last year and it enabled us to read him the riot act to study for n5. We’ll see how he goes for highers….

Show quote history

Totally, it was bad prelims that really got one of mine moving both with Nat 5s and highers

OP posts:
Vettrianofan · 23/08/2024 19:26

bluebellsandspring · 21/08/2024 12:50

I read something on the What I Know About University facebook page that made me wonder about whether or not this may be behind some of the exam shockers in Scotland where pupils achieve much lower grades than predicted and were not aware of having messed up the exams. Some of the pupils in England were able to view their exam scripts on the day they received their A Level results. It didn't apply to all pupils and seemed to be dependent on the exam board. However, it became clear that for some pupils with messy handwriting large sections of text were not marked. Parents were talking about submitting appeals and one person said their DC had in a previous year been upgraded form a C to an A in one subject where large sections of text had not been marked. I don't think it has happened to my DC this year, but it did make me wonder how many pupils in Scotland this may apply to.

Thank you for drawing attention to this as I have a DS who sat exams this year who has dysgraphia. He sat one paper which he had to handwrite without ICT support. Looking forward to seeing if there's something behind this....

Vettrianofan · 23/08/2024 20:16

ThatsNotMyTeen · 22/08/2024 21:34

Given that our school are now not doing prelims for s5 and s6, I think this may be “it” now :/

Show quote history

😱 I can understand that if prelims are not being used as part of the appeals process but surely its a good baseline to gauge roughly what grade a pupil is sitting at and need to improve by the end of the year?

DS said its stupid being made to do a prelim as his work isn't even being used in the appeal process. I do agree with him. This is so different from years gone by☹️

motheronthedancefloor · 23/08/2024 20:47

I dont think they even look at your handwriting cause that's a remark, and appeals are definitely not a remark, its just a recount to check the original marks still add up to the same amount. Not sure what 'checking marking meets national standards' means as that's quite vague but its not a remark.

Nomorepants · 23/08/2024 23:47

I’m astounded by the fact that Alevel remarks are already back despite results coming out a week later. SQA are so slow.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 07:23

motheronthedancefloor · 23/08/2024 20:47

I dont think they even look at your handwriting cause that's a remark, and appeals are definitely not a remark, its just a recount to check the original marks still add up to the same amount. Not sure what 'checking marking meets national standards' means as that's quite vague but its not a remark.

It would be discrimination if a pupil has been marked down due to handwriting as they cannot really help it? 🤔

If they're genuinely answering the questions and as a PP said some answers were just ignored by markers for A Levels what's to stop markers in the SQA doing the same???

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 07:39

As someone who is disabled and works in the equality field, can I kindy ask you not to misunderstand discrimination?
Its discrimination if they have a known disability or condition that impacts their handwriting. Its not discrimination if they simply have messy handwriting. Its unfair and wrong, but its not 'discrimination'. I do hope they check though.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 07:43

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 07:39

As someone who is disabled and works in the equality field, can I kindy ask you not to misunderstand discrimination?
Its discrimination if they have a known disability or condition that impacts their handwriting. Its not discrimination if they simply have messy handwriting. Its unfair and wrong, but its not 'discrimination'. I do hope they check though.

DS has been assessed by OT, thanks. It's dysgraphia he has got, due to hypermobility in the fingers. He insisted for one if the papers he needed to write not use ICT support, I even suggested a scribe. He didn't want one and sat the paper. I personally think the handwriting may have impacted his score.

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 07:46

In that case, I hope the school put an extenuating circumstances report into the sqa following the exam, and your boy's handwriting will be taken into consideration!

bluebellsandspring · 24/08/2024 07:47

I don't know if it is discrimination or not. What I have done is have a chat with my older DC and reminded them that if their handwriting is messy it could have implications for them when exam scripts are marked. Luckily, they have both told me their writing is OK. My handwriting however can be appalling and I can see that I could easily be marked down if I were writing an exam.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 07:52

I said all this to him, use a scribe. You have permission to use these due to needing extra support. Due to chemistry doing equations in the answer paper he insisted ICT wasn't any good, and just refused a scribe even though SfL teacher would have arranged this no bother. I did remark on his writing possibly affecting his score but he didn't listen. Said it was fine. The only papers he didn't pass were the ones he didn't use ICT support....

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 07:58

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 07:46

In that case, I hope the school put an extenuating circumstances report into the sqa following the exam, and your boy's handwriting will be taken into consideration!

Had no idea this was a possibility. How do you go about this?

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 08:03

Thinking about this more, he probably wouldn't get anywhere with an extenuating circumstances report as he was offered lots of additional support needs support before study leave began. He chose not to for one Higher. He felt that it wouldn't be a good idea.

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 08:06

I think the school have 10 days after the exam to do an extenuating circumstances case, so maybe too late, and as you say they knew about his disability. I guess you could have a chat with the school about your concerns and see what they say? Maybe those with marking experience can advise?

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:14

I have emailed SfL teacher at the school to ask if it's possible for handwriting to be taken into account. Will be interesting to see what the response is...

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:16

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 08:06

I think the school have 10 days after the exam to do an extenuating circumstances case, so maybe too late, and as you say they knew about his disability. I guess you could have a chat with the school about your concerns and see what they say? Maybe those with marking experience can advise?

Oh well too late for anything to be done then.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:17

Clutching at straws so unlikely to have any impact, but it's worth finding out all the same.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:20

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink🤷‍♀️...if a pupil chooses not to take the support offered I suppose that's really the end of the matter. I am definitely not apportioning blame on the school. They've been brilliant putting supports in place.

motheronthedancefloor · 24/08/2024 09:36

Good luck to your DS and everyone else waiting on an appeal :)
The exam reports are out next week or the next so that should give us a bit more insight too.

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:38

Not expecting anything to be done now, but at least any advice I get can be carried forward to help other DC in the family who have yet to take exams in the future. Hopefully with a better appeals process by the time they sit their exams!!

Vettrianofan · 24/08/2024 09:41

I do believe if he had used a scribe for H Chemistry he would have the C, but never mind. Too late. It was his choice.