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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:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 02/09/2024 11:16

Interesting…I wonder if my son knows anyone who had them in. He had one in for his AH maths but he didn’t need it for uni as he got the B he needed so I doubt his was treated as priority

KielderWater · 02/09/2024 11:32

I do think priority appeals should include those for students thinking of applying for a course that has a UCAS deadline of 15th Oct. After all getting a B upgraded to an A could be all the difference between being able to apply for medicine or not.

KielderWater · 02/09/2024 11:36

I also think you shouldn’t only be able to appeal banding if you hold an offer from a university which requires a specific banding (eg Cambridge who require A1s). The fact they have bandings at all should mean you can appeal them.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 02/09/2024 11:48

KielderWater · 02/09/2024 11:36

I also think you shouldn’t only be able to appeal banding if you hold an offer from a university which requires a specific banding (eg Cambridge who require A1s). The fact they have bandings at all should mean you can appeal them.

I agree, my son just missed an A1 in his English higher last year by 2 marks due to the folio mark being so low. He was raging lol but no mechanism to appeal. He’s not needed it for uni thankfully

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 16:23

Good news - one AH appeal resulted in an upgrade. Weirdly it was the subject he was 5 points off, whereas the subject he was only 1 point off has remained as is.

He’s made his university offer conditions now which is the main thing.

motheronthedancefloor · 02/09/2024 16:30

That's good news! Well done him.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 02/09/2024 16:37

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 16:23

Good news - one AH appeal resulted in an upgrade. Weirdly it was the subject he was 5 points off, whereas the subject he was only 1 point off has remained as is.

He’s made his university offer conditions now which is the main thing.

That’s fantastic news! Well done

I suppose the one that was one mark away may already have been subject to more scrutiny, so perhaps not that surprising

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 17:08

ThatsNotMyTeen · 02/09/2024 16:37

That’s fantastic news! Well done

I suppose the one that was one mark away may already have been subject to more scrutiny, so perhaps not that surprising

Show quote history

Hadn’t thought of that so yes possible. Still can’t get my head round it based on previous performance/ how he felt about the exam. And I loathe the lack of transparency.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 02/09/2024 20:37

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 16:23

Good news - one AH appeal resulted in an upgrade. Weirdly it was the subject he was 5 points off, whereas the subject he was only 1 point off has remained as is.

He’s made his university offer conditions now which is the main thing.

Fantastic news!

margotsdevil · 02/09/2024 22:53

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 27/08/2024 09:49

These things can happen. Freak results for an assessment or an exam. People can have off days, they are not robots...

Which is why up until this year there has been a proper appeals process where you can submit evidence in support of your case when freak results happen. In my DS's case he is under the care of the mental health team and was having a bad week.

Unfortunately he will just have to suck it up as there's no route for appeal.

That's not the case. Evidence hasn't been submitted for appeals since 2015 - when the current version of Highers was brought out. The clerical check/marking review is all that has been in place since then, with the exception of 2022 which was the first year of exams post covid,

cushionfiend · 02/09/2024 22:54

@Nomorepants Wow, fantastic news - what a relief for you both.

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 10:52

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 16:23

Good news - one AH appeal resulted in an upgrade. Weirdly it was the subject he was 5 points off, whereas the subject he was only 1 point off has remained as is.

He’s made his university offer conditions now which is the main thing.

Thank you, you give me hope - five points off😱😱 that is amazing!! Congratulations to your DC!

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 10:53

DS's teacher actually phoned me and said he has put in the appeal for him even though he's five points off. Thank you for giving me a tiny glimmer of hope @Nomorepants 💗

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 10:57

How weird so many have put us off putting in an appeal five points off yet it seems that it can be upgraded....no success guaranteed for everyone, but nothing to lose trying is there? Paid off for your DC @Nomorepants 💪💪

I absolutely love stories like this!

Nomorepants · 03/09/2024 10:59

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 10:53

DS's teacher actually phoned me and said he has put in the appeal for him even though he's five points off. Thank you for giving me a tiny glimmer of hope @Nomorepants 💗

Best of luck! DS also appealed his Higher English last year. Moved up 4 points, 1 short of upgrade. But still worth doing I think.

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 11:09

Just a question for those in the know about the appeals process....can a teacher and parent both request an appeal for a candidate for the same Higher?

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 11:11

I wasn't sure if both can do this, or just one or the other. I requested an appeal for DS 7th August and his teacher has kindly requested one just before the deadline.

motheronthedancefloor · 03/09/2024 12:29

I kind of wish we'd appealed DD's D&M Higher now which was 5 marks off an A (she had been consistent As beforehand).

What subject was the upgrade for @Nomorepants ?

Hapagirl48 · 03/09/2024 13:46

Nomorepants · 02/09/2024 16:23

Good news - one AH appeal resulted in an upgrade. Weirdly it was the subject he was 5 points off, whereas the subject he was only 1 point off has remained as is.

He’s made his university offer conditions now which is the main thing.

That's great news! It have been so stressful to wait when so much hinged on it. And that's interesting about 5 points off. One of the ones we appealed was 4 point off.

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 14:03

The SQA shouldn't be deterring teachers or parents from appealing when DC are five points away from a boundary when they have indeed upgraded successfully in some cases. Absolute nonsense to throw people off the scent. If you have a gut instinct to appeal, you should.

Seems even being one point away isn't a guarantee of successfully being upgraded. Really pleased I put the appeal in for DS now after reading this thread today. Thanks again for updating us all @Nomorepants 😊

KielderWater · 03/09/2024 15:19

Seems even being one point away isn't a guarantee of successfully being upgraded.

It absolutely shouldn’t be. The points should be correct however frustrating it may be when at the boundary.

margotsdevil · 04/09/2024 08:12

Vettrianofan · 03/09/2024 11:09

Just a question for those in the know about the appeals process....can a teacher and parent both request an appeal for a candidate for the same Higher?

Appeal can come from either, but school has to check that young person is happy to appeal. If a parent/young person puts an appeal in from home then it automatically gets flagged to the school so that it isn't raised twice.

motheronthedancefloor · 04/09/2024 15:57

Got a response from the SQA regarding my complaint that Higher History has not been properly marked and marks have fallen drastically so will they look at what may have gone wrong. As expected I got the standard 'you can appeal, and here's how' response. It doesn't actually answer my specific concerns.

A teacher who marks for the SQA said that the 'meeting national standards' part of the appeal means they DO check if marks are missing, eg if you got 4 out of 5 marks, they'll check your answer to see if the marker missed something that should have made it 5 marks. Hope they are correct.

theferry · 06/09/2024 10:58

Does anyone know when the results of appeals are released (non urgent ones)?

Sunsgoingtokeepshining · 06/09/2024 11:44

theferry · 06/09/2024 10:58

Does anyone know when the results of appeals are released (non urgent ones)?

End of October?