Can we discuss re-marking of GCSEs - ie appeals? Yes/no/don't bother? Any experience of success?

[lemoncurdyeomans]

At ds' school a number of good, top set students got A for English Language GCSE when they were expecting A - one of them even wants to be a journalist! I know it seems a bit much to faff about an A rather than an A, but we are wondering whether to ask the school to send off some of the papers for re-marking.

Or whether students can or should do it individually?

I know there are a few exam markers on here - any advice please?

Requests for re-marking have to come from the school. Students cannot appeal individually. You may have to pay for the re-mark.

Be aware that marks can go down as well as up. If that happens you are stuck with the lower grade - you can't refuse to accept the re-mark and stick with the original grade.

If the marks are close to the A/A* boundary it may be worth requesting a re-mark. However, if they are a long way short it probably isn't worth it. Remember that most re-marks do not result in a change of grade.

Thanks, Bridge. Am I right in thinking that if the mark is closer to an A* than a B, then it's unlikely to go down? That is, if it's in the half of the band nearer the top than the bottom?

I know it sounds like rather a minor problem, but some of these students are really very good at English.

At the school I teach at, students have to request a re-mark themselves - teachers or parents are not allowed to do it unless the child is under 16. Students are advised to consult the HoD of the subject in question to see whether s/he thinks a re-mark is likely to be successful. If there is a discrepancy as you describe (ie, lots of students failing to achieve predicted grades) then I imagine the HoD is already looking at the numbers very carefully to assess whether a request for re-marking is feasible. You need to find out your child's numerical score for the individual papers (not the grades) and see how close it is to the A/A* grade boundary to help you judge whether a re-mark is worthwhile.

It might be worth knowing what it costs depending on the board:

Re-mark per individual paper (first price)
Copy of the paper for you to have a look at (second price)

AQA
£32.35
£11.50

Edexcel
£23.20
£10.30

OCR
£34.10
£8.80

Note also that re-marks tend to be unsuccessful in the majority of cases, unless it becomes clear that there has been an error in arithmetic or the board believes the original examiner was significantly out of line with the rest of his/her colleagues. Moderation during the marking process usually highlights this earlier, however. (I am also an examiner). English (my subject) can be a particularly unpredictable one as well where the top grades are concerned: students are usually appalled to learn that typically, you need 90% to get an A* (they tell me this is lower in other subjects, although I don't know if that is the case).

Sorry to go on for so long - hope it's helpful!

PS: I taught a set two and the brightest of my set got A in Eng. but A* in Lit. It's not unusual to have this discrepancy.

Thanks, SleepingLion, that's a lot of information.

Do you think the school will want to do it? If it brought up the grades of a couple of students, presumably it would help the school's results performance; but it is a big, busy school and I wonder if they'll want to have the hassle. I do think they should help, though - these kids are seriously good (not just my ds ).

Mmmm - they like to say they got a million A*s though, don't they?

If you want to do it, I think your DS can request a re-mark regardless of whether the school wishes to or not - after all, it's you who pays the fee!

I'm not sure that prh47bridge is correct in saying that requests have to come from the school - in both my and my DH's school, requests have to come from the student. In my school, the student simply has to contact the exams office specifying which paper they want re-marked and stumping up the cash.

ds1 is one mark off the grade boundary for biology and we are going to get a unit remark.

he's 3 marks off the boundary on physics and the same for chemistry. Not sure what to do with those two. Any advice very welcome.

The deadline school have given us for applying is the 17th sept and a form was handed out with the results with all the prices ranging from £8.80 to see your original script on an OCR exam up to £59.50 to get a linear gcse remark with OCR

sleepinglion I have the same prices as you except AQA original script is £9.05 and Edexcel £7.75

If we want any post result action we have to fill in the form and send it into school

Does re-marking also work for coursework?

My DD2 has got 159/200 for her AS photography (Edexcel), which I think is 1 mark short of an A.
I am thinking of asking for a re-mark, not sure whether to ask for the exam or the coursework part to be re-marked.

Pixie, we don't have his mark for English - that would be the first step, to get it. Then we would know if he was miles off an A* or what.

I know it sounds extravagant but I'd be willing to pay the fee. He is such an avid reader and writer, it's a bit of a smack in the face to get less than the best mark in one of his best subjects IYSWIM. And the would-be journo is a really good writer. If they were (say) one mark off, it would be worth a check, I would think. I would personally go for it if 3 marks off, as well, Eatyourveg, but then I'm a bit like that, try try and try again then give up graciously.

I think re-marking can work for coursework, Seimum, but have not got to AS level yet. Again, though, one mark off! Seems such a shame not to have a go...obviously if the mark is right, then it's right however.

Last year DS1 got two remarks one B to an A , and one A to an A*

It did make a difference to him. He wanted good GCSEs as some of his uni options may reference these and he wanted themakrks he felt he had earned. And it took him to all A or A*s which was what he was hoping for.

The tutors agreed and we paid the remark fee, filling in the forms the school provided.

Thanks, Pag, that is very cheering and sums up what ds is feeling, and his mates. They know they're good at English, and I don't want them to veer away from the subject because they appear to be not that good at it (in relative terms; of course they are grateful for their As.) And thanks MaamRuby, for that info. I am nervous about bothering the school, but will try to muster some courage!

you can also pay for a script (comments) on the marking, but I think that its another £12

The numerical marks should be with schools today.

As far as I know, coursework and practicals cannot be re-marked. Certainly all my coursework has been both internally and externally moderated and the external moderator will have been moderated by the principal coursework moderator so they are fairly rigorously checked already.

The Telegraph this week had an article about top Unis now looking at GCSE marks for making offers, so if you cAN BRING THEM UP, IT's worth it.

Thanks for these. One of the reasons ds and his mates are thinking of re-marking is that they got A stars for all their coursework, and nothing major went wrong with the exams.

We will devise a craven tactful but persuasive email this weekend and hope the school will agree to take things forward...

we had the same experience as pagwatch. Last year DS got a B for english (Lit) that was unexpected so the school got it re-marked and it was changed to an A. This happened to several students at his school.

Definitely worth applying if you think there is a chance. Good luck

Thanks, mumoverseas. I appreciate your useful input on the other GCSE thread as well.