Any GCSE teachers/markers about for English?

[Iamapplesnotcakes]

Looking to understand scale of mistake here - in IGCSE yesterday DD wrote letter from perspective of herself instead of from the mum's perspective as apparently required. How major an error will this be? - envisaging awful situations where whole thing won't count because it's wrong.

my last words were 'read the question!' Aaarggghh - teenagers!

Don't panic. She will still get marks.

thank you. its such a shame - she's very good at English and normally we'd have hoped for for an A* but I think this might have scuppered that idea

DD sat the same exam but, despite being a notorious skim reader of questions, managed to spot that it had to be from the Mum.
If it's any consolation, a few girls at her school did the same as your DD and TSR forum is full of people saying the same thing. Perhaps the instruction wasn't that clear? One of them had asked their teacher and she said that they'd lose a couple of marks at most. I really don't think it's a major disaster.

I think DS did the same exam - was it a letter of complaint about a hostel? Must ask him whose perspective he wrote the letter from...

thanks Marni, that's reassuring - and sorry to create panic exexpat ! - I'm sure your son is a more careful reader....

Thanks, iamapples - panic over, I checked with DS and he did it from the mum's perspective. I hope the examiners are sympathetic to all those who misread the question.

I'm not an examiner but I know people who are, and while they have to stick to the mark scheme, they are encouraged to be positive and look for what the student has accomplished rather than what they haven't done. So (and this is an educated guess as I haven't taught IGCSE) that piece might be marked on structure, appeal to audience and use of persuasive techniques (for wzample) - well, writing from the wrong person may well cost marks in a couple of columns but not all of them.

As a senior examiner we expect markers to positively mark ie look for what the candidate has achieved and not focus on the mistake. Obviously she will lose marks for how well she matched purpose/audience etc but that will be minor as long as she used an appropriate tone etc. Relax it will hardly make any difference.

Thank you. She's a bright girl and I'm sure will have written well so it's great to know that will count. I should really just have faith in the process and her. Appreciate the replies.

I don't mark igcse but from previous experience she would still be rewarded but only at the bottom of the band she achieved. only usually few marks in any given written band.