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Original poster

GCSE remark - worth it?

84 replies

ClareDeLune · 20/08/2015 13:15

DS has calculated that he is 10 UMS points off the next highest mark in one of his exams (taking into account each of the three modules). He's also calculated that he's 2 UMS points off another one, in one module, that would take him into the next mark bracket.

Worth a remark?

OP posts:
thunderbird69 · 25/08/2015 15:06

I contacted DS's school on Thursday morning about a couple of possible re-marks but haven't heard anything (I know they are there from last Thursday to this Wednesday and then back on 1st Sept for the start of term).
I appreciate they must be busy, anyone have any idea how long it takes for them to get through all the post-results queries?

GloriaHotcakes · 25/08/2015 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frostyfingers · 25/08/2015 15:46

My DS was four marks off the next grade with the possibility of having 2 papers re-marked. We were advised that it was worth it but to only do one paper at a time as per Gloria's comment - he could go up in one paper and down in another. I wasn't too bothered but DS wants it done as it's one of his A level subjects.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 25/08/2015 15:56

Out of curiosity what is the deadline for a remark?

frostyfingers · 25/08/2015 17:04

I think it's 17th September for the one we're doing, but I wouldn't swear by it.

IndridCold · 25/08/2015 17:22

thunderbird we are having two subjects remarked, and got the first result back today!

thunderbird69 · 25/08/2015 17:25

Indrid - that's quick, was it good news?

We haven't put the appeals in yet, I am waiting for advice from the school.

IndridCold · 25/08/2015 17:54

Yes it was thanks Smile. His teacher had advised we go for it as he was only one mark off. I was amazed it was so quick though.

lifesalongsong · 25/08/2015 20:43

Thanks for the advice about doing them one at a time, does it matter which one you choose first?

That's good news Indrid, I'm amazed there was even time to send off the paperwork and for the exam board to dig out the paper. Do you think they actually got it remarked or did they just assume there would be an extra mark to be found?

fredabear · 25/08/2015 20:46

I mark unit 4 Spanish (not AQA though) and would definitely go for it

GloriaHotcakes · 25/08/2015 20:50

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lifesalongsong · 25/08/2015 22:03

Thanks Gloria, if they mark blind then are they all done online or do they have to make a copy and Tippex out the previous marks, if it's the latter it must take a while to get sorted.

I'm very impressed by that.

Actually I'm a bit annoyed that the school hasn't replied to my email asking for a remark, am I right to think that it has to go through them and that I can't request it myself?

fredabear · 26/08/2015 07:47

No marks are made on the actual paper for the writing it is marked globally for content, language, accuracy

thunderbird69 · 26/08/2015 17:39

A question for anyone in the know (school is now closed till term starts)

DS got overall C for AQA Chemistry with UMS marks for the 4 units as -
70,74,45,75 (B,B,E,B). Total 264 (240=C 280=B)

As his mark for unit 3 is so different from the rest he wants to get it re-marked.

I assumed this would be a 'safe' appeal as he would have to drop 25 marks to be downgraded to a D and this seems extremely unlikely as his overall mark is already low.

However, looking at the AQA grade boundaries doc, for unit 3 the grade boundary for an E is 45 (which is what he was given) and there is nothing below this. So I am a little concerned about what would happen if by some bizarre chance he dropped even 1 mark. Would it only affect the overall mark or would it count as an outright fail?

GloriaHotcakes · 26/08/2015 18:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fredabear · 27/08/2015 08:42

I wouldn't risk a remark there thunderbird, unlikely to change overall grade

thunderbird69 · 27/08/2015 08:44

fredabear - why would you say it is a risk? Wouldn't he have to drop a lot of marks to be put down a grade? The mark is so unexpectedly low that it suggests not all of the paper has been marked

titchy · 27/08/2015 09:22

You need to look at raw marks not UMS. Dropping two or three raw marks can mean a drop of 10+ UMS. If the low score is for the ISA it can't be remarked anyway.

lifesalongsong · 27/08/2015 09:27

fredabear - I can see that for something like an English essay the marker could give a mark without writing on the paper but how would that work for a science or maths paper where the marks are (in the main) for the factual accuracy of the answer.

lifesalongsong · 27/08/2015 09:33

thunderbird - I agree, I don't see the risk, he'd have to drop 25 UMS/12 raw marks on that paper according to the AQA converter. That's not going to happen.

Was that unit the CA? There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer whether they can be remarked.

Good luck, it does look like something went wrong somewhere

thunderbird69 · 27/08/2015 09:36

thanks - no it wasnt the CA

titchy · 27/08/2015 09:54

Assume it was the C3 paper then? It needs to go up by 16 UMS which is about 10 raw marks (out of 60) to get the next grade. How does he feel he did in this one? It is a different set of topics from C1 and C2. 10 raw marks on a science paper seems like a lot to me, though agree the risk seems low assuming you an afford to waste £30.

lifesalongsong · 27/08/2015 10:23

I agree that 10 marks is a lot but imo it's worth it for the peace of mind to know what happened.

As long as you can afford it I don't see if as being a waste and actually it's nearer £40 than £30 Smile

GloriaHotcakes · 27/08/2015 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thunderbird69 · 27/08/2015 11:23

Thanks for all your comments

He felt he had done well on the paper, hence the bemusement at getting such a low mark compared to the other papers. Although he may have made some stupid mistakes and not realised!

Think we'll wait till the teachers are available to discuss it before deciding, there is still plenty of time.