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Original poster

Anyone going for GCSE re-marks 2016?

26 replies

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 27/08/2016 12:45

DD and I tempted to send back Eng Lang paper that was predicted A/A* and came back B. It's one of her A level choices. I've emailed school and they basically said, she's two marks off, but don't bother as we are happy with the B.
I'm aware that this is a bit rubbish but English is always so subjective that it might be worth a punt. Unlikely to go down (but they do point out the risks)
Anyone else in the same boat?

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 27/08/2016 12:50

Very big risk with English as it can go down and often does ! Grade boundaries can be quite tight too. It's annoying I agree, but think long and hard as I've known kids be so upset to go down after a remark. Less of a risk with maths as right or wrong. And the remark is done differently this year I think so only allowed to change the mark if there has been an error, not just an interpretation of the examiner. Speak to school exams officer before doing anything. And good luck

hobobulate · 27/08/2016 13:19

school have sent off one of DDs English language papers for remarking already. She got A, A A and then C on her papers. School have looked at breakdown of marks for the C paper and say it doesn't make any sense. Overall she got A, which I know is great, but she was very disappointed not to get A* and tbh the results just don't make sense.
Considering sending Eng Lit off as well, although less clear cut. We're waiting to discuss with English Dep when they start back in Sept. Again, she was expecting A* and got A so not a major deal, but she is genuinely shocked and puzzled by some very low grades on the papers.

I think there may be less risk of grades going down this year due to changes in remarking rules, but also probably less chance of them going up as well. Markers can now only change marks if there was an obvious mistake, and not if they just subjectively don't agree with markers interpretation of the mark scheme.

RedHelenB · 27/08/2016 18:19

Will an A make any difference though?

bigsnugglebunny · 27/08/2016 18:32

Son is apparently 5 marks off his C for English. College are putting him down for a resit in November - but have suggested a remark, as there is nothing to lose (except £££) if he is resitting anyway. I'm going to speak to the school on Tuesday about it.

He has Aspergers, so found the exams pretty hard going - and he got C in all the other subjects he needed for college. Just English let him down.

polarpercy · 27/08/2016 18:37

Hi everyone, I've started a thread on this board with links to the exam boards and ofqual to help. I've also asked mumsnet to make it a sticky to help parents because there have been big changes to 'remarks'.

They are no longer remarks as we used to think of them. Exam board changes from ofqual mean marks will only change if there has been a clerical error or an error in applying the mark scheme NOT if a different marker would interpret the answer differently. This would be particularly important when considering English paper remarks and essay based subjects.

Link here to the thread I've asked MNHQ to sticky. Hope it helps and good luck.

Coconutty · 27/08/2016 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 27/08/2016 21:33

The changes are, in my opinion, to cover the flaws in the marking system of English which are many. We have had issues with English marking for many years (the many reasons we switched to IGCSE - which is more reliably and consistently marked). Due to a change in govt policy we're having to switch back (halfway through the course for current 10s into 11). Not looking forward to the effect on marks.

polarpercy · 27/08/2016 21:45

I agree and I think it will confuse people as it hasn't been well publicised outside of education, particularly as parents and students have enough to worry about. I hope it doesn't impact too greatly on you Doctor (love the username btw!)

notapizzaeater · 27/08/2016 21:48

Maths got a C - 3 marks off a B - still deciding what to do ....

Coconutty · 27/08/2016 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

polarpercy · 27/08/2016 22:33

It is not remarks any more in the strictest sense of the term. It is being termed paper reviews and is about checking for clerical or actual marking errors not simply interpretation errors. With Maths I would agree with coconutty that in theory there should be less margin for error due to the question types and mark schemes

bigsnugglebunny · 21/09/2016 07:44

Son got his re-mark back and he has gone from a D to a C in English. Very pleased.

LadyPenelope68 · 21/09/2016 07:46

Great news big snuggle!

GnomeDePlume · 22/09/2016 04:28

We are waiting on a remark for DS' English Language resit. He was quite literally 1 UMS off a C. College put the paper forward for a remark on their own account.

I do so want him to get this as it would mean he could go onto the course he really wants to be on.

Eastyone · 22/09/2016 11:02

Good Luck GnomeDePlum with the remark - Just got DDs remark for Chemistry - was a D moved to a C on remark ( 2 marks off UMS - 5 marks gained) - We've requested the paper to go through but this now means she has passes in all sciences (wonder if it could be down to handwriting as it is very poor and can now use a processor in 6th form?)

knittingwithnettles · 22/09/2016 20:02

Ds went up two marks in Geography remark (but stayed same grade)

Still waiting for the English Literature remark which was only 3 marks to go up a grade - a bit nailbiting, and I'm almost sure now that he didn't do well in the Literature paper and the C was deserved, as he is not finding the A level very easy.

Titchy why do you think they don't actually remark the paper? They check the mark scheme has been properly applied, which is a remark rather than just a clerical check.

knittingwithnettles · 22/09/2016 20:07

sorry I think Titchy was on another "remark" thread, along with PolarPercy Blush

It is like walking through a dark dark forest isn't it, with no sign posts; certainly the teachers keep a lot confidential..you are never told if other children of a higher ability have recieved the same grade undeservedly, or whether children failed who should have passed etc. There is no context - perhaps the teachers find it as exhausting as we do.

jaguar67 · 22/09/2016 20:51

knittingwithnettles - could not agree with you more! We were in discussion with school from early morning results day re. Eng Lit remark (1 UMS off next grade, total surprise) numerous emails exchanged over several days re pros/ cons of remark exam paper. Precise answers were given to my specific questions, but no more than that. It really was a dark forest. Submitted remark request, to then find out, out of blue, school had successfully challenged coursework (downward) moderation, resulting in DS going up a grade. Nailbiting 48 hrs ensued, in case exam remark buggered that up. Luckily it didn't (although no extra marks awarded either). In all a successful result but WHY didn't school divulge they were challenging c/work (and told parents to hold off exam remarks in meantime) - would have save them hrs of email correspondence with parents at the very least. Don't understand at all.

d270r0 · 22/09/2016 20:56

I'd go for it. Unlikely to go down as she is right at the top of the B grade.
I'm a maths teacher- one of my students was 1 mark off a C grade, we sent it off and now hes got his C grade! Hes over the moon.

Icequeen01 · 24/09/2016 10:49

Ive just done a separate post about this. DS had his English Language paper remarked and heard yesterday it had gone up from a C to a B. We thought school were putting in for remark of English Lit as everyone's marks were low but turns out they decided against doing it and only told us after the deadline for remarking so now have no chance of doing this ourselves! Not huge in the scheme of things. He's not doing English at A level but still annoying.

GloryHunter · 27/09/2016 21:09

Just got my son's Eng Lang GCSE re-mark back, he's gone from a B to an A. Six raw marks and 22 UMS Smile

FozzieMK · 28/09/2016 11:58

Just received a letter from the school about my DD's English Literature re-mark, she was one mark off a B but apparently her mark didn't change. How do I know they actually sent it for a re-mark? Should there have been a letter or form from the examination board attached. I hate to be suspicious, but I received the letter this morning after emailing the school and asking what had happened to the re-mark yesterday morning.

knittingwithnettles · 28/09/2016 12:06

Ds1s Eng Lit GSCE remark came back yesterday (Igsce AQA) unchanged. Same marks, and still a C.

Well, at least it didn't go down Hmm They definitely sent it back to be remarked as the exams officer forwarded me the official letter.

Brilliant to gain 6 raw marks!

FozzieMK · 28/09/2016 12:36

Thank you knitting. I guess at least they have the C, a few of my DD's friends in other schools didn't get any change to their English D mark so I shouldn't be too surprised.

GloryHunter · 28/09/2016 15:01

FozzieMK the school forwarded an emailed letter from exam board giving new grade AND an apology for any disappointment caused by the previous grade (AQA).