Can I ask for a remark of science when it appears we are 1 mark off a new grade?

[Janus]

Dd did GCSE combined science. She got 2 b's for biology, 1 b for chemistry and 1 b for core science. She then got 1 c for chemistry, 2 C's for physics and 1c for additional science. This gave her an overall mark of C for science and C for additional science. One of her papers shows she was 1 mark off a B.
Went to college today to try and enrol for A Level biology and they won't let her take it as overall science was a C, despite Biology showing as 2x B's. She devastated. They suggest re-doing GCSE science and we've enrolled on that with her other A Levels and will then start A Level biology next year if she does better.
But really, for 1 mark they won't let her do this starting this year. Should I try and see if I can push it? Should I try and get paper re-marked? Does this take a long time if I can?
If we'd done triple science She'd just be in, this doesn't make sense to me or am I reading these results wrong? Please help?

Does the tech do an advanced Btech in applied sciences? That might be an option? ( we in similar situ and have decided not to go for remarking because we don't want delay to start/ having to swop over)

IME, for nursing, A levels including Psychology are more useful than level 3 BTECs. I have taught A level Biology, Psychology and BTEC (and A level) Applied Science, and students with A levels have found it easier to get offers.

Agree applied Science, Psych and Eng Lit sound better. Having said that can you argue to allow her to do Bio for half a term in the space that they're suggesting the resits? With a view to seeing how she does? And noooo to resitting GCSE Science! But yeeeees to looking at university entry requirements now!

don't hold out any hope of getting a grade change on a remark. the system this year has completely changed - its just an adding up of the scores not a remark of the paper so if she has been marked harshly then that is tough as far as the exam boards are concerned.

I think you are panicing a bit and need to sit down and just look through the options. what does she want to do as a job/career? does she need a degree to do this, if so what in? if yes then look at all the unis that offer this and see what grades and subjects they want.

there is absolutely no point sacrificing success at A level to see a gcse go up by one grade. no one will care about her gcses once her a level results are in.

go back to the college and make a fuss to get her onto the biology course. look at other places that offer this. can she commute? could she do 2 a levels at college and one with a private tutor? could you fund this? what about doing biology a level as an evening class?

there are masses of options and all need slow and careful working through.

don't overload the girl. her a levels will suffer if you do and they are far more important. good luck, horrible place for you both to find yourselves in.

If she wants to do child psychologist then yes she needs Biology A Level so that's why I want to keep the options open.
I saw the Head of Science when there and she wasn't budging so I don't know who else I can go to. I asked her if we could start it and take the risk that she isn't up to scratch and would have to stop but she refused to allow this. I don't think they will allow her to do applied science with the c grade but I'll look into it, thank you.

You don't need A level Biology to do a Psychology degree. I think it is helpful, as is Maths, but not essential.

Oh lord! I've gone through websites and UCAS and individual university websites and they all seem to differ. They do all say demand for psychology degrees courses have hugely increased and now requirements are around AAA-AAB and I assume a science would override a different A Level. But maybe she should just do the 3 A Levels and do the best she can rather than worry about GCSE science. I'm so confused!!

She is in a difficult position and as others have said, she will need the biology for nursing etc. I've had a couple of students go onto nursing and midwifery from a level 3 BTEC in applied biology but they all got distinctions /distinction * so that is an option although they are more likely to offer places to A level students. We let students in with C grades on the applied courses.
Psychology is generally considered harder than sociology and would definitely be more useful if considering anything medical particularly as it is classified as a science.
You are doing the right thing looking at the UCAS websites and keep on at the school if you really think she will cope. Sometimes the management cave in and let students on if parents make enough of a fuss (although as i said earlier, they rarely do well if they haven't met the grades)
Good luck

Honestly, having taught both Psychology and Biology, I think she is likely to get a higher grade in Psychology than Biology given the A in English and Cs in Sciences.

Janus - making a fuss means not just talking to the course tutor but getting an interview with the college director, writing to the board of governors, copy in your MP, write to the Education secretary. your angle should be about giving the girl a chance - 1 term and if she isn't coping then you wouldn't continue. its tough to do, it feels like overkill but it gets results.

and to all those that say it is unfair that he who shouts loudest gets it - well yep I guess it is but we all want to do the most and best for our children.

It isn't the neccesarily best for the OPs kid though. Even students with good B grades at GCSE tend to struggle with A level Biology, and the new spec is harder than the outgoing one, with considerably more maths.
We insist on either three Bs in triple, or 2 Bs from core and additioanl as well as a B in maths, and to be honest to be fair to the students i think we should ask for As as a considerable number of B grade students fail/do very badly.
This is the last year of health and social A level y12 entry, does the college offer that, as that in combination with sociology and psychology she would fit the entry requirements for many many nursing and psychology degrees.

Write to the Education Secretary??

dd is taking Health and Social Care A level at sixth form college. They also offer BTEC Applied Biology for pupils with Cs in Core and Additional Science which they recommend for pupils considering nursing/medical degrees.
What grade did your dd obtain for Maths? Science A levels often require a grade B for Maths.
Psychology is also now a linear A level and my understanding is that the new spec is more Science oriented than the old modular course, so some comments about being good at English making this a better A level to take could be out of date.
PS She wouldn't necessarily be "in" if she had taken Triple Science. Each unit in GCSE Science is slightly harder than the previous one and there is a much greater work-load.

Is there a careers officer I should be able to talk to, where do I look this up?!
Dd got a B in Maths and and AB in Health and Social GCSE which I thought showed she was capable in science too but not for the college apparently.
Looking up nursing and midwife it appears she doesn't need A Level Biology as long as she gets her A Level Psychology but maybe I'm looking in the wronh place? (NHS careers website).
I need some really good advice now but don't know who to ask, please any ideas?

A Level Psychology should be OK -it is considered a Science and the new spec is more 'sciencey'. Example of entry requirements here:

South Bank

Mummy that advice is nuts and quite frankly you could attach fireworks to your undercarriage we do not take children who's grades don't fit the minimum requirements for a course.... It's cruel to the student.
Don't overload her.

Thank you titchy, I see that psychology seems to be enough of a 'science' for them, great relief. I think she needs to concentrate on getting best possible A Levels.