GCSEs 2018 (17) What will be in your coffee cup on Thursday?

[PeggySchuylar]

Thread 16 full to brim. Hope nobody minds me starting new one.

Good to hear all the variations of the mark sheets.

Kingscote that's great - definitely worth a reviews. Will share once we know the composite mark. Was there any particular paper that seemed harsher than others.

DD School has also given a similar sheet than oneteen. So the various options for all the boards. Out prices seem slightly different - is that with School overhead?

Brain unfortunately I heard that too

DS was talking about R day today and has admitted he’s a bit worried. The more he thinks about the exams, the more mistakes he thinks he’s made in various papers

I’m hoping this is just pre-results nerves...

At DS’s school they’ll only be given grades on Thursday, no marks at all on the results sheet (this is different from DD’s school where their sheet also included a breakdown of UMS by component). They can find out their marks from teachers when school starts again. I can’t help thinking they are only being given half the story on Thursday, which is fine if grades are as expected, but will be frustrating if there are any anomalies on there.

I was fine before today but nerves are starting to kick in now.

Yes, that happened with DS2's science controlled assessment 2 years ago. Everyone went down at least 2 grades. For DS2 it meant he dropped from a comfortable B to a C. He averaged B in the 3 exams but got an E for the controlled assessment! I'm actually quite glad that controlled assessments have been phased out forDS3. DS1 and DS2 did better in exams. Some schools used to 'play the system' with CA to the disadvantage of more 'honest' schools IME.

Sorry to many typos

With the new 9-1 GCSEs you (probably) won't get the mark. The data from the exam boards doesn't provide it easily by pupil. No UMS anymore with them either, no longer needed, just the raw mark possibly on a mega print out with some poor teacher.

DS school will not be giving actual marks. If you get less than highest grade you can apply using a form they have sent for the marks in order that a remark/review can be considered.

They get 95% A*/A or equivalent so I suspect they don't need to give out many. Other than that it says you get the marks when you go back to school.

The marks are emailed at 6am and teachers there from 8am if you do want them.

May I join you? This whole thing was easy with DS1 as he knew he would do well, but DS 2 has been stressing since the end of his exams. He totally messed up his mocks, one teacher described as him being 'like a frightened rabbit in the headlights'. I hope his eventual effort won't be a case of 'too little, too late'. If he gets 4s and 5s we will be happy.

GoodbyeStranger and Pip brilliant results your DC achieved.

Kingscote hopefully knowing that he was so close to the next grade may restore some of his confidence for the subject, good luck with the review!

Welcome all newbies not long until it will all be over and normal life can resume.

I know these questions are better asked of the school but can anyone help?

From the 6th Form prospectus “students select 4 subjects/ courses” - will this be right? DD says one is dropped at the end of Year 12
It also says ‘blended’ route should be 2 A Levels and 2 BTECs - is that likely to be rigid?

The course guidance also refers to AS Levels in a number of subjects - I thought there would be no AS Levels as from September?

I really should know this stuff, sorry.

Not 100% sure Chunter. I have definitely heard of lots of schools where you start with 4 and then drop 1 sometime or at the end of the first year.

The AS level thing - I may be wrong - but I think you can do some AS levels on their own. What you can't do is a full a level where you sit the AS exam at the end of the first year and then the renaming part a the end of year 13. I may be wrong so hopefully somebody else can come along and clarify.

Kingscote how quickly will you know from
CIE about the reviewed paper. I don't have our review sheet with the timings as away from home. Fingers crossed for you. I
Really hope it results in grade going up but even if not he has done spectacularly well. I agree it must help to know he has been so close to the grade boundary.

Sorry that should say remaining not renaming - damn autocorrect.

Sorry don't know about the blended suggestion - have not heard that.

eaglefly I'm filling in the form now - I am hoping the Exam Officer will process it tomorrow or Wednesday before it all goes bonkers again!

Before I lose sleep tonight about whether dd's coursework affected subjects (English, history, PE, Art) have been subject to review and marking down, would schools typically forewarn students and parents in advance if this has happened, or would you typically only find out upon results collection?

Thanks eaglefly using that info my re-reading of the prospectus made sense

hmc I’m not completely sure but I think DS’s History teacher said that the coursework had already been moderated by the board (CIE) and so his mark was the final one. I could be wrong though...so not much help!

Kingscote good luck with the remark. Remind me, did your DS do the old A*-G spec or the new 9-1?

Thanks Cherry - I am going to try and not dwell on it!

I hadn't even worried about the coursework thing until now. DD did English coursework. She already has the language paper that she messed up the timings on and I think is expecting the result to drop for this one but with the moderation gosh that would be terrible if the results were dropped across the year group - that would be the entire year.

Sorry hmc I won't say anything more. Let's just put it out of our mind

Can I join you all? Have been reading since this thread first started. Currently not sure if I'm more worried about the 20 year old going off + 3000 miles after two years off. Never lived in the UK, and a bit worried about the lack of light in winter. OR, the 16 year old about to get results, but haven't seen in the last two nights as she's been at the BFs. Won't be able to take time off work to get the eldest to Uni, so frantically writing lists in my head. And my PILs are sick and bonkers. Happy days.

Hi, I have been lurking on this post for a few weeks now and thought it would be a good time to show my face! I am sure that a lot of you will be interested in the latest Ofqual blog ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2018/08/20/gcse-results-day-what-to-expect/. announcing a new grade 3-3 for AQA Higher Combined Science.

That’s interesting, sunshine, it’s not just AQA it’s all exam boards.

The results for higher tier must have been dire if they’ve had to lower the safety net to stop students getting Us. Will be interesting to see what the grade boundaries are.

Yes, lets try eaglefly