Merchant Taylor's A/B letters

[Mumtum79]

Please would someone help my husband and I understand this a little better? DS's friends have received letters stating they need to acheive a Grade C at the exams and he has one saying he needs to get a 'satisfactory' grade which we think means he has been lucky enough to get an 'A' letter but surely this means we can't take the foot off the pedal? If a subtantial number of 'B' boys score higher then surely they will get the place before him? I could call the school to ask but am sure they are swamped with calls this morning from the weekend's post...

I think you need to clarify with the school the difference between a satisfactory grade and a grade C.
Is a satisfactory grade really lower than a C?
I certainly wouldn’t take your foot off the pedal, particularly before clarifying what constitutes a satisfactory grade!

What year group are you referring to?

@Ginfordinner For 2023 intake

For what? University?

@Ginfordinner The boys now test in Year 6 for Year 9 entry. It means that they don't need to turn down a year 7 grammar place without having a good idea if they'll get into MT.

OP your son will get in ahead of the boys with a B offer, unless he does abysmally at the exam.

Sorry. I know that 6th forms often state minimum grades to continue to year 13. I wasn't aware that primary schools used the ABC grading system. Ir looks like I have completely misunderstood the OP.

@Ginfordinner Merchant Taylor's is an independent school. It has 2 entries: Yr 7 and year 9. OP is talking about the entry requirements/offer letter into year 9 which as @underneaththeash has explained, happens when they are in year 6.

Thank you Shimy

@Mumtum79 you can always ask your prep school the question and the admissions office at Mts is always very helpful and field these questions all the time.
If your ds gets the satisfactory grade he has his place because you have entered a contract with the school. They state that very clearly and the holding deposit and the signed confirmation from you means you accept this.
Regardless of how many b letter boys pass the exams.
In reality he is bright and so will the expectation is that he will keep up with his work and study hard. So the pressure is off for the exams but he will probably do well because he is clever and achieve higher than a c. “Taking the foot off the pedal”may not be quite the right words but I know what you mean. If he continues to work dilligently at school he should be fine and not need any additional tutoring.
Remember that he will be going into classes with boys (b offers) who have had to work hard to get their place. And they will be getting a minimum of a c. And usually get A’s and b’s too. So he needs to keep up.
Once they have their place it is accepted that they are there because they are all of the required standard.

Does anyone know if you get any of your money back if you pass the exam but decide not to take the place?