Grade boundaries...

[BaconAndAvocado]

...How do I find out what these are? I think DS2 might have just missed an 8 in Maths.

In some subjects (Maths for example) the grade boundaries have shifted up from 2019 (the year to which this year's grade distribution is mapped), so its actually been pretty tricky for schools to predict from mock scores, even if they discount the last 3 years.

In a big school, you could use the distribution of marks across the cohort to sense check mock grades, but in small schools that is trickier.

In some ways its a shame the marks are given out to the kids. Some people have to be just short of a grade boundary, statistically. Otherwise it's not a boundary!
My DD was 1 mark over a 9 in one subject and 3 marks short in 2 others. We arent bothering getting papers etc. In the scheme of things it doesn't really matter.... swings and roundabouts.
I think after a couple of days most kids move on.
If it was the difference between pass and fail of course we'd challenge but not at the top end.

My DS got a 2 the last time he did English. He was 4 marks off a 3. I asked for a remark even though it wasn't pass/fail. It was about his self image. He actually went up 7 marks due to very harsh marking. It meant a lot to him that he wasn't getting worse (retakes).

How do we even know what marks they had? Is this a totally mad question ?

Thanks for your comments. I didn’t know anything about remarking. If it was A Level subjects or Maths/ English, I’d maybe consider it but don’t think it matters that much in our case. Thanks

It should be on the results slip. If it isn't, email the exams office at school and ask for the component marks.

DD is a mark off 9 in one subject and her results are brilliant in all subjects. Her teacher has asked to review that one as she got 100% on one of the papers. It matters to DD because she's aiming for Oxbridge on a very competitive course so the 9 might matter.

I’ve just tried looking at the EdExcel Grade Boundaries out of curiosity. My kids are in the Scottish system so it’s a LOT easier with just one exam board doing the exams! Looking at History for instance, there are so many different History papers - looks like over 100 all with roughly the maximum mark of 168 and a 9 sitting at roughly 86% and a 5 at 51%. What are the different Histories - different papers/courses? All looks so complicated!

Congrats to all those who’ve got what they need, particularly when battling against the odds. And to those who didn’t get what they expected, here’s to things working out in the long run. My DC’s schools weren’t forthcoming with the actual marks they got - still don’t know apart from one or two subjects that my DC has asked the teacher about and they got their results 3 weeks ago. And it looks like the appeals is just a tott up of the marks again rather than a review so not holding out much hope for the C going up to a B in one of their subjects. Worth doing though just in case there’s been a genuine miscalculation - it can happen!

Hope your kids get to celebrate/commiserate with their friends - mine got their discounted (not free this year) Nando’s 😊

It can matter for competitive uni courses like medicine/vet med. None ask explicitly for 9s, but some will look for X number of grade 7s at GCSE, so it can make a difference for that.

It can also make a difference when a uni looks at a student's UCAS application- the only achieved grades most students have are their GCSEs, so stronger GCSEs make an application more competitive.

It is much harder now to pick up extra marks than it used to be, but equally schools can look at papers in advance to decide whether it's worth paying for.

Why bother reviewing them though? Does it really matter? My DD was 2 off a 9/9 in science and 1 off a 9 in maths.

I wouldn't bother for 8 to 9. We didn't for trying to go 7 to 8 either (DS last year, catering, what we expected anyway, although apparently only 2 marks off an 8).

DS loves today's subject though, DT, and the result was 6 when he expected 7 at very worst. If school reviews & thinks he has a chance to go up, I'd like him to get the grade that fits with what everyone thought was his potential result. It's a vote of confidence in him & what he likes, really.

I guess it's just bragging rights ?

I guess it would be for you.

6 marks off a 4 (so a pass), would you ask college about a review or too far off?

If the mark changes you get your money back though.

Not quite. You get the money back if the grade changes, not the mark.

So would you ask for a remark if your DC was exactly on a qualifying score? Statistically, it is just as likely that someone who just made the cutoff fell on the wrong side of the "right grade" as someone who was one mark short of a boundary.

For six marks probably not. What subject? Finding 6 in maths is obviously a lot harder than finding 6 in English.

English Language

No one is looking to "find" marks in a review. They're looking to see if the marks awarded were reasonable.

But 8s and 9s would score the same so potentially not worth a drop to a 7

I'm wondering whether to ask for a remark of my DDs maths and English language results.

She's very disappointed that can't do maths A level because she needed at least a 6, she got a 5 but was 5 marks off a 6. But realistically I know that even a low 6 isn't good enough for a level maths. It's a shame as it's a favourite subject.

Her English won't make a difference to the a levels she can choose but was 3 marks off the grade boundary. Not sure if it would be worth it.

It’s says on the Gov website that (can’t find link now) that 30 odd percentage of appeals for remarks are upheld. So if you are a mark or two off it would be worth it.

Teachers can request the paper, then they can mark and see if it is worth the appeal.

If you go up a grade you won’t be charged.

We might do it for 3 subjects. 1 or 2 marks off. We will see what the school advises first.

I’d would be happy to move on with existing results, but dd worked hard and would like grades for future University places.

Here are edexcels
Hardly any marks between a 3 to 4 and then loads from a 4 to a 5.

Has she looked at doing core maths if she enjoys maths? It's such a shame when they can't carry on with a subject they enjoy isn't it

I paid for 3 papers to be remarked when DS2 took RE in year 10, he was 1 mark off a 9. It stayed an 8. Thankfully today his sister got a 9, no remarks needed (DS went on to get 9x9’s and a few 8’s so he wasn’t bothered in the end). It was worth the remark - but cost me over £150 and no change

A level maths is really difficult, DS’s score required an 8 and still a lot dropped out in early weeks

I'm 43, and got straight As for my GCSEs ( many years ago). I'm in a well paid professional role, which requires lots of qualifications, and in my last job move the agent commented on my strong GCSEs!! I genuinely thought no one would give a shit nearly 30 years later. But maybe it set me aside from other candidates?

I think it's worth considering a remark