DS was a mixed bag. He got an 8 and a 7 in his best subjects -both A level choices so all good there. I think he hoped the 7 would be an 8/9 like his mocks but he did say he found one of the papers harder than mocks.
He was slightly disappointed with triple science. He got 5/5/5. With favourable conditions they all could have been a grade higher - a couple were close but overall they fall within an expected range.
With hindsight choosing double science might have served him better because he's an above average achiever but not top end. That combined with staffing issues, strikes, extra bank hols last year probably tipped it.
Maths we were hoping for a 6 but it came out a 5. He put the most extra work in to Maths because he's not a natural and his class had so many supply teachers. We are both just thrilled he achieved a good pass that meets college requirements.
The only subject that felt really off to us and was a bit of an upset was English, specifically Literature. He's consistently achieved well and was expecting no lower than a 7 - he got a 5 which was a grade lower than Lang. He's always been better at Lit so for it to be so low and swapped around with Lang has felt weird.
He was 3 marks from a 6 so school are going to review for the chance he might go up a grade.
From reading here English certainly appears to be the most inconsistent result for students, good or bad so we are far from alone in this.