Remark of Geography with 6 mark to 9 boundary?

happyhippiehippo · 2023-08-29T11:20:59+00:00

DD was happy to receive an 8 in Geography but had always been predicted 9s. She has a score which is 6 away from a 9, and 16 above the 8 boundary. How 'safe' would it be to ask for a remark as we'd obviously not want her to drop to a 7?

Original poster

happyhippiehippo · 29/08/2023 12:23

By the way, I am aware it's now a 'Review' rather than a remark...

OP posts:

mnahmnah · 29/08/2023 12:25

Hi. I’m a secondary teacher in another subject (and head of department). I have only advised remarks to my students who are two or three marks away from the next grade boundary. 6 marks is a bit of a push to be honest. You never know, I have heard of it, but it’s not a remark I would advise.

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2023 12:25

I'd say it depends on the paper and where she got a lot of marks. Can't imagine she'd lose 16 marks but equally to find 6 marks is quite a lot unless her essay type questions were massively underscored. Can't imagine you have much to lose!

lifeturnsonadime · 29/08/2023 12:29

I don't see the point. Having an 8 rather than a 9 in Geography isn't going to hold DD back from anything, no one cares about GCSE grades in the future either.

Aparecium · 29/08/2023 12:30

Why would you even bother? She's earned an excellent grade, and now it's time to move on to the next stage.

Hersetta427 · 29/08/2023 14:21

will you be asking for a review of all 3 papers - or just the one with the lowest score. you pay for a review per paper which for AQA is £40.

lanthanum · 29/08/2023 14:38

It's relatively unlikely that you'd gain 6 marks, and realistically, whether it is an 8 or a 9 is going to make zero difference in the future, unless she's applying for one of the very small number of courses who whittle down the applicants by totalling up their GCSEs AND she just happens to be one point off their borderline.

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2023 14:39

lifeturnsonadime · 29/08/2023 12:29

I don't see the point. Having an 8 rather than a 9 in Geography isn't going to hold DD back from anything, no one cares about GCSE grades in the future either.

I can't see why you don't see the point tbh. I can definitely see why someone so close to a grade 9 would want to see if it was that. A grade 9 is a big deal.

lifeturnsonadime · 29/08/2023 15:01

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2023 14:39

I can't see why you don't see the point tbh. I can definitely see why someone so close to a grade 9 would want to see if it was that. A grade 9 is a big deal.

Show quote history

My son was in a similar position for a couple of grades last year.

We didn't see the point. It doesn't stop him doing well in A Levels or getting university places.

There is a point where it makes a difference to the next stage, but this won't.

An 8 is a top grade and will not stop someone from pursuing an A Level or degree in the subject at any university.

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2023 15:08

lifeturnsonadime · 29/08/2023 15:01

My son was in a similar position for a couple of grades last year.

We didn't see the point. It doesn't stop him doing well in A Levels or getting university places.

There is a point where it makes a difference to the next stage, but this won't.

An 8 is a top grade and will not stop someone from pursuing an A Level or degree in the subject at any university.

Show quote history

I completely understand its not going to make a difference to the next stage of a child's life, but surely you can see why someone would want to at least try.

lifeturnsonadime · 29/08/2023 15:09

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2023 15:08

I completely understand its not going to make a difference to the next stage of a child's life, but surely you can see why someone would want to at least try.

Show quote history

As I said we had the exact same scenario with a couple of grades for GCSEs for my son last year being between 1-3 marks off and didn't bother as it makes no difference long term.

If PP wants to try fine but they were asking opinions and I've given mine.

clary · 29/08/2023 16:00

Six marks off a grade 9 is not so close to the border tbh. I am another one who would say, don’t bother. Spent the £40-£120 on something nice for her to celebrate her amazing results.

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 29/08/2023 16:06

What would even be point? She's got a grade that will never hold her back from whatever she wants to do.

And also, what message does it send kids if they are taught to dispute every grade, assessment or bit of feedback they receive, even if their grade was excellent, but they want it to be a bit more excellent?

Part of growing up is learning that we don't always get the grade/job/feedback that we were hoping for, but that you do your best and carry on regardless. Requesting endless remarks (or equivalent) won't be a good look when they're adults, so it's doing them a disservice to cultivate that behaviour now.

clary · 29/08/2023 16:11

TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 29/08/2023 16:06

What would even be point? She's got a grade that will never hold her back from whatever she wants to do.

And also, what message does it send kids if they are taught to dispute every grade, assessment or bit of feedback they receive, even if their grade was excellent, but they want it to be a bit more excellent?

Part of growing up is learning that we don't always get the grade/job/feedback that we were hoping for, but that you do your best and carry on regardless. Requesting endless remarks (or equivalent) won't be a good look when they're adults, so it's doing them a disservice to cultivate that behaviour now.

Great post

Original poster

happyhippiehippo · 29/08/2023 16:40

Thanks for your responses. It's not an important subject for her so we'll leave it.

OP posts:

Milana82 · 29/08/2023 16:54

My son was 2 marks away from 6 in Geography. Not sure whether to ask for a remark or not. He's actually predicted a 7 for it but he didn't feel well in last exam.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 29/08/2023 16:56

Can I ask (DD started Y11 today) ...

If you do have a review of a paper and are looking for a few more marks to push up a grade boundary what would happen if at the same time the person marking found errors or over generous marking and actually they would mean some markers given in error

Can you in theory end up with lower marks after?

clary · 29/08/2023 17:11

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 29/08/2023 16:56

Can I ask (DD started Y11 today) ...

If you do have a review of a paper and are looking for a few more marks to push up a grade boundary what would happen if at the same time the person marking found errors or over generous marking and actually they would mean some markers given in error

Can you in theory end up with lower marks after?

Yes. The review is not looking for more marks; it is checking that the mark scheme has been applied correctly. If the checker takes the view that it has not, then marks can go down. Plenty of ppl on these boards have had this experience - say one paper goes up and the other goes down.

Grade boundaries are often narrower than people think as well - could be just 16 marks or so between (say) a 5 at 149 marks or a 7 at 165 marks. If you sit at 158 marks in that example, your 6 is almost as near to a 5 as a 7.

Plus. as someone said on another thread, someone has to score one mark below the boundary - just as someone else will gain a mark right on the boundary. No one is disputing that grade are they?

ChilliSensation · 29/08/2023 18:25

Having seen two kids this time go (A Levels) from an A to A star (14 marks missed on one paper) and another child go from a B to A star, I would advise a remark if in doubt.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 29/08/2023 20:32

Thanks clary that's very helpful

elkiedee · 30/08/2023 02:00

@ChilliSensation, those are great results for a marking review, and my mum apparently did something similar for my much younger sister though many years ago now, but those disparities at A level really may make a difference for university applications. But at GCSE, a very solid 8 is still equivalent to an A*. It's not going to stop her progressing to A level and/or if that's what she wants to do.

If she is going to really wants to see where she lost and gained marks, perhaps you could just ask to see the scripts, and discuss it with a teacher if that would help her learning in the subject (and that could also be useful for the school).