Seag

[Chester100]

child sat the Seag test. Got two marks of the next bad should I consider a remark?

Well done to your child for the SEAG - it’s not easy doing the first year of a new test.

Have you checked the admissions criteria of the school they want to go to? How close to previous years’ marks is your child? It’s probably worth a remark if they’re very close to the cut off mark, I’d imagine.

Thank you we are so proud of him. I have requested a remark seeing as he was on borderline for band 2. Tho with the result he got he maybe has a change. going by there last years in take. Thank you for your reply.

@Chester100 did you end up going for a remark? Only asking as I did just yesterday and wondering how long it would take.

I know the mark is unlikely to change but I'd never stop wondering if I didn't go for it 🤯

The sooner I get this school application away the better.. then I know it's totally out of my control!

Do you follow the transfer tutor on Facebook? Lots of great advice there about everything seag/ admissions related.

Hi I did ask for a remark on the day the application opened for this. But still haven’t received the remarks. Tho there seems to be many requesting remarks! If your on Facebook there is a page on there called Seag support page it’s very good. Good luck with your child’s applications. X

Yes thank you I did and another page called Seag support has been great. X

I would have thought the marks would have to go up a reasonable amount on a remark to effect a band change as the result is standardised.

It’s an awful time and the waiting for the outcome of school places means it’s not done and dusted until May. Hope it goes well for all of you.

Yes he is borderline on the next band up so nothing to lose. Thank you tho he seems happy with his choices 🙂

@Countmeout even if they don't manage to get up a band but TSAS improves it could still mean a place in a school that otherwise wouldn't be possible

@Chester100 I emailed as the remark requested notification disappeared and wasn't sure if this meant it have been done. Remarks should all be complete by Thursday 15th and we will get an email when it's done. Good luck!!

Yes @Boogiewoogieanddance . However it would help if every school were to admit using the same method, some have formed their own bands e.g Methody has 29 bands, some are using straight order numerically e.g. Wellington and Inst have the 6 bands. Sorry that’s all a bit Belfast centric.

I found the explanation about remarking here interesting https://01.wibble.space/stmaryscbgs-com/2024/01/SEAG-Re-marks-Information-and-Guidance-for-Parents-Jan-24.pdf

It seems to me it’s still as much of a lottery in some respects as previous years and especially for boys in the Belfast area. Obviously you may all be at the other end of the country which might be different.

@Countmeout The schools around me are just going by score which feels to me like the fairest option.
I’m glad they gave the cohort percentile as well as that really helps to place a score in relation to their peers. We had a child doing the AQE last year and we only got a score but at least we knew what previous cut off points had been for the school we wanted. This year the score meant less to me without other context so having the cohort was very useful.

All the best to everyone waiting for remarks, I hope you get good news.

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone got their mark changed? I am considering it this year but I am so nervous her mark would come down!

@SpeckyBecky8 you might be better to tag some of the posters who talked about getting remarks.

I think deciding about a remark it might depend on

1. is the school you want using bands or scores in descending order to admit children or scores broken into bands e.g 203-206 , 207-210 etc.
2. where you currently sit in relation to that.

And be aware marks can go up or down. Have you read about the remark process on the SEAG or it may be in your statement of outcomes.

Thanks I don't often post here! yeah I have read everything and I'm on the transfer tutor app groups. She got 209 and the lowest score taken by the school she wants was 209 last year but 211 the year before. So a point or two up would be reassuring but a point or two down would be a disaster. Problem is she did much worse in math than she normally does reckons she was filling in the wrong box at one stage but rubbed out and filled in the right box. Not sure what to do at all.
@Chester100 @Boogiewoogieanddance how did you get on last year?

If the school were to take 209 and above where does she sit regarding other criteria?
E.G. sibling at school , feeder school etc whatever they use?

Sorry @SpeckyBecky8 that wasn’t maybe very clear.
if the school is admitting in rank order and there are more than one child sitting with a score of 209 for example, they have to apply the other criteria in the order in which they are set down.
schools do go up and down in the last admitted score. It is almost impossible to compare years.

Think about whether you would be assured of your second choice should you go for the remark and it went down.

It’s a very difficult choice for you especially as she thinks she might have made a mistake although she thought she also corrected it.

In any case whatever you decide make sure you nominate as many choices as possible and including one secondary ( that you would be willing to go to). That way you have made the choices whatever happens.

Is the school admitting in bands or rank score? Look at their criteria. There’s only one I can find on Transfer Tutor site with the scores you mention but the other way round. I wanted to read the criteria to see if bands or rank order.

Pretty sure the scores are mixed up on the site, I was at the open evening too.
They don't have any other criteria. If there is a tie break it goes by the first letter of the surname, which is randomised every year. Which is infuriating as my son is at the school! Any other school I wouldn't be so worried lol!
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I was never this stressed with my son when he did the GL exam x

If it is LC they talk about bands used for admission. You are in a band 1 this year? But I can see they admit highest score first within the band .
You can see where you fall in the alphabetical order.
Annoying they don’t use sibling criteria as you have a son at school.

Sorry all that is no help in your decision. It’s a complete unknown in that you could be dammed if you do and damned if you don’t.
But try to hold on to everything happening for the best - one of ours missed out in a random selection. And where they ended up was probably best in any case.

Thanks so much. I know this time 8 months all this will be forgotten. X

If your dc thinks they may have rubbed out an answer and put another one down then get it remarked. There is a box where you can write the above.