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Secondary education

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Original poster

Wrong GCSE paper ...

15 replies

WorriedGCSEMum · 03/06/2024 22:57

Have name changed as this is very outing

DS was doing Maths paper 2 today - not his favourite subject. He is in a room on his own with paper and he thought he was going fast through questions, was checking and then realised it was a foundation paper - not the higher paper he was supposed to be doing .....

He spoke to invigilator and it was referred to exams officer - waiting to hear back

It's a lifetime ago since I did my O levels and I'm worrying that this has screwed up his result.

Please be kind MN - if anyone is an Exams officer or marks for a board etc what is likely to happen , TIA

OP posts:
JessyCarr · 04/06/2024 01:04

There was a similar thread recently about the Biology papers (though in that case it was Higher when it should have been Foundation). You may find it useful:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5072522-given-incorrect-gcse-aqa-biology-exam-paper?page=1

4intheCorner · 04/06/2024 02:13

We ask the students to chrck they have thr correct paper; subject and tier. Did DS check the paper?

Pontipinecity · 04/06/2024 05:44

i know that the invigilators always ask the students to check they have the correct paper but I really do think it’s on the exams officer and invigilators to ensure they give the students the right one! Especially for a child in a separate room it’s even less excuse for the wrong paper to go on the desk as there isn’t another to mix it up with. He should 100% not be penalised for this. I hope it all works out for him.

Oblomov24 · 04/06/2024 06:47

This is bad, but not unheard of, it does happen. I too saw the last thread. Have you emailed teacher, HoD etc so that there's a paper trail?

TeenDivided · 04/06/2024 06:48

Not an exams officer, but have followed threads over the years.

Most likely imo is they will disregard this paper and make up the grade from paper 1 & 3 (seeing how candidates with similar marks to him in 1&3 did on paper 2 to pitch the marks).

So shouldn't be disadvantaged.

MrsHamlet · 04/06/2024 07:08

You need to contact the exams officer, and they will contact the board to let them know.

There's no "penalty" for something like this and exam boards are well used to dealing with it.

BeaLola · 04/06/2024 07:33

Thank you all.

Appreciate DS should have checked - he is kicking himself - he only noticed after finishing the Questions - no excuse but he has dyslexia, tracking issues and his papers are printed on special blue paper.

I have emailed all yesterday and just awaiting school response.

It would be bloomin maths - just hope he passes.

rockingbird · 04/06/2024 07:44

It should have been double checked, once by the examinations officer and again by the invigilator, yes your child should have then checked before he started but the failings of both the examinations officer and invigilator should be highlighted here. I've done many 1:1 examination sessions and I would have had to check the paper issued against the list and the pupils name which would have flagged up the wrong paper had been given before the examination had even started. Speak with the examinations officer, it's their job to ensure they issue the right papers so this particular exam will have to be taken again.

TeenDivided · 04/06/2024 07:51

rockingbird · 04/06/2024 07:44

It should have been double checked, once by the examinations officer and again by the invigilator, yes your child should have then checked before he started but the failings of both the examinations officer and invigilator should be highlighted here. I've done many 1:1 examination sessions and I would have had to check the paper issued against the list and the pupils name which would have flagged up the wrong paper had been given before the examination had even started. Speak with the examinations officer, it's their job to ensure they issue the right papers so this particular exam will have to be taken again.

No it won't need to be 'taken again' as the exam paper will be all over The Student Room / TikTok by now.
I'm pretty sure they will just extrapolate the grade from papers 1&3, just like they would have done if he was ill for paper 2.

MrsHamlet · 04/06/2024 13:35

They definitely won't be made to take it again!

LIZS · 04/06/2024 13:52

How soon did he realise? They may have been able to restart with correct paper within the session.

Original poster
WorriedGCSEMum · 04/06/2024 14:37

He was told when he queried that he had the right one .... I think he was so nervous (doesn't like Maths) and knows he has to pass it ge then just got on with it

He mentioned again after finishing it - they made him wait his extra time out and then took him to EO - school have now said they have put a special consideration request in and have admitted it was their fault entirely - do we get a copy of this ? To be honest it probably affected his exam in the afternoon - can we put something in for that ? I have checked and it's a different board

OP posts:
viques · 04/06/2024 17:24

BeaLola · 04/06/2024 07:33

Thank you all.

Appreciate DS should have checked - he is kicking himself - he only noticed after finishing the Questions - no excuse but he has dyslexia, tracking issues and his papers are printed on special blue paper.

I have emailed all yesterday and just awaiting school response.

It would be bloomin maths - just hope he passes.

Does the specially printed question paper come from the exam board, or is it the responsibility of the examinations officer at the school to get it photocopied ? I appreciate that your son should have checked, but knowing his question papers are customised he probably assumed that the correct paper was being presented .There has been adult failure in this, far more than his failure to check.

AnyOldThings · 04/06/2024 18:10

WorriedGCSEMum · 04/06/2024 14:37

He was told when he queried that he had the right one .... I think he was so nervous (doesn't like Maths) and knows he has to pass it ge then just got on with it

He mentioned again after finishing it - they made him wait his extra time out and then took him to EO - school have now said they have put a special consideration request in and have admitted it was their fault entirely - do we get a copy of this ? To be honest it probably affected his exam in the afternoon - can we put something in for that ? I have checked and it's a different board

Former exams officer. This happens from time to time. Don’t worry, the exams officer will sort this with exam board and it’ll be worked out fairly.

With his paper being copied onto blue, it is most likely human error as coloured papers are photocopied by the school in the rushed 60-90 minutes before the exam when papers are allowed to be opened ready for the exam. Before this they are sealed and I always thought it was tricky as it’s easy to mixup the wrong papers for colour photocopying in such a tight window of time. At one point my SENDCO has issued so many various shades (3 different shades of green alone!) that we had about 40 coloured papers to print in such a short time and it was hell with all the tiers and things like combined/separate sciences.

It’s likely human error. Make sure he knows in future to stand his ground if any mistakes happen again. And mostly don’t worry, exam boards can work around this.

ageratum1 · 04/06/2024 20:16

What does his exam entry form say.Is it that he has been entered for the wrong tier, or that he was given a different paper to the one he was entered for

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