AQA GCSE English reviews

[WhereAreWeNow]

Quite a few of us in the big GCSE results thread are looking at getting AQA English reviewed.

Starting a new thread in case anyone wants to share updates about the review process or have a bit of a moan about AQA!

DD got 8s and 9s in mocks and all classwork. She's an avid reader and writer and she knew the texts inside out. She felt the exams went well. But she got a 6 in Lang and a 5 in Lit. School is definitely asking for Lang to be reviewed.

I've really tried! Because the course he was hoping to do is already over subscribed with those who made the grades, the college won't be offering him a place. Seems so cruel, to miss by just 2 marks. He did really well in all his other subjects, but as he didn't get the required grade in English language, it's a no.
He has a place at his school 6th form, but it isn't where he wanted to be. I don't think there is anything I can do, have written emails pleading his case, but haven't had a response.

@feathers7 I’m so sorry, it’s so awful that you get the marks so close to the start of school. What are you supposed to do if you are left without a school place??

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn
I know!! Thankfully his school were very happy to accommodate him in 6th form, otherwise I'm not sure what we'd have done.

Just for Info. 50% of the reviews we recommended have gone up a grade so far (1 went up not quite enough for a grade change). Students who thought they'd try because they were close to the boundary (even though we explained process) haven't changed. It's odd results on a paper you need to look for rather than close to boundary (although close to boundary with an odd individual question/section is even better!).

GrammarTeacher - are you looking through papers unprompted by parents/students? If so that is amazing as we cant get school to feedback or send scripts paid for on results day.

As part of my department review I have to look at results. All (well most it's optional) of our students sign on results day that we have permission to request scripts (digital copies are free). I request some of our best and worst for CPD purposes but also look for anomalies. I will then speak to students if necessary to see if they want to go through the review process.
At A level this year many decided against as they had their places anyway and so the financial gamble didn't make sense. Others asked for help on which was the best paper to review:
This is all done via goodwill though.
Many teachers would argue that I shouldn't do it. I definitely shouldn't have to. But for now I do and when review period is over I'll be drafting an official complaint with my head. And going back to the other ways that I raise the issue and campaign on quality of marking.

How does one go about geting a refund if there was a grade change? Does the school do it automatically?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I’m assuming school apply automatically.

Thanks @MaryleboneParent they just sent the review info through with nothing about the refund.

I'm getting nervous waiting for review. I've got a horrible feeling the examination officer just sent all of DD's Eng Lit and Lang papers back for review, without running past English teachers first and without being discerning about only sending back the lower marked papers. Hard to get any information out of him though. He's not very communicative!

I’ve heard nothing further from school about remaining subjects. Two have gone back to exam board for review (one was sent right after results day but not had anything back). I know school will be busy but there’s a time limit on these things, so I’ll e mail asking for an update.

Some people on here seemed to get them back v quickly @Spacecowboys so I had high hopes it would only take a week or so but maybe that was unrealistic. I really need to try to put it out of my head.

Yes when I seen on here how quickly people were getting them back, I sort of expected the same.

Same here, no news yet.

This is so stressful, dd ended up with several school offers - state and private - and has started at the school she was at. If her grade doesn’t go up she will move to a private school that will allow her to do English literature but if her grade goes up her current school will allow her to do it. We’re lucky she has options now but I do think she is pinning her life on this remark and if there isn’t a change she’s going to be so unhappy

Hi all. Just spotted this thread as my DD was the same for AQA English lit. She was working at a strong 8 with an excellent team of staff who were experienced in the English lit syllabus. She received a very surprising middle of the range 6. To say she was devastated was an understatement. She achieved a 9 in English language and had worked really hard since Christmas.

Well suffice to say we had both lit papers reviewed and she's gone up 21 marks to a high 7. Received the outcome this morning.

Doesn't really inspire confidence in the marking system if a further 21 marks were awarded.

Good luck with any others in the waiting game.

Well done @HavfrueDenizKisi . Shame the 21 marks didn't push her into the 8 grade boundary but still great that she's gone up to a 7.

Yes @WhereAreWeNow she's 3 marks from an 8 so slightly disappointed but much happier than we were on results day. DD will feel better going forward knowing she's actually nearly at 8 and not a mid 6.

Well done @HavfrueDenizKisi , was there a big difference on the uplift of each paper?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn 14 extra in paper 1 and 7 on paper 2.

We have been waiting nearly 2 weeks for English language review. DS got a 3 was 1 mark away from a 4 but was predicted 5/6.

English literature came back today with no more marks awarded. DS was 2 marks away from a 5. He had been predicted 5/6 but ended up with a 4.

Desperate measures I know, but worth a try.

That's disappointing his mark didn't change @Channellingsophistication . Fingers crossed for the language paper.

We’re still waiting to hear back from the school about DS English lit exam result. They emailed him on result day to ask his permission to (as they called it) ‘remark’ but have heard nothing since.

That’s a shame. Fingers crossed for English language.

For those who have got reviews back, did the email just go directly to dc or did you get an email as the parent? For reviews that have gone via a school.