Year 11 - 2024/2025: The Results Day Thread

[QueenMabby]

New thread for results day. Deep breaths. We can do this!

Wow came on here as was pleased with DS but surprised by English literature - also AqA. He did Romeo and Juliet - we discussed after his points from each answer and he got such low marks im really surprised. I know what he answered and we revised heavily. Did better on poetry but still quite low considering he remembered all his poems and quotes etc!

Don't let that completely get to him if he likes the subject, is consistently good at it, works hard he'll be fine. A 7 is a strong grade and A-levels are fresh start, so from the start be focused, organised an revise and prep revision resources as you go through Y12 and Y13, and revise properly for every test, mocks, do essays in timed conditions etc. Talk to his teachers at his current school or new one (if he's moving) they likely want him to continue if he enjoys it. Also A-level English is so much more personable, you have more freedom, there's 20% coursework and you get to use more ideas, analysis etc.

I believe it is normal for English Language to be listed differently, ie to NOT have the numerical mark on the results slip, though I can't remember why.

DS got an 8 in iGCSE Biology ( which already covers quite a bit of the A level curriculum) but found the Alevel hard nevertheless.
He got an A at Alevel in the end but tbh was a bit amazed and only got it because he switched to an easier board for him. ie not Edexcel but Cambridge.

So I’d look at what board he did for the GCSE and what board the Alevel is to be in, Some GCSE boards cover very little in terms of onward study.

mixed here. DD has ADHD/ASD and really struggles with exam papers.

5's in Art & Maths, 4&3 in Science, 2 in English Lang (Merit in speaking), Distinction in Music. History/Eng lit were ungraded.

She'll have to resit English at college, but we were expecting that.

@MackenCheese
I'd say not high enough tbh.
You need 8s and 9s in maths and biology to do A level.

He's just had an email from the school saying they think his grade (and some of the other Eng Lit grades) isn't right so it's not just me being a Karen (as my son suggested!).

Agree - he's really good at Eng Lit so it would be a real shame if he ends up not doing it because of over-zealous marking.

That's what we're thinking too.

My DD got a mixed bag but considering her mocks and predicted grades and I know she struggled due to her autism/ADHD I am very proud of her as she improved on a couple. She got 2 5’s, 3’s I science, a 6, an 8 and two 4’s. A bit gutted that one of the 4 was in maths so she’ll need to resit it to try and get a 5 for one of A Level subjects. But to go from where she was with her mocks and predicted grades where she has serious concerns on a a lot of her subjects , I am proud of her.

It's because instead of having the total mark next to the grade - they have the grade for their spoken language speech they do the the class (so pass, merit or distinction shown by a letter instead). If you want to know your DC's total English Language mark ask the exam officer, or subject teachers they will have it and the mark per each paper they sat.

Last year we had a similar experience with English literature. The teachers recommended that one of the papers go off for a remark, it came back 17 marks higher and a grade change from a low 7 to a mid 8.

Yes I'm generalising from the many posts earlier wondering or questioning it - not to anyone in particular as I don't know your DC's capabilities, and in the exam did they lose track of time, did they miss out a whole AO (AO1 = 12 marks. AO2 - 12 marks and AO3 = 6 marks for each 30 mark essay), did they not use references or quotes from the text, were their ideas/answer lacking nuanced, depth and analysis, etc.

Sometimes, students get too stressed by GCSEs and the exam room (even if they don't realise it). Sometimes, they just aren't on top form and can drop from predictions. Sometimes they revise less for previous mocks than they do for one subject (because now they have every single paper and all the content to learn, whereas in mocks they often have less, etc).

Like many others DS has weird marks for AQA English … school have written to him saying they will look at the Lit papers as he is 2 marks off . Language is a higher grade than predicted which is a surprise though ! We’ve asked for the Lit scripts .. marks are fairly similar though so I think its just in case rather than with real hope

I agree
our school wouldn't accept less than an 8 unless they thought the students grade was a real surprise and even then wanted a high 7

Dd is doing A level biology with a 6, she was a bit disappointed as she was hoping for a 7.
I'm work in the field of biology so I'm hoping to support her as much as I can.

Both my dds got higher english literature grades than language.
(Edexcel exam board).
Dd is very pleased with her media grade 7 - she worked really hard on it

I think it varies hugely. My son's 6th form accepts a 6 to be able to study A level. It is not a high achieving school or 6th form. I think it's quite possible to pass an A level with a solid 6 at GCSE - maybe not get a high grade, but that's OK.

Not all students are able to access better provisions. The £300 / term transport fee can be a barrier for lots of post-16 students.

Yes. My husband paid this morning after a discussion with the head of year 6.

My friends daughter who is very good at English had a predicted 9 for English Language and got a 6. Friend with child at Private school - predicted 8 and got a 6. This is Edexel.

Seems so strange when it's everyone affected. No everyone, across different schools, could have had a "bad day".

This is an article from last year: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/sep/13/unreliable-marking-gcse-english

DS has walked away with 5 6s 2 8s and 2 9s.
With a 50% attendance due to a lifelong health problem and substitute teachers in 4 major subjects for the last 18 months I am beyond thrilled for him! Hope everyone's DCs have found some joy and comfort today

Congratulations to everyone today! We’re happy with results but paper 2 of AQA English Lit seems very low with 30/96. They’ve ended up with a 4 overall so just wondering whether we should get this looked at? Grades are all 4/5/6s etc so it’s not like she missed out on a 9.

Very relieved and happy with my dd's results - another one who is dyslexic and really struggled with English; after a 3 and a 4 in year 10 mocks she has amazingly and somewhat surreally got 9 in language and 8 in literature (Head of English, who taught her in year 9 told her he spat out his coffee when he saw 😂)
Otherwise has done way better than expected, and got 3 9's, 3 8's, 2 7's and a 5 (French!) so is very happy. Geography has gone back for a review as a few marks off a 9 so 🤞

Well done to everyone whose dc have got what they need for the next steps, especially those who have had challenges and the poster whose dd was has had multiple maths resits - really amazing to hear the positive stories!

AQA English language ds prediction was a 6 achieved a 4. Still waiting to hear if he got into his first choice college.

...and not everyone can pay for re-marks.
We all know how students in lower socio-economic bands are disadvantaged, I guess it at times like this that it becomes more apparent. Such is life.