Year 11 - 2024/2025: The Results Day Thread

[QueenMabby]

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

We have not been asked to pay for a remark - dd was just asked to sign a form. Maybe you only pay if not recommended by school? (In which case I wouldn't bother!)

Some schools charge and others don't. Some schools do it for free for FSM, PPG students. To request a script is free for AQA, but cost around £6 for other exam boards.

To review the marking there is a cost paper not just per subject. Priority marking is more expensive. The school may pay for you but most schools now tig tight budgets ask parents to pay instead.

Thinking of you as we haven't heard anything. Obviously you don't need to post anything at all but just to let you know I'm thinking of you and your ds as have followed your lovely updates all summer.

Ah ok @TheLivelyViper - will wait and see if get billed 😂 only one subject though!

Ah OK, I apologise then.
I very much doubt DS's school have that sort of thing in their budget!

He was expected to get higher in his English exams, but is happy with his 5s and (more importantly) able to proceed with his chosen A levels.

So interesting hear about the Eng Lit-DS was the total opposite and got a 9 when he had never got anything above a 7 for 2 years and got far better in that vs subjects he wants to do at A level.
i actually wondered if he benefitted from those exams being earlier on in the schedule as he defo lost interest towards the end.
Anyway-onwards we march -had had free chicken so all is good.

Same hope you are both doing ok

Ditto 💙

DS school recommended the remark.

No. You get a review of marking which isn't technically a remark.

A review just checks the original marker has followed the mark scheme. For maths and science that is pretty much the same as a remark.
But for English which is much more subjective and is marked in bands, if the band is right the reviewer can't just change a 7 marks into 8, say, if the band goes from 6-9. However if the band is wrong/unreasonable you can get bigger mark swings in a review.

I have to agree that schools should be picky about when they pay for remarks.

A child one mark under a 4 in English - yes, or other instances when a higher grade is vital..

To get an 8 up to a 9 when a child already has a fistful of 9s, no. The parents should pay in this instance.

I’m amazed that school pays. Apparently we get the fee refunded if the marks go up! Think DH paid for 3 papers 🙄

Getting all papers reviewed in one go isn't necessarily a good idea. You could gain 3 marks on one paper but lose 2 on another.
I have often seen advice to:
. ask school to look if they are willing
. take their advice on which paper to pay for review first if they think they can see 'missing' marks

A good day here for DS who has some SEN and suffered some bullying and various negative experiences at school and really couldn’t wait to get out of the place. Came out with a BTEC merit plus 7555544 and a 3 . Thanks to @QueenMabby for the threads which were so helpful especially during the exams !

3 different subjects where DS is a few marks off the boundary.

The "procedure" at DDs' school seems to be to first request the scripts, then the teachers examine the scripts to see if it is worth sending for remarking, and only after that will the decision be made for each individual paper (parents pay for remarking, which I am fine about).

Edited to add: All this is at the instigation of DD's individual subject heads, who have been in contact directly with her via Teams (as well as an email to us to explain this is what they are intending).

Congrats to your DS!

How long do reviews normally take?

My DS Biology grade is also surprisingly lower than expected/predicted but 12 marks from the next grade which is quite a lot!
anyone had a big jump in Biology after a review?

DS got what he needed to stay at his school's sixth form and do his chosen a levels so very pleased and relieved. The letter says he "shall be admitted to sixth form" and "congratulations" which we keep reading to see if our eyes deceived us. waiting for applicaa email to accept online.

I hope all DCs find a way to move forward.

Unlikely as biology mark schemes are very specific in what they want, so little ambiguity and the mark scheme is pretty clear. Even for 4 and 6 markers they have things you must say and it's quicker to look through. 12 marks is a lot even for a humanities or essay subject but it's massive for biology. Get teachers to request the script and review it - it will more be like marking it themselves but I imagine it will he pretty similar.

My dd also got a much lower grade in biology than expected a low 7 compared to high 8's in chemistry and physics...she assumes its not worth appealing ..but maybe?

We are in Wales, what is the equivalent to a 6?
I have googled but different sites say different ‘letter levels’

DS got 776555554 which is lower than his mocks by about a grade per subject yet he worked harder for the final exams. He has enough to do A levels at his chosen sixth form - Maths and Geography (those were the 7s and he needed a 6 and 5) and switching to Economics because he got a 5 in Physics (2 marks off a 6) and needed a 6.

I’m ecstatic that he’s got into sixth form and honestly I was worried about Physics as an A level.

But honestly deep down I thought he’d do better as he’s always been really bright and the results don’t reflect that. I was expecting a few 8s and nothing below a 6. I’ve played the delighted parent obviously but I feel a bit down…

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

DS is at 6th form - not where he went to school but doing the course he wanted - his rail season ticket is around £2,800 ...