Year 11 - 2024/2025: The Results Day Thread

[QueenMabby]

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

@Sisublondie Sorry to hear your woes. Is there a Level 2 variant of his Level 3 course?

4 years back DD started at Level 2 but after 3 days couldn't cope (anxiety) and we dropped her to Level 1.

So if he starts at Level 3 and it is a bit much he could drop to Level 2 for a year whilst resitting English, then do 2 more years at Level 3.

@TheLivelyViper thank you for explaining, will be useful if DD comes to apply for Uni as I imagine UCAS will use the new system.

DD got an A* in maths but unsure if that’s an 8/9
Her Sixth form requires 6 GCSEs A*-C (or 9-6) so she’s fine but is a few points off being accepted for their honours programme.
Bit worried about a comment above that said 6’s/B won’t cut the mustard for A level

Not a dissimilar day here, although ds still not home so hasn't seen me in tears.

He has got into sixth form to do the subject he got a BTech distinction in, applied science (got 3s) and media (got 4s in English). The latter two require 4s and 5s, which he was more than capable of getting, but I'm worried that he won't be able to keep up/manage.

Those going for English Lang/Lit reviews, just don't hold your breath - the marks are unlikely to change. I used to mark and review, but stopped because I wasn't allowed to make small adjustments and all changes were subject to scrutiny. Sadly I don't have faith that the marking and reviewing process in English is fit for purpose.

So much for deciding whether to tell anyone ds’s actual grades, the school included him in their press release despite him leaving before the photos. He did get 8s and 9s but also a 6 and a 7. I loved the fact the one student who got 9 9s was at the bottom of the list.

I’d take those comments with a pinch of salt, there’ll be many, many (most?) children up and down the country starting A levels with Bs/6s, my son included. They may not end up with top grades but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing! If a 6 wasn’t enough to do A levels, schools wouldn’t have it as a criteria.

@Sisublondie- what a tough day. I’m glad that your DS’s college have taken a pragmatic approach and will let him start the course anyway. I’m sure that, unless he really can’t cope, he will be allowed to continue. Fingers crossed for the marking review and unmumsnetty hugs to you!

@BitterTits This is very upsetting to hear! If a paper has been harshly marked can it not change during a review? so unfair

DD got a high 8 in her maths exam thank goodness so can do further maths. She thought she’d totally flopped it.

Three 9s (including her A-level subjects), three 8s, two 7s (one of which has gone for remark) and one random 6 in English Language. She has never got anything less than an 8 and school requested papers. It’s been exceptionally harshly marked but too close to the lower grade boundary to risk a remark. She’s not bothered and she’s never going to do English again.

Really proud of her as all her 8s are “high”. I almost wish you couldn’t see the grade boundaries to see how close they came 😂😂😂

Hi Sisu, for the combined science score, which board was this please? My daughter got the same score but we didn't stick around to ask about any re-marks as my daughter was in tears.

@chloworm yes, 7 is still a good grade - think she is not too upset about the art as she did generally better than she expected which has cancelled that out! I think art must be very subjective, and at the same time it is somewhat artificial as you they have to tick certain boxes to get the marks - so you could be amazing at art but miss out on marks if not everything they want has been showcased (at least that is my impression). At least it seems to be a common issue - hopefully your dd will still do well in graphic design, it does seem a shame the weird marking (and extreme work required) has been putting people off taking art further.

@Sisublondie I have seen your posts on the other thread - I'm really sorry you didn't have the day you hoped, but that's good news your ds is still able to do the course - wishing him the best of luck with it x

It was a couple of years ago but we had reviews for 3 subjects and all 3 were upgraded, including English lit. He was 1 mark short of the higher grade in 2 subjects and 4 marks short in the other. Got to say that A levels seem to have had heavy marking this year. He got the grades he needed for his chosen uni but they were below predictions.

@Sisublondie won't feel like it yet but your DS has an opportunity to keep moving forward and onwards.

Supporting our DC is important but remember to be kind to yourself as well. ❤️

Well done to her on her result. He seemed to think there were no people who had above him so there's something not right surely. Its odd. Im not artistic at all but they kept saying how good his art was it took up so much more time than any other subjects and drove us nuts at home as he was so stressed before deadlines. . So much analysis and writing involved. He wants to do A level art but I don't think he should as unlikely to do well based on this result. He did graphics which also had a lot of coursework but nothing like art! He was predicted a 7.

Only the exams office can process it. There's no priority review for GCSE but if you (or more properly the candidate) has asked for access to scripts, then they'll deal with it when they're back in.

The school will have the mark - you'll have to ask for it. It's a "quirk" of school MIS that they can't deal with the quantity of fields for English.

There is no remark, only review. And the deadline is towards the end of September.

It can, but the word 'reasonable' does far too much heavy lifting in my experience. As a reviewer I did not feel free to use my professional judgement. If I changed a mark that was later deemed to be 'reasonable' it would be changed back. Over two papers that can make a difference of a grade or more.

You don't need to push, just to pay!

But I'd highly recommend someone looking at the papers first.

@Sisublondie hey there
it will be ok he is out of school and will change at college
we are just awaiting confirmation if it comes for Ratty’s college place (shouldn’t be problem but they keep you hanging)

we have a bottle of champagne chilling in fridge cone here! Ratty has said no to booze but has agreed we can get Cocky drunk mainly for entertainment

you are a super mum woman you do know this right?

come here get drunk

Thanks @DaringFinch - I thought her art was amazing but I am also quite unartistic so know nothing (and also biased!) Quite glad she is not doing A level - don't fancy that amount of work/ stress again for so little reward!
A couple she knows who got 6's are still doing A level so don't think it should rule it out - I suspect the way forward is to know exactly how it is marked to maximise the potential grade.

I have seen ds’s photo online on the local newspaper page. His name isn’t on there and grades aren’t mentioned. The other local secondary, they named a few of the highest achievers and the photos have their first names underneath. I don’t know what will be in the actual paper tomorrow.

Oh@Sisublondie, I'm really sorry things have been so tough today. On the plus side your DS has been given a lifeline - he clearly impressed the college at his interview and they want to give him a chance. He's just got to grab it with both hands. But that's a conversation for next week, when things have settled down a bit. Sending hugs to you.

No. There is no such thing as a remark.

It's a senior examiner checking that the original marking was reasonable.

That's because Ofqual forbids it, and that's pretty well known. It's not specific to any subject.

Well we’ve had a horrendous day. School have been amazing and think there are some massive omissions and errors and all scripts have been requested and will be put forward for review (and they’re paying). 9 in English Lit so we jumped for joy at that at least (predicted 6), 3 in Lang. 4/3 in trilogy, predicted 6/6, chemistry has done it, and they are utterly bewildered. 3 in maths, but we expected this and will be doing resit in November. 1 mark off each for Geog (5, but hopefully a 6), Drama the same and PE 6, but they think should be a 7. Will happily stick with all really, but the maths and English Lang, and the science drop have made my darling girl the saddest I’ve ever seen her. My heart aches for her. I’m so proud of all she’s done despite so many odds against her.

She doesn’t officially have the grades right now for what she wants to do, but school have said we will make it happen, so there’s that, but the whole day has had the shine removed.

on the other hand HUGE congratulations to all your children, some outstanding results across all grades that each individual needed.