Year 11 - 2024/2025: The Results Day Thread

[QueenMabby]

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

English language is far too subjective in the marking and should be available as a multiple choice marked completely objectively now, by a computer. Given maths has an actual answer and all employers insist on passes in both Maths and English. It is not OK there is so much subjectivity in the matter. And that it is often down to luck and what examiner you get. I don’t agree with it one bit.

English Language shouldn't be done like that. It's about the skills of interpretation, comprehension, understanding both non-ficiton and fiction, being able to write a letter, defeat etc and also understanding how language and structure is used to affect the reader (English Lit is more about the writer but still incorporates the reader). It's a good subject with good skills and the questions work, it's compulsory for a reason and is a good basis for employers and for A-levels and further study. Making it multiple choice would miss the whole point - it's not an actual language test like doing an MFL GCSE. It's not about that at all and would be useless if done this way.

It is untrue that it is all dependant on the examiner you get. All examiners get significant training before they're allowed to mark. And they get spot reviews - so they'll make something as normal and then a senior examiner will mark it, if there's discrepancy it's flagged and they are stopped from making for the time being. All the questions they've marked is then re-markwd by senior examiners. Also this year for some GCSEs and A-levels, this year (as a trial test and only for data not actually marking it - it's an experiment in the exam boards) AI created by some exam boards which has been trained on the mark scheme and past marking, it's marking the same thing as examiners and again flagging if it gets a different mark. Senior examiners will then look at it and make the final decision. Mark schemes for essay subjects are speicifc for examiners on the levels and on the skills and AOs (assesment objectives needed). It just doesn't look like maths or biology because they cannot say that you need to write just x to get 1 mark. It doesn't work like that for the arts or humanities and never can. It doesn't mean we should then starting making all essay subjects multiple choice because its ambiguous. When if you read the specifications and mark shames and examiner reports well (all free and easily accessible and are made for students to read as well as teachers) you'll know what is expected of you and what you need to do.

Interesting to read about the English grades this year. 1 mark below the expected grade in literature here - school have suggested not to review the paper. It's not a big deal as isn't an A level subject, but a shame that it was so close to the next grade up.

My son was also one mark off a 6 in English Language. Not sure whether to do anything about it or not. The process seems complicated and expensive if nothing changes.

Heyyyyyy!! Thank you so much! It has, indeed, been emotionally draining. I found out he asked DS18 to open it for him, so that might add to stress as to why he was in arsey mood, too ( felt dreadful being the one to break the horrid news to his little bro). DS still blanking me. I’m still confused as to why. I just think maybe the shock of this morning, and the hours before his new college confirmed he can start.. but his realisation it is a” provisional” start of 6 weeks to see how he gets on, plus retaking English ( if remark not successful), the stress re entering the hall at school to sign remark forms, oh!, I could go on!! I think he’s totally drained, plus knackered and needs a good kip, too! He did tear up when the lovely chap was going on about the interview, and how DS had taken his “student leader” work that he’d done to help Yr 7’s. that kind of thing.. and I think realisation that they may be trying to see if he could start at some level … ( I did that hiding my face behind my hair, trying to continue chatting like normal, it nonchalantly wiping tears from cheeks, like they weren’t there! 🙄🤦‍♀️😣 )…

Anywsy!! Well done your DD!!!! Excellent results!!!!!! 🤩🤩🤩!! ( the “ Field Trip 4” made me chuckle!!! .. bless her!!!).. Has she decided what she is going to do about Drama?, going to get it remarked? Brilliant news on English, 6?!, and Maths, 5?! Whoo ( !!😹)- Hoo!!!! No resits!!

So, is she all enrolled?! What date does she start? Excited?
Oh, I bet you sleep well tonight!! 💤 💕😻…

Thank you for thinking of me! I was stuck with DS in queues and talking to teachers at old school, had laser eyes from both boys on my phone ( not paying attention to situation !), then patchy service on the road up to the town his new college is in, with DS crying in back, and ALL I wanted was you guys advice!!! Tortuous, too!! I had zero idea what to do!

I can’t believe, after all this, going to bed without the results hanging over us!! Joyous!!! 💕💕💕xxx

Following along, DS unfortunately got 3s in English lang and Lit- 1 mark off a 4 in BOTH 😭 so currently he has no place in 6th form and stupidly we don’t have a plan B. School have paid for both to be sent off to be reviewed so we are in an awful state of limbo now. Need to speak to the local college tomorrow and see if they can offer anything

Definitely ask the school to look at both papers if he's only one mark off a 4. Hopefully the college can help him find a path forward.

Hi all, been a long day as woke at 4am to get the results, didn’t really get back off to sleep then enjoyed our last day at Universal - should be sleeping now but here I am, reading all the posts!

Dd did so well and we are all chuffed to bits. Distinction 2 in Creative iMedia, 6 7s, a 6 and a 5. The 5 in maths was 1 mark off a 6 so have asked her maths teacher to check if it’s worth a review or not. German was 3 marks off an 8 and her teacher emailed me to request permission to check her papers. Geography also 3 marks off an 8 so we’ve asked if her teacher can check her papers on that one too. Once they’ve fed back, we’ll decide if it’s worth pursuing.

Congratulations are all our young people’s results- even if they aren’t as expected, it seems they are finding ways to take their next steps and I’m sure it will all work out!

Ratty is up
He has agreed to email about Eng Lang script

So I am assuming, not done this before didn’t think we would need to, he emails examination officer and asks if the school could request his Eng Lang script please and for MrsM/orP could look over it and check the grade 5 is correct please.

Is this what he writes?

Do we put, understand there might be a cost for this which we are more than happy to cover?

But he’s agreed to do it.

I emailed my DD's English teacher directly and asked her if her Lit paper could be looked at with a view to a re-mark, because I know her fairly well. She said it will go to the Head of Dept first but exams officer will be told. So you could try informal route first or just go straight to EO. Don't mention cost until they do!

Hope everyone's doing well the morning after the day before and that those of you whose DC are still working out next steps make some progress today. Up early again for DD's college enrolment appointment – rather regretting the large glasses of thank-f*ck-it's-over-wine I had last night!

@Sisublondie
Thank you so much 💕
Like all of us, I suspect, I'm feeling drained today.
Wi fi was patchy for me, too, yesterday, which was very frustrating.
I've told dd that she should be grateful for the 4 on geography! She didn't revise at all for that one 🙄
Just so glad that no re sits required.
She's really not bothered about the drama remark but I'm going to ask. Neither of us will mind if school say no.
I think state schools have to prioritise paying for re marks in core subjects as that's what the DfE use to monitor progress.
Not much planned today...dd off to work later.
Lovely to have older dd back home 🏡

We went through this yesterday with English lit. First we emailed the teacher who agreed to look it over at no cost. Then we rang the Exams Officer. She said dd had to email her requesting her script. Dd received it and emailed it to her teacher. The teacher thinks it has been marked harshly so we are now filling out a form for a review of 2 papers at a cost of £110. Fingers crossed - 1 mark off a 7.

I haven't posted for a while but I have been reading all updates. Congratulations to everyone on having got through the GCSE hell. I hope everyone is feeling settled this morning.

We are not. DD got mixed but respectable grades (especially bearing in mind the horrible couple of years she's had and her ASD).

But last night she had a huge meltdown over which school to pick - the familiar school that has let her down for 5 years or the new college where she knows no one at all.

She has an enrolment appointment today and still no decision. Shell forfeit her place if she doesn't turn up. No one has slept in this house.

She can enroll in more than one place to give her more time.

As @TeenToTwenties says, she can enrol at as many places as she wants prior to start date.
Sorry she's so stressed:(

Thank you @TeenToTwenties .
She could, but that would be kicking the can down the road, just like she's been doing the whole summer. Her decision paralysis is really bad.

Apart from the fact that she'll need to pay for the bus pass plus various other things for the year in advance today. £600+.

She's not up yet. Don't know what to advise her. Last night wasn't my proudest moment, and I really spoiled the day for her when she had been pleased with her grades 😔

Thanks @swampwitch0 🙏

You'd like access to his scripts, and if possible could his teachers look over it and check whether they think the marks are reasonable.

Good luck :)

I'm anticipating a few of mine arriving today for me to have a look at.

@stickygotstuck
Is there a difference in course between two locations?
Do you have reason to believe the college will be better with her ASD?

Colleges can be more relaxed, just turn up to lessons. But they may also expect more 'adult' approach (and only have 16-19s not 11-18s) and may chase less.
A new, college could be more overwhelming, compared to the familiar especially if likely to be big and crowded. New teachers too to get to know and get to know her.

On the other hand she can leave kids behind who may have picked on her over the years and start with a clean slate.

Can you draw up a list of pros and cons then toss a coin?

I just emailed the EO and asked advice.
I won't hear back til next week anyway

Don’t be hard on yourself. You have been under enormous strain guiding your DD through her exams and now, just when you thought everything was sorted; you’ve been lobbed an 11th hour curveball. Most parents would react to that in the circumstances.

She has made a list of pros and cons. She's excellent at analysing and dissecting, it's decisions that are a problem!

And yes, the course is different. She only applied to the college because her school isn't offering her favourite subject this year. She'd had to give that up to stay.

On the other hand, her grade isn't high enough to do one of her other choices. But the college being bigger, it can offer a good alternative.

If she had been happy in her school, I do think she should stay. But she's been very unhappy there. It's 'only' fear and two friends keeping her there.

But maybe she should go and enrol because there are no clear heads this morning.

Oh so @MrsHamlet the scripts should be emailed back a day or so after requesting them?

We got ours in 10 minutes so school must have them.