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Secondary education

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Original poster

Re-marks, worth it?

147 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 14:11

A teacher emailed to tell me DS was one point off a 6 in a subject (GCSEs) and looking at his scores he is also one point off an 8 in another. He is taking the latter subject for A level but not the other.

She asked if we wanted a re-mark of the 6? Is it worth getting the two subjects re-marked? It costs about £45 and no guarantee of a change in grade.

DS says he is happy with the grades as they are as he has got in for 6th form etc, but I wondered if it would make any difference to for example UCAS points for university? I expect they would be mainly bothered about the A level grades though.

Any advice welcome. And best of luck to anyone getting their exam results today or dealing with re-marks / resits etc.

OP posts:
Pinkcherry26 · 21/08/2025 14:15

Same here - just had an email saying two marks off a 7 for Eng Lang and considering what to do now. He would have to lose 7 marks to go down a grade.

Michele09 · 21/08/2025 14:17

We have requested the script which costs nothing and the teacher is going to look it over to give us a view as to whether it should go for a remark. We'll take her advice. If she thinks the marking is fair we wont go ahead. 1 mark off a 7 for an A level subject.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 14:26

Had another message this time from the maths teacher asking if they can look and see if it is worth a remark to go from a 7 to an 8. He is doing maths at A-level but has the required grade.

It will be £150 if we get all 3 remarked and we are a low income family. Not sure what to do.

I guess it looks better for the school the better the grades are which is why they are asking about this perhaps.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 14:27

Google tells me

GCSEs do not directly contribute to UCAS points, which are used for university applications in the UK.

OP posts:
kateandsam · 21/08/2025 14:39

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 14:27

Google tells me

GCSEs do not directly contribute to UCAS points, which are used for university applications in the UK.

True, but some Universities require certain GCSE grades in certain subjects to study there .... I'm looking at you Bath (wanted a grade 8 in either maths or physics to apply for engineering)

LIZS · 21/08/2025 14:39

Some schools can part fund a review if you are on a low income and they recommend it. Might be worth asking.

MigGril · 21/08/2025 14:45

University doesn't normally look at the GCSE'S only the A-levels. I would only both having a regard in the subject he's going to study. We didn't even do that for DD bit she was 3 marks and 1 mark of 2 subjects but not ones she was going on to study. So it really didn't matter.

mysecretshame · 21/08/2025 14:46

If they are suggesting it, ask if they would pay for one or more of them.
We had a remark a couple of years ago, suggested by the teacher, who had reviewed the script and saw some potential movement.
Unfortunately, grade did not go up.

noblegiraffe · 21/08/2025 14:48

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 14:26

Had another message this time from the maths teacher asking if they can look and see if it is worth a remark to go from a 7 to an 8. He is doing maths at A-level but has the required grade.

It will be £150 if we get all 3 remarked and we are a low income family. Not sure what to do.

I guess it looks better for the school the better the grades are which is why they are asking about this perhaps.

The maths teacher just wants permission to look at the paper themselves - this will be free. If they see any of the papers have obviously been marked incorrectly (this is far easier in maths than other subjects) then they can recommend that you get that specific paper reviewed by the exam board.

If the grade goes up, you are refunded the fee.

QueenMabby · 21/08/2025 14:49

It’s a review of marking not a re-mark but it’s
always worth requesting the papers for the teachers to have a look. If it’s maths or a science then the review is more straightforward - most questions are either right or wrong. With English it’s a bit different as it’s so subjective. The reviewer can only change the mark if the one given is unreasonable. So if the marker gave something 12 and that’s a reasonable mark then it’s irrelevant if the reviewer would have given it 14 - it can’t be changed.

Nextdoormat · 21/08/2025 14:55

I had exactly same for DD2, she was expected to get an A in English, teacher rang etc, DD1 knew we were short of money(single parent) said don't worry Mum. So of course I did but didn't tell her. Teacher rang in tears she had been marked down to a C😫. By this time she had started A levels, I didn't tell her for two years! Basically because she was then applying for Uni. She wasn't happy but got a B in A level so shows she was competent. With hindsight I should not have meddled, but as others have said A levels surpass GCSEs then now it is just the degree that counts🙂

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 15:02

kateandsam · 21/08/2025 14:39

True, but some Universities require certain GCSE grades in certain subjects to study there .... I'm looking at you Bath (wanted a grade 8 in either maths or physics to apply for engineering)

Show quote history

Oh really. DS might be interested in engineering, this might change things..

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 21/08/2025 15:07

If he’s got into the A levels he wants at the college he wants I wouldn’t because there’s no direct benefit to him.

(is to the school but it’s not their money!)

He knows how close he was and that should give him pointers at what to aim for at a levels and universities offer on A level grades.

autienotnaughty · 21/08/2025 15:09

Not GCSEs, but my dd got BCC for alevels, two were remarked and she got BBB. But schook paid not us.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 15:13

We are very close to Bath and this may be a choice for engineering so thinking of getting the maths remarked, unsure about the chemistry.

OP posts:
kateandsam · 21/08/2025 15:38

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 15:13

We are very close to Bath and this may be a choice for engineering so thinking of getting the maths remarked, unsure about the chemistry.

Bath was the only Uni we came across that was asking for this. My son had achieved grade 7's in both Maths & Physics & had the predicated A'level grades of A & A* but they told him his application would be rejected because of his GCSE grades in those subjects.

kateandsam · 21/08/2025 15:39

Lots of other great universities to study engineering, close to Bath though

noblegiraffe · 21/08/2025 15:42

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 15:13

We are very close to Bath and this may be a choice for engineering so thinking of getting the maths remarked, unsure about the chemistry.

Just ask the maths teacher to have a look at the paper. They'll tell you whether it's worth getting remarked or not.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 15:45

kateandsam · 21/08/2025 15:38

Bath was the only Uni we came across that was asking for this. My son had achieved grade 7's in both Maths & Physics & had the predicated A'level grades of A & A* but they told him his application would be rejected because of his GCSE grades in those subjects.

Show quote history

Sorry to hear that, what a pain.

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 21/08/2025 16:07

Not sure but we've paid over £100 today to have English remarked. 2 marks off a 4 so willing to risk it

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 16:14

This is bad for lower income families isn't it, it can all add up..

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 16:15

Foxesandsquirrels · 21/08/2025 16:07

Not sure but we've paid over £100 today to have English remarked. 2 marks off a 4 so willing to risk it

Oh definitely in that case as would make the difference for a grade c / pass, best of luck

OP posts:
kateandsam · 21/08/2025 17:53

It all turned out well in the end, he's at Southampton & enjoying his course

Foxesandsquirrels · 21/08/2025 18:08

Orangesandlemons77 · 21/08/2025 16:15

Oh definitely in that case as would make the difference for a grade c / pass, best of luck

Show quote history

Yes, it's also the 5th one she needs so if it doesn't go up, we're in a pickle as she failed maths too.

IHeartKingThistle · 21/08/2025 18:23

I can’t believe schools are charging straight away. I’m a secondary HOD and I spent an hour today requesting papers I want to take a look at as they’re close to the boundary. If I think they warrant a review of marking we’ll send them back once we have permission but we don’t charge parents for that, I’m sure. Are these private schools?