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Original poster

GCSE English Lit and Language review of marking

842 replies

SomersetBrie · 26/08/2025 16:11

There is lots of chat about review of marking on the GCSEs threads but I am interested specifically in anyone who is reviewing English (Lang or Lit) and whether the review provides an increase in grade.
DS, predicted a 7, got a 6 in both. He is not very close to the grade boundary (4 marks away) but the difference in marks between Paper 1 and Paper 2 have encouraged me to request access to the papers and see if it's worth a review.

Is anyone else asking for a review? I am curious to know how many marks people go up/down and if it results in a change of grade for many people.
(DS does not need a 7 but he was expecting a 7 out of 1 or other at least.)
This is AQA.

OP posts:
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Original poster
SomersetBrie · 01/09/2025 09:21

I also have not heard from exam office since requesting papers. Schools are back this week, so I'll email a follow up. I'm going off the idea of getting a review but I do still want to see the language papers to see if there is an obvious reason for the huge difference in marks between them.

OP posts:
HOP1516 · 01/09/2025 09:26

Yeah still waiting here too. Back to constantly checking emails now the weekend is over 😂

lanthanum · 01/09/2025 10:14

Anotheranonymousname · 29/08/2025 20:12

Thank you, that makes sense. DC is a single mark off but it seems as though because the marks most likely to be awarded e.g. where the annotations suggest the highest mark in the L5 band instead of the mid mark, won't result in a band change, there's no point seeking a review.

I understand reviews are about checking for a reasonable standard of marking and that 1 mark is an acceptable margin of error, but I do sympathise with my DC who knows their paper has been annotated with 'all L5' but not been awarded the marks to match. Ah well.

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Deleted

Ichangedmynameonce · 01/09/2025 12:20

We're also still waiting for English Language, DD 2 marks off a 6.

We also requested her papers for other subjects as her results are worse than her mocks and she thought she had done well. Exams officer has gone above and beyond, sending things over at Weekend etc.

TheyNotLikeUs · 01/09/2025 12:25

Fee paying school @Ichangedmynameonce ?

Ichangedmynameonce · 01/09/2025 12:27

No, it's a state school but selective (don't know if that makes a difference?) He's been v helpful

Hoppinggreen · 01/09/2025 12:27

TheyNotLikeUs · 01/09/2025 12:25

Fee paying school @Ichangedmynameonce ?

Our DS got his remark back on Friday (I posted upthread) and it was from a Private School.
No idea if it makes a difference in terms of speed

Examinetheexams · 01/09/2025 16:11

Examinetheexams · 28/08/2025 10:57

Yes it’s probably a lottery across schools. Just a bit annoying that some schools and staff seem really proactive and ours presumably is closed but not even an out of office response to say so. We are just in limbo. Can’t see the papers, don’t know what their language score even was.

Still nothing from the exams officer at my DCs huge school. Rang school today snd they said no-one from the exams team is available as it's an INSET day and we will hear something when the children start back. It's a bit frustrating when some people already have access to the papers and outcomes of grade reviews already.

HOP1516 · 01/09/2025 16:13

I am assuming the school lets us know the result of the review. Is that right?

Brimp · 01/09/2025 16:35

My son got his review back today (put in on results day). English Language - gone up 3 grades from a 6 to a 9 (23 marks). Really pleased for him as his mocks etc had been at this level - but shocking that the initial marking was so off. Good luck to everyone else still waiting. It's really bad that you can't trust the marking system - almost feel like this should go to the press.

Bufftailed · 01/09/2025 16:36

HOP1516 · 01/09/2025 16:13

I am assuming the school lets us know the result of the review. Is that right?

DC’s school said they would call about the 4 they wanted to put in across 3 exam boards. Given DC starts sixth form tomor would like it done and dusted. Most likely outcome is no change…..

Examinetheexams · 01/09/2025 16:41

Brimp · 01/09/2025 16:35

My son got his review back today (put in on results day). English Language - gone up 3 grades from a 6 to a 9 (23 marks). Really pleased for him as his mocks etc had been at this level - but shocking that the initial marking was so off. Good luck to everyone else still waiting. It's really bad that you can't trust the marking system - almost feel like this should go to the press.

Wow Brimp that’s a hell of a change but doesn’t really inspire faith in the system!

Bufftailed · 01/09/2025 16:47

Brimp · 01/09/2025 16:35

My son got his review back today (put in on results day). English Language - gone up 3 grades from a 6 to a 9 (23 marks). Really pleased for him as his mocks etc had been at this level - but shocking that the initial marking was so off. Good luck to everyone else still waiting. It's really bad that you can't trust the marking system - almost feel like this should go to the press.

Fantastic news. Seriously shocking they can be out this far though!

Examinetheexams · 01/09/2025 16:49

@brimp was that 23 marks across both papers? Do you know where and how he had been scored too low?

Ichangedmynameonce · 01/09/2025 16:59

That's amazing @Brimp great news

Username999999 · 01/09/2025 17:08

23 marks out is crazy!

Congratulations to your son on his amazing result. Well done to you / school for getting the marking reviewed.

Hoppinggreen · 01/09/2025 17:12

Brimp · 01/09/2025 16:35

My son got his review back today (put in on results day). English Language - gone up 3 grades from a 6 to a 9 (23 marks). Really pleased for him as his mocks etc had been at this level - but shocking that the initial marking was so off. Good luck to everyone else still waiting. It's really bad that you can't trust the marking system - almost feel like this should go to the press.

Thats crazy but excellent news for your DS
My DS went up 9 marks which I though was a HUGE amount

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 01/09/2025 17:15

Jeez 23 marks is crazy - so pleased for your DS. Was this AQA?

And agree it doesn't leave one with much faith in the system.

NorthenAdventure · 01/09/2025 18:11

Foxesandsquirrels · 29/08/2025 16:49

@HOP1516 yh this is what's happened with maths too. You needed 20 more marks this year to get a 9 Vs last year.

The grade boundary for a 9 has risen by 20 marks?? Since last year? Which exam board is this...?

NorthenAdventure · 01/09/2025 18:13

Brimp · 01/09/2025 16:35

My son got his review back today (put in on results day). English Language - gone up 3 grades from a 6 to a 9 (23 marks). Really pleased for him as his mocks etc had been at this level - but shocking that the initial marking was so off. Good luck to everyone else still waiting. It's really bad that you can't trust the marking system - almost feel like this should go to the press.

Wow that's a massive leap - one of the biggest uplifts I've ever known in a review!

I did contact the press once about quality of marking (I'm an examiner) but they weren't interested.

We've had a few grade increases this year but fewer than last year.

Delighted for your child.

Brimp · 01/09/2025 19:22

It was Pearson Edexcel for info

MrsHamlet · 01/09/2025 21:16

Hoppinggreen · 01/09/2025 12:27

Our DS got his remark back on Friday (I posted upthread) and it was from a Private School.
No idea if it makes a difference in terms of speed

Show quote history

Nope. Reviews are done blind, just as marking is.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 01/09/2025 21:32

Brimp · 01/09/2025 19:22

It was Pearson Edexcel for info

Thank you - that's the one I'm waiting on.

Did you have both papers reviewed or just one?

Foxesandsquirrels · 02/09/2025 09:43

We've had ours back. English Lit we only needed 2 marks and that didn't move at all in either paper so stayed a grade 3. Eng Lang we needed 14 marks and we got 15 on each paper! So we've gone from grade 3 to Grade 5!! Super super happy, only 2 days before 6th form starts, not cutting is close or anything 😅

My advice is to not go by grade boundaries for essay subjects, we were never going to put Lang in as it was so far off and it was the one that came back with a huge increase! Both AQA

Original poster
SomersetBrie · 02/09/2025 09:47

Foxesandsquirrels · 02/09/2025 09:43

We've had ours back. English Lit we only needed 2 marks and that didn't move at all in either paper so stayed a grade 3. Eng Lang we needed 14 marks and we got 15 on each paper! So we've gone from grade 3 to Grade 5!! Super super happy, only 2 days before 6th form starts, not cutting is close or anything 😅

My advice is to not go by grade boundaries for essay subjects, we were never going to put Lang in as it was so far off and it was the one that came back with a huge increase! Both AQA

This is just crazy!
Congratulations as that really makes a huge difference to you - especially as language is the only one anyone ever really looks at again.

I'm still waiting to hear from school on accessing the papers!

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