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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:
Thread gallery
6
Foxesandsquirrels · 26/08/2025 23:41

Examinetheexams · 26/08/2025 23:35

@ByHangrySloth is it the parents paying or the school?

When you say you put in loads is it normally because people are very near a higher grade or where they were predicted a better grade than they got? Do teachers at the school look at them first to advise whether to bother with a review or not? I guess the biggest fear is the Russian roulette element - have you received any that went down?

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This is what I'm wondering too. The line to see the exams officer at DDs school was mostly kids wanting a grade 8/ 9 and they were 1 or 2 marks off. From everything I've read about these reviews, that only really makes sense for STEM subjects, not for essay subjects where it's really about whether the correct level was applied, and if it wasn't, the jump in marks tends to be big.

Bellyfat · 27/08/2025 07:23

My child was 1 mark below a 5 in lit (prediction was a 5). Her teacher said that although we could ask for the paper to be reviewed it was unlikely to make a difference. She said that it's unusual for marks to be changed, so my daughter decided a 4 was fine. She graded higher than expected in language, which was the important mark for her next steps.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 08:20

My ds received a 3 for English language, when he’d been predicted a 5. It’s definitely his weakest subject, but he had done masses of past papers by the time of the actual exams, and felt that both had gone really well.

I’m pushing for a review but school are not being at all encouraging, they are reluctant to even ask for the papers ‘as it’s quite a process’.

His 6th form enrolment appointment is tomorrow and his other grades are great so I’m really hoping he can continue with his level 3 plans (mixture of A levels and a BTEC) and retake the English alongside if needed.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 08:22

Unless you've done a really weird exam board, it's not "quite a process" to get access to scripts at all.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 08:27

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 08:22

Unless you've done a really weird exam board, it's not "quite a process" to get access to scripts at all.

Edited

It’s AQA! They are really fobbing me off.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 08:31

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 08:27

It’s AQA! They are really fobbing me off.

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Yep! That's insanity. They might not want you to go to review but giving you access to the work is hardly difficult.

Michele09 · 27/08/2025 08:31

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 08:27

It’s AQA! They are really fobbing me off.

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Can you not go to a different person in school. Mine was downloaded and back in 10 minutes.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 08:33

Michele09 · 27/08/2025 08:31

Can you not go to a different person in school. Mine was downloaded and back in 10 minutes.

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It can only be done by the exams office.

Michele09 · 27/08/2025 08:48

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 08:33

It can only be done by the exams office.

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She may have just spoken to a teacher. It doesn't seem to make sense the exams officer would describe a simple download as a difficult process.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:01

I’ve spoken to the exams office and they directed me back to the teacher. He has said he will look into it today, but if I have no joy I’ll go back to the exams office. They have made it into a song and dance so I am surprised to hear it’s only a 10 minute job!

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 09:04

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:01

I’ve spoken to the exams office and they directed me back to the teacher. He has said he will look into it today, but if I have no joy I’ll go back to the exams office. They have made it into a song and dance so I am surprised to hear it’s only a 10 minute job!

It sounds like everyone's confused. You're asking for access to scripts - which can only be downloaded by the exams office.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:39

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 09:04

It sounds like everyone's confused. You're asking for access to scripts - which can only be downloaded by the exams office.

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Thanks, this is helpful. Does ds need to give written consent for this? Just wondering if we need to go in or if I can do it over the phone.

Michele09 · 27/08/2025 09:40

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:39

Thanks, this is helpful. Does ds need to give written consent for this? Just wondering if we need to go in or if I can do it over the phone.

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We spoke to them on the phone then dd had to send an email request.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 09:49

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:39

Thanks, this is helpful. Does ds need to give written consent for this? Just wondering if we need to go in or if I can do it over the phone.

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He needs to do it but most schools have a fairly simple form. Ours is in the exams section of the school website. Might be worth having a rummage to see if there's one there.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:56

Thanks.

I’ve just had an email from the teacher. He says he is surprised at ds’s low marks, and has requested the papers. He also says ‘The most up to date guidance from AQA says that a candidate is only entitled to a remark if they are within 3 marks of a Grade 4’.

Judging from MN, I’m not sure this is being widely followed, but I hope that he is going to have a good look at the papers and decide whether there are any glaring marking errors, and advise us accordingly.

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 09:58

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:56

Thanks.

I’ve just had an email from the teacher. He says he is surprised at ds’s low marks, and has requested the papers. He also says ‘The most up to date guidance from AQA says that a candidate is only entitled to a remark if they are within 3 marks of a Grade 4’.

Judging from MN, I’m not sure this is being widely followed, but I hope that he is going to have a good look at the papers and decide whether there are any glaring marking errors, and advise us accordingly.

That's news to me! And I would know.

For a start, AQA would not be talking about remarks...

Foxesandsquirrels · 27/08/2025 10:03

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:56

Thanks.

I’ve just had an email from the teacher. He says he is surprised at ds’s low marks, and has requested the papers. He also says ‘The most up to date guidance from AQA says that a candidate is only entitled to a remark if they are within 3 marks of a Grade 4’.

Judging from MN, I’m not sure this is being widely followed, but I hope that he is going to have a good look at the papers and decide whether there are any glaring marking errors, and advise us accordingly.

That's not from AQA. As the candidate is the one that requests the review, they decide what meets the threshold as they're the ones paying. AQA doesn't look for marks, so setting a mark limit makes no sense. A lot of schools are happy to pay for the review if the student is 1-2 marks away but this is absurd. You need to ask for them to show you where it says this or make it very clear what you need as it sounds like everyone is confused. Maybe the school thinks you're expecting them to pay.

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 10:04

Wow.

Ds had a tutor who has a friend who has marked for AQA. I think once we have the papers we will see if she can take a look at them and advise us.

Original poster
SomersetBrie · 27/08/2025 10:10

Username999999 · 27/08/2025 09:56

Thanks.

I’ve just had an email from the teacher. He says he is surprised at ds’s low marks, and has requested the papers. He also says ‘The most up to date guidance from AQA says that a candidate is only entitled to a remark if they are within 3 marks of a Grade 4’.

Judging from MN, I’m not sure this is being widely followed, but I hope that he is going to have a good look at the papers and decide whether there are any glaring marking errors, and advise us accordingly.

Could "entitled" mean the remark is free in this case?

Do they mean a total remark or the usual review of marking?

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 10:14

SomersetBrie · 27/08/2025 10:10

Could "entitled" mean the remark is free in this case?

Do they mean a total remark or the usual review of marking?

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No. The school is making stuff up!

There is no kind of "remark" for a start, so no exam board would use that term in official information.

Foxesandsquirrels · 27/08/2025 10:45

MrsHamlet · 27/08/2025 10:14

No. The school is making stuff up!

There is no kind of "remark" for a start, so no exam board would use that term in official information.

Show quote history

Exactly.

Examinetheexams · 27/08/2025 13:32

My DC emailed the school on Monday (which was a BH obviously) but we haven’t even had an acknowledgment email back. It’s a big school, I know it’s the holidays but surely you would have some exam staff in the week after exam results are released! Frustrating!

RubyFlewToo · 27/08/2025 13:33

Does anyone know how long the AQQ review of English marks usually takes? I’m obsessively checking my emails every 10 minutes (as there’s another sixth form sign up day tmrw - and if ds has now got a 5 he would then be able to get a place there) but if it’ll likely be a few weeks then I need to take some deep breaths and chill.

RubyFlewToo · 27/08/2025 13:34

Examinetheexams · 27/08/2025 13:32

My DC emailed the school on Monday (which was a BH obviously) but we haven’t even had an acknowledgment email back. It’s a big school, I know it’s the holidays but surely you would have some exam staff in the week after exam results are released! Frustrating!

That is really annoying for you! Is there an office number you can call?

scrumdiddly123 · 27/08/2025 13:47

RubyFlewToo · 27/08/2025 13:33

Does anyone know how long the AQQ review of English marks usually takes? I’m obsessively checking my emails every 10 minutes (as there’s another sixth form sign up day tmrw - and if ds has now got a 5 he would then be able to get a place there) but if it’ll likely be a few weeks then I need to take some deep breaths and chill.

Wondering the same, I’m draining my phone battery very quickly 🤦‍♀️ school told us usually within a week.