Any aqa gcse English language examiner that can answer a query

[Naddd]

I've just got the script back for my sons English language paper and it seems on one multiple choice paper he hasn't filled out a box but has put an x on the other side.
It looks like no marks have been awarded for this.
Would he get the marks if we put in for a re-mark?

I’m not a market for this but am familiar with the paper. Do you mean the first qu on paper 2?

The rubric is clear that if you make a mistake you cross out the box (did he do this?). If you want to reinstate a crossing out you circle the box.

I don’t think an x beside the box would be awarded a mark, sorry.

Yes I believe so. It's not even beside the box! It's at the beginning of the answer. So lost 4 marks that would have made all the difference.

He needs to shade four boxes to gain the four marks though. It sounds as though he didn’t do that? Sorry

ETA or do you mean he shaded three correct boxes and then put one x but has been awarded no marks? If so then I would expect three marks.

Agree - it's paper 2 - you have to shade the little circles beside the statements that are 'true' ie stated in the article. He wouldn't have got 4 marks even if the cross was in a box. Maybe he meant to come back to it?
4 marks is a lot to get on a remark. People say english is more 'subjective' and therefore think it's easier to get marks change, but the review only checks to see if the marks are within tolerance, if that makes sense.
So if the remarker thinks they would have given an extra mark or so, but the original marker is within the descriptors, the mark doesn't go up.
I'm so sorry. What grade is he 4 marks from? Some of the levels are pretty narrow, he could risk going down if you put it in.

7 from a 6

It's the new format for paper 1 q1 as well now (1st examining this year).

Did he tick the relevant box for the other 3 parts of Q1, or do the same for all of it?

Same for all 😭😭😭

No no I appreciate the honesty. I'd rather know it's not likely than pay expecting it to increase only to find it doesn't.
Has this changed in the last few years as my other son was the same a few marks off and it was increased.
I think it's more of a shock because other grades are at brilliant.
He wasn't feeling too great, came down with a cold sod's law. I don't think I'm making excuses it's just going by his other result.
I think I'm feeling down because now he's no longer eligible for the scholarships on offer at the college just due to English!!! And I feel as though options in the future may be limited.

Would you like to DM me? I'm an examiner for AQA and Eduqas.

So @Naddd sorry it's not totally clear - do you mean he put a cross by the answers he thought were "correct" – for four answers? If so then sorry yes he wouldn't get any marks. This answer is a new style this year but surely teachers would have gone over how you answer it.

Yes an x. So put an x in at the beginning of the answer he thought was right and just forgot to shade in the actual box

Ah I see. That's a shame. Does he say why he did this?

Well by accident. Hadn't realised he didn't fill the boxes in. Only noticed when the script was shown to him.

ah lesson learned to read the rubric. Did the teacher flag it to the class? – as tbf it is a rather specific instruction, and a new one as well (obvs he has not done exam but past papers would be different). Still if he has a 6 that's all he needs unless planning Oxford or medicine.

Yes a 6 in language and 5 in literature. And yes they were told. The only thing I can think is he wasn't well when the English exams were taking place. Nothing to the extent where it would get special consideration I emailed the school at the time as I was worried and was told this. But when you're suffering from a cold you're not at your best.
I think I was shocked as predicted grades were 8 and has done really well in other subjects.
Luckily no plans for medicine or Cambridge. I think for Cambridge if you resit you have to declare your old and new grade anyway.
I think engineering is something he's more drawn to or finance. Will he still be OK with these grades?

Omg maybe this is why my neuro diverse very clever DD always got 6 or above for last two years got a 4????? She’s devastated

Her school were encouraging her to take A level English

I think it's unlikely as this was one question worth four marks.

The rest of the questions followed the previous format IIRC. But ask a teacher to look at her paper if the grade is a surprise.

@Naddd Oxford like all 7 and above and medicine takes an average and looks for higher GCSE grades; but for engineering he will be fine as long as maths and physics are all good.

Hi just to ask are you an examiner? Either way advise is appreciated
I have a bit of a conundrum, we asked the teachers to have a look at the English papers. And we have had feedback for the literature and have been advised that they feel it has been marked harshly, easily another 7 marks. We don't know whether to have this re-marked as it was 5 off the next grade and I believe the advice is to only go for a re-mark if it was 1 or 2 points off. It wasn't even one we were considering.
Any advice is appreciated

I'm not an examiner of English (MFL is my specialism) tho I have done a lot of work with students on english over the years and I am aware of the new elements this year for Eng lang.

It's not a remark, it is a review of marking. What happens is that the paper is looked at and if (say) it was felt that a specific answer was in the wrong band then it would be reassessed. So if (example) the modern text question had been banded as L5 (21-25 marks) but the reviewer felt it should be L6 (26-30 marks) then the mark would jump by at least 1 and maybe many more marks. If it scored 21 in L5 then L6 would be at least 26. That's my understanding of the process. But of course it could be that the reviewer felt that the banding was correct.

@MrsHamlet is an English marker (not sure if this is the right board) and may be able to confirm if I am correct.

Thank you so much for your quick reply. When we saw the grades and boundaries we hadn't even considered having the literature papers remarked. Hence the confusion now as to what to do. He is 5 away from the next grade but don't really want to run the risk of it moving down. Is that likely? It's the aqa board if that makes a difference

So he is about 10 marks above a grade 4? A review can bring the mark down as well as up – a per my example, the reviewer could feel that the answer was in L5 but should be L4. 10 marks would be a lot though.

I imagine the teachers having looked at it have assessed that as unlikely though. they are really the people to ask tbh. Is there one paper they feel is not in sync with expectations? Maybe submit that one for a review.

Sorry for any confusion. So he's currently a grade 5 for literature and 5 marks away from a grade 6. So needs 5 marks.

The teacher has had a look and feels it's been marked harshly at least 7 marks off.

That's why I'm not sure what to do as don't want to risk it moving down to a 4. Though looking at boundaries for aqa it's about 10 marks away.

As it was 5 marks away we didn't think of getting it re-looked at. It's only now with teacher feedback that it's a possibility.

Also I don't know if you can answer this but on the script the marks are different to what it says on the results. Do aqa do some sort of moderation.

yes that's what I meant by 10 marks - as in he is 10 marks above a 4 so that's a lot to drop therefore less likely. But I have heard of scripts going up by 12 marks so big changes are possible. School can advise.

Not ever heard of moderation tbh but the raw marks are converted into the grade boundary marks. How do you mean they are different?