Any GCSE history teachers/examiners out there please? Urgent advice needed

[mamhaf]

DD has to hand in her history coursework tomorrow, and has been told to cut the final draft down to 1,500 words otherwise she'll lose marks. It's currently just over 3,000 words, so she'd have a lot to do.

The teacher told her she would lose a mark for every 500 words it's over. Anyone know if this is true? (She's had other issues with this particular teacher, so I'm a bit sceptical, but obviously only have a parent's perspective on it).

Secondly, does anyone know if quotes from the sources she's writing about count as part of the word total?

She tried to speak to the teacher and another of the history teachers today, but without success.

It's the WJEC (Welsh) examining board if that makes any difference.

Many thanks to anyone who can advise on this.

I can't advise on history so may not be much help. But I do know that at A level in English (which I teach) they are rigorous about coursework word counts - we are ordered to stop marking at the point the word count reaches the maximum and strike through the rest. And quotations do count in English as part of the final total.

If you go on to WJEC's website, you should be able to download the specifications and look up the rubric.

Have just had a look on WJEC's website for you and I don't think you can look at the current specifications without paying for them

However, the specifications for the new GCSE (to be taught from 2009) advises that the coursework be between 1200 and 1500 words but that excludes data, illustrations and extracts from sources...

I found this 'The internal assessment should be presented in the form of an investigation folder and
should contain, where appropriate, illustrations, maps, graphs and photographs. Each
investigation should normally be no longer than 1200-1500 words in length
[excluding illustrations, data and source extracts etc]. Candidates should be
reminded that it is the quality rather than length which is important.'

on the website here

www.wjec.co.uk/website

which suggests that sources don't count but she's really going to have to cut the rest down.

hth (not a history teacher - but am a history graduate - I remember the 'F* it's too long' panic very, very well!)

snap slayerette

Many thanks - it's a long night of editing ahead I fear - I think she'd be better off taking out some of the sources altogether, but I'm wary of advising her that because history and the exam requirements aren't within my area of knowledge.

How did she (and you) get on?