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Coronavirus: Government outlines how GCSE and A-level exam results will be awarded

I strongly hope so, since I'm a private candidate who's self studying without a tutor, so I can't really see a way of getting grades.

They have said you'll get a grade. How accurate it will be, I have no idea, but I'm fairly sure you'll be able to resit without appealing if it's simply that they didn't have enough information to grade you realistically :smile:

Reply 1381

Nairpic

12

Original post by Bluerainy

Do you have a tutor

I do have two tutors

Reply 1382

Ruhab Dabeer

19

Original post by Mrs Tate

Although this is a nightmare for all students and teachers, my child was told that mock exams were to find out what areas needed more work. Therefore revision for mocks wasn't taken that serious for most students. Also to add predicted grades were 2-3 grades higher than actual mock exam results? My son has worked so hard attending extra lessons after school and we also employed a private tutor to help. So how can this be fair as it looks like going on mock exams he will not be able to do A levels. I have spoke to at least 14 other parents whose children also have low mock results. My son is devastated along with many of his friends! The education 'people' should seriously rethink what they are doing, as this is causing anxiety and depression amongst our children!

Unfortunately that's how the education system runs when you have a garbage PM

Reply 1383

Fluorescent_A

13

Cambridge International have now published a statement on their website advising teachers to collect evidence based on a number of measures. It clearly states that grades should not be based solely on mocks as they recognise that student’s work really hard between the mocks and exams and performance improves significantly. I imagine the other boards will be similar to this.

Reply 1384

Deetoxic

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Is anyone preparing for the exam just in case they say private candidates have to sit the exam in september or november?

Reply 1385

viliamreis297

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Original post by Deetoxic

Is anyone preparing for the exam just in case they say private candidates have to sit the exam in september or november?

well am not a Private Candidate, but still i am preparing and revising for the exam in sep/nov.

Reply 1386

Devglaze

8

Our school has just told us “there will be tests happening next term, we are not sure when or how yet, but we will let you know all of the topics to revise over Easter.” Do you think this is fair? We’re international so 80% of our students arent in the UK anymore, and we would have to do it online, or open book. Most of us now aren’t speaking English every day, so that’s another disadvantage, and there’s poor internet in other countries. This is incredibly unfair when we were specifically told there would be no more tests, right?

Reply 1387

krinyapajti

14

Original post by Devglaze

Our school has just told us “there will be tests happening next term, we are not sure when or how yet, but we will let you know all of the topics to revise over Easter.” Do you think this is fair? We’re international so 80% of our students arent in the UK anymore, and we would have to do it online, or open book. Most of us now aren’t speaking English every day, so that’s another disadvantage, and there’s poor internet in other countries. This is incredibly unfair when we were specifically told there would be no more tests, right?

Yes that's not fair and against government advice. If I was you I'd contact a newspaper (as well as talking to your school about it etc of course)

Reply 1388

username4816022

7

Original post by Deetoxic

Is anyone preparing for the exam just in case they say private candidates have to sit the exam in september or november?

yeah I'm going until there's an actual announcement cause as a private student, I can make huge progress in short period of time not just touch up on my knowledge before exams. Even if its just an extra week I've prepared for, I could use it. Really hope they just sort something out that doesn't require me to cram though, would be nice.

Reply 1389

username3702590

10

Original post by krinyapajti

Yes that's not fair and against government advice. If I was you I'd contact a newspaper (as well as talking to your school about it etc of course)

I also have been set tests in biology, chemistry and geography alevels in 6 may / June - is this fair?

Reply 1390

Bluerainy

20

Original post by skaadr

yeah I'm going until there's an actual announcement cause as a private student, I can make huge progress in short period of time not just touch up on my knowledge before exams. Even if its just an extra week I've prepared for, I could use it. Really hope they just sort something out that doesn't require me to cram though, would be nice.

Same, we could be thrown in any situation and it's making me really stressed as well, especially since I'm studying independently without a tutor cause I'm retaking, so I don't even have any evidence from a tutor or teacher to show. Meaning I might not get a grade at all, but at least hope there's an exam in September and uni's let me start in 2020 still.

Reply 1391

krinyapajti

14

Original post by Lozc3

I also have been set tests in biology, chemistry and geography alevels in 6 may / June - is this fair?

No.

Reply 1392

SarcAndSpark

20

Original post by Deetoxic

Is anyone preparing for the exam just in case they say private candidates have to sit the exam in september or november?

I don't think they will say this, but it would be a good idea to prepare regardless, as you could end up being unhappy with your grade.

Original post by Devglaze

Our school has just told us “there will be tests happening next term, we are not sure when or how yet, but we will let you know all of the topics to revise over Easter.” Do you think this is fair? We’re international so 80% of our students arent in the UK anymore, and we would have to do it online, or open book. Most of us now aren’t speaking English every day, so that’s another disadvantage, and there’s poor internet in other countries. This is incredibly unfair when we were specifically told there would be no more tests, right?

Cambridge International have advised schools they don't need to do this.

I would be asking your school about their justification here- but equally, if they feel they don't have enough evidence to award grades otherwise, they don't really have a choice but to set new assessed work.

Edit- to clairify, no-one has said there should definitely be no more assessments yet.

Reply 1393

SarcAndSpark

20

Original post by Lozc3

I also have been set tests in biology, chemistry and geography alevels in 6 may / June - is this fair?

It's not what most schools are doing, and Cambridge International have said that it's not needed BUT there is nothing saying your school can't do this either.

If they feel they don't have enough evidence to assess you, then they've not really got any other choice.

Reply 1394

username4765442

14

Original post by Lozc3

I also have been set tests in biology, chemistry and geography alevels in 6 may / June - is this fair?

Do you have to go into school for these?

Reply 1395

Pistas

15

Original post by Deetoxic

Is anyone preparing for the exam just in case they say private candidates have to sit the exam in september or november?

I am a private candidate as well. I registered myself back in first week of March to take AS Maths (Pearson Edexcel) in May-June session. I don't have any tutor. I am just studying at home by myself because I have a feeling they will announce that exams will somehow take place a few weeks before the exam day.

Reply 1396

ha8i83j

14

There is an update for independent candidates on Ucas.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/coronavirus-covid-19/independent-applicants-predicted-grades-and-references

Reply 1397

username4816022

7

Original post by SarcAndSpark

I don't think they will say this, but it would be a good idea to prepare regardless, as you could end up being unhappy with your grade.

Don't you think that Universities may have their offer holders sit their own maths exams (for example) if they have no subject history to use? I guess its not up to the universities to sort out grades and the usual is that they need evidence of grades before 20 something August, so their tests might be subject to the same problems that caused June exams to be cancelled. But I'm expecting like a sudden demand to do some mock papers at an exam center so needing to achieve mostly the same grades you would have achieved in June, since they'd declare private students to not be so affected by schools being closed so that no longer serving as a reason why exams can't be held for them.

If there really were no possibility of testing, would I just need to revise until the start of uni or more like October/ November? Why are people saying September when edexcel pearson said oct/ nov? Should I keep going hard or more til like July/ August deadline?

Reply 1398

username4816022

7

Original post by blue0612

There is an update for independent candidates on Ucas.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/coronavirus-covid-19/independent-applicants-predicted-grades-and-references

Bro so what even. I'm supposed to contact my GCSE maths teacher to ask to provide a refference when he last taught me 3 years ago? I've already completed A Levels in Computer Science, Economics, Product design so do I actually contact my Computer Science teacher who I had write my refference for UCAS? I still don't see the clear path but okay, maybe exam boards will still want some mock papers to be done at exam centers as that wasn't clearly ruled out. @SarcAndSpark thoughts?

Reply 1399

phoenix4

11

Original post by Lozc3

I also have been set tests in biology, chemistry and geography alevels in 6 may / June - is this fair?