I've been given a C where I should have an A

The best available result for each contributing unit will count towards the final grade.
After certification all unit results may be reused to count towards a new award.
Results of units held in the Edexcel unit bank have a shelf life limited only by the shelf life of this specification.

I've just got my A level results and I'm very pleased, but there's one area where I feel cheated by my board, Edexcel.

Last year I took AS maths, and this year on top of A2 maths I decided to give AS further maths (ASFM) a go, so I took 3 extra units this year. I've listed all units taken, the year taken, UMS and grade of each unit below.

C1 - 2013 - 95 - a
C2 - 2013 - 85 - a
C3 - 2014 - 100 - a
C4 - 2014 - 80 - a
M1 - 2013 - 97 - a
M2 - 2014 - 76 - b
S1 - 2014 - 76 - b
S2 - 2014 - 51 - d
FP1 - 2014 - 74 - b

So I've got exactly an A* in maths (180 in C3 and C4). What I believe to be the case is that the applied units are distributed to give the highest grades in both maths and ASFM. This could be done by putting S1 and S2 in maths, and M1 and M2 in ASFM giving total UMS scores of 487 and 247 which would give A*a. However, what the board has done is maximise my maths UMS, putting M1 and M2 (or S1, I can't tell) in maths and the rest in ASFM giving UMS of 533 and 201 so A*c.

This seemed ridiculous so I asked my examinations officer and head of department about it and they said that they would ask Edexcel to change it, but that because M1 was taken last year and was already part of my maths AS grade I wouldn't be able to move it to ASFM, but they would ask to get A*b by putting S2 in my maths bit.

I feel this is wrong and unfair and I'm looking for advice as to what to do about it.

To quote the specification (page 107):


Help?

I didn't even think of cashing in! That's a bummer. I wonder if I can apply to recertify the award with different units. I feel I was given bad advice and severely misled on this subject by my teachers who knew I was purposely going to do less well in S2 and confirmed what I thought should happen. I do indeed have a certificate for my maths AS level so it is cashed in I supposed.

I've just got my A level results and I'm very pleased, but there's one area where I feel cheated by my board, Edexcel.

Last year I took AS maths, and this year on top of A2 maths I decided to give AS further maths (ASFM) a go, so I took 3 extra units this year. I've listed all units taken, the year taken, UMS and grade of each unit below.

C1 - 2013 - 95 - a
C2 - 2013 - 85 - a
C3 - 2014 - 100 - a
C4 - 2014 - 80 - a
M1 - 2013 - 97 - a
M2 - 2014 - 76 - b
S1 - 2014 - 76 - b
S2 - 2014 - 51 - d
FP1 - 2014 - 74 - b

So I've got exactly an A* in maths (180 in C3 and C4). What I believe to be the case is that the applied units are distributed to give the highest grades in both maths and ASFM. This could be done by putting S1 and S2 in maths, and M1 and M2 in ASFM giving total UMS scores of 487 and 247 which would give A*a. However, what the board has done is maximise my maths UMS, putting M1 and M2 (or S1, I can't tell) in maths and the rest in ASFM giving UMS of 533 and 201 so A*c.

This seemed ridiculous so I asked my examinations officer and head of department about it and they said that they would ask Edexcel to change it, but that because M1 was taken last year and was already part of my maths AS grade I wouldn't be able to move it to ASFM, but they would ask to get A*b by putting S2 in my maths bit.

If the school cashes everything in again this season (and it's not too late to do this - the deadline is 20 Sep) then the units can be moved round to give you the best grades.

If the school cashes everything in again this season (and it's not too late to do this - the deadline is 20 Sep) then the units can be moved round to give you the best grades.

I didn't even think of cashing in! That's a bummer. I wonder if I can apply to recertify the award with different units. I feel I was given bad advice and severely misled on this subject by my teachers who knew I was purposely going to do less well in S2 and confirmed what I thought should happen. I do indeed have a certificate for my maths AS level so it is cashed in I supposed.

I was in the same position this year wanting to put s3 in normal maths but wasn't able to

Is that even if my AS maths was cashed in last year?

This is a completely different situation. The only pairs of applied units that can go into A level Maths are M1, M2 or S1, S2 or D1, D2 or M1,S1 or M1, D1 or S1, D1.

Is that even if my AS maths was cashed in last year?

Compost is right. Your school should have re-cashed in your AS Maths so that the units are "unlocked" from the Maths qualification and so can go into AS FM. Ask them to do so.

Don't blame the board, it is your school (and several of the posters above) who don't know the rules.

I mean in the respect that I would have wanted to put s3 into Maths A2 but couldn't in the same way op wanted to put s2 in but couldn't. I know for different reasons, you can't have a 3 module in Maths as it doesn't run.

Also, I said I was unsure on the cashing in rules, but if results had already been fully cashed in then a C was the best possible result (like I say I'm no expert, who would want to be?!)

Sorry if my post didn't meet your pedantic requirements I was merely trying to help op in whatever limited way I could...

Hi
Don't know if this is useful.
http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/docs/certification-advice.pdf

I think schools generally cash in again to certificate A levels to optimize your grades for M and FM.
I didn't know until today that certain combinations of units are /are not allowed (eg not M2 and S1), except for knowing about the C1-4 and 180 UMS from C3, C4. Learn something new every day eh!
Does anyone have a link to edexcel page giving the info about combinations? Thankyou.

Doh! I just found it in the specification: http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/UA035243_GCE_Lin_Maths_Issue_3.pdf

There is one tiny ickle niggle though: Edexcel's current spec (the linked one in the OP) is for first teaching in September 2013 ie this academic year just gone, but I took AS maths on the old spec. I've checked the wording and literally not a single word has changed in the outlines for any of my applied units, but the spec did say the lifetime of the units is the lifetime of the spec... Will this have an effect on my appeal?

I've just got my A level results and I'm very pleased, but there's one area where I feel cheated by my board, Edexcel.

Last year I took AS maths, and this year on top of A2 maths I decided to give AS further maths (ASFM) a go, so I took 3 extra units this year. I've listed all units taken, the year taken, UMS and grade of each unit below.

C1 - 2013 - 95 - a
C2 - 2013 - 85 - a
C3 - 2014 - 100 - a
C4 - 2014 - 80 - a
M1 - 2013 - 97 - a
M2 - 2014 - 76 - b
S1 - 2014 - 76 - b
S2 - 2014 - 51 - d
FP1 - 2014 - 74 - b

So I've got exactly an A* in maths (180 in C3 and C4). What I believe to be the case is that the applied units are distributed to give the highest grades in both maths and ASFM. This could be done by putting S1 and S2 in maths, and M1 and M2 in ASFM giving total UMS scores of 487 and 247 which would give A*a. However, what the board has done is maximise my maths UMS, putting M1 and M2 (or S1, I can't tell) in maths and the rest in ASFM giving UMS of 533 and 201 so A*c.

This seemed ridiculous so I asked my examinations officer and head of department about it and they said that they would ask Edexcel to change it, but that because M1 was taken last year and was already part of my maths AS grade I wouldn't be able to move it to ASFM, but they would ask to get A*b by putting S2 in my maths bit.

I feel this is wrong and unfair and I'm looking for advice as to what to do about it.

To quote the specification (page 107):


Help?

This is all very helpful advice, thanks very much! I shall be contacting the examinations officer again just to politely check-in on how it's going, then use these arguments in my defence if needs be. My school traditionally only puts people in through further maths, so probably puts these practices in place there, but I believe my year is the first to be offered ASFM and I am the only student ever to ask to do ASFM solely in my second year so maybe this opened up some gaps in knowledge and practice.

I should note that this doesn't really affect me in any great way as I'm into the uni I wanted to be in and ASFM had nothing to do with my offer anyway, but this might prove useful and relieve stress to future candidates at my school.

There is one tiny ickle niggle though: Edexcel's current spec (the linked one in the OP) is for first teaching in September 2013 ie this academic year just gone, but I took AS maths on the old spec. I've checked the wording and literally not a single word has changed in the outlines for any of my applied units, but the spec did say the lifetime of the units is the lifetime of the spec... Will this have an effect on my appeal?

Hi
That's an interesting question. I don't know, but edexcel's student help lines are open today until 4pm: http://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/student/talk-to-us/Pages/contact-us.aspx
Might be worth giving them a call.

Only had a quick look but I do know that S2 counts as an A2 module - you have to get 90 average in all your A2's for an A* - so if you put S2 into your maths qualification you would need ave 90 across C3 C4 AND S2. S1 and M1 don't count towards the 90 but S2 and M2 do. Hope this makes sense of what they did?

Only had a quick look but I do know that S2 counts as an A2 module - you have to get 90 average in all your A2's for an A* - so if you put S2 into your maths qualification you would need ave 90 across C3 C4 AND S2. S1 and M1 don't count towards the 90 but S2 and M2 do. Hope this makes sense of what they did?

This has happened to a guy last year (it cost him a uni offer). He had to do a lot of calling up and fight but in the end he won the case and got higher grades eventually. so dont give up