Grade boundaries come out on results day

OP

Original post by RussianQuestion

Unfortunately, this might not be the case:

"You can't use this tool for the reformed, linear qualifications. In 2017, you can convert your marks to a UMS mark for the following qualifications:

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all GCSEs except English Language, English Literature and Maths

•

AS specifications

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A-level specifications

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AQA Certificates except AQA Certificate Level 2 Further Mathematics."

Refer to this: http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/results-days/grade-boundaries-and-ums

Yeah so that doesn't include AS levels which no longer have ums.

Original post by rnineirnee

Can't you look at the UMS score?

Not all qualifications have ums so that's not entirely helpful.

Reply 43

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

Yeah so that doesn't include AS levels which no longer have ums.

Not all qualifications have ums so that's not entirely helpful.

Oh ok I wasn't aware of that.

Reply 44

OP

Original post by _gcx

lol they haven't even set them yet

@rnineirnee

They may well have been set. Look at this link:
https://twitter.com/AQA/status/885780909932150784

Also I doubt that the grade boundaries being high is the reason. This isn't just aqa it is also ocr and edexcel that are doing this. Maybe other exam boards but I haven't looked around. Surely you can't be assuming that for every single exam in all qualifications for all three of these exam boards the grade boundaries are a lot higher than usual. It could be to avoid complaints but I don't see this is an indicator of what the grade boundaries are going to look like.

Reply 45

OP

Original post by rnineirnee

Oh ok I wasn't aware of that.

What qualifications are you doing?

Reply 46

ninjass

10

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

Read these tweets from aqa: https://twitter.com/AQA/status/889793284704436224

GCSE and A level grade boundaries have always come out the day before results day, generally at midnight.
For some reason this year they come out on the day, potentially at the same time as people are picking up their results so people won't actually be able to see the grade boundaries before obtaining their results.
Am I the only one that's really irritated about this?

Why should it matter its not like your results will change

Reply 47

OP

Original post by ninjass

Why should it matter its not like your results will change

Arguably it could because if you know the grade boundaries then you can come in knowing as soon as you see your results if getting a remark is worth while.

Reply 48

ninjass

10

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

Arguably it could because if you know the grade boundaries then you can come in knowing as soon as you see your results if getting a remark is worth while.

Surely UMS can help with that?

Reply 49

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

What qualifications are you doing?

GCSE's I'm guessing that you're doing A levels?

Reply 50

OP

Original post by rnineirnee

GCSE's I'm guessing that you're doing A levels?

ah so you can still do that for all subjects but maths and English.
I'm doing AS levels.

Reply 51

Original post by ninjass

Surely UMS can help with that?

Not all qualifications have the UMS system.

Reply 52

OP

Original post by ninjass

Surely UMS can help with that?

If you are 1 ums off then yes but if you are 3-5 ums off of a grade then not necessarily. 1 raw mark could translate to 1 ums or even 5 ums. Knowing what the ums boundaries look like are very useful for knowing if a remark is useful.
Also, for reformed subjects (most A levels, AS levels and GCSE maths and English) there are no ums so a raw mark grade boundary would be necessary for these things.

Reply 53

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

ah so you can still do that for all subjects but maths and English.
I'm doing AS levels.

Yes I just really want to know the grade boundaries for Maths, which is why I am stressing so much.

Reply 54

PQ

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

Arguably it could because if you know the grade boundaries then you can come in knowing as soon as you see your results if getting a remark is worth while.

Your exams officer will have access the day before (along with your grades and raw marks iirr) and you have access at the same time as you get your results.

It's hardly going to take hours to work out how far you are from a grade boundary.

Reply 55

OP

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by PQ

Your exams officer will have access the day before (along with your grades and raw marks iirr) and you have access at the same time as you get your results.

It's hardly going to take hours to work out how far you are from a grade boundary.

Sure but could you at least agree that it would be more convenient if they came out the day before?

Reply 56

PQ

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

Sure but could you at least agree that it would be more convenient if they came out the day before?

Not really. All we get on tsr that day are people panicking because they don't know how to interpret the boundaries without their results or getting over confident/paranoid because the boundaries are higher/lower than they hoped.

It might reassure a tiny minority of candidates but I personally don't think that is worth the additional stress and worry it causes the majority.

Original post by PQ

It might reassure a tiny minority of candidates but I personally don't think that is worth the additional stress and worry it causes the majority.

that's actually a fair point tbh

Reply 58

That'sGreat

I'm concerned it has something to do with the other boards (ie. OCR) making terrible mistakes on the papers that will affect all boards marking processes, resulting in a few more students being disgruntled with grades than usual. I hope not, but this may be a way to prevent many students realising if they've been stitched up...

Reply 59

Doones