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A-levels

So basically I am due to resit my A-levels this summer (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) privately. I just found out yesterday that my uni will accept my Physics grade from last year so I don't need to resit. So I emailed the college that I'm due to sit my exams at and they've told me that it's too late to withdraw from physics so they'll just mark me absent from the exam. What does this mean and how will this affect my results like will I get a U in Physics?
Please help
Original post by flyingbunny.80
So basically I am due to resit my A-levels this summer (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) privately. I just found out yesterday that my uni will accept my Physics grade from last year so I don't need to resit. So I emailed the college that I'm due to sit my exams at and they've told me that it's too late to withdraw from physics so they'll just mark me absent from the exam. What does this mean and how will this affect my results like will I get a U in Physics?
Please help

Well, for a start your college is talking nonsense. Which exam board are you with?

Edexcel: "You can withdraw entries up to 14 days before results are published. Although you cannot normally withdraw a candidate after they have sat an exam or test, you may be able to do so under exceptional circumstances." (source)
OCR: "After a certain point approximately one week before the issue of results for each series (see key dates) it is no longer possible to make changes to the qualification details; only corrections to a candidate’s personal details will be accepted. This is also the final deadline for withdrawing entries." (source)
AQA: "Please check and fix the below up to 14 days before results day we can't change or withdraw entries after then." (source)

What they probably mean is "you don't get a refund if you withdraw now".

If you "no-show" for each paper, your result will be an X (not a U). An X means "the student was absent from all parts of the examination." I can't see that being an issue at all, but if you want re-assurance just let the uni know that your exam centre say they it's too late to withdraw, so you'll be getting an X result.

Reply 2

Original post by DataVenia
Well, for a start your college is talking nonsense. Which exam board are you with?
Edexcel: "You can withdraw entries up to 14 days before results are published. Although you cannot normally withdraw a candidate after they have sat an exam or test, you may be able to do so under exceptional circumstances." (source)
OCR: "After a certain point approximately one week before the issue of results for each series (see key dates) it is no longer possible to make changes to the qualification details; only corrections to a candidate’s personal details will be accepted. This is also the final deadline for withdrawing entries." (source)
AQA: "Please check and fix the below up to 14 days before results day we can't change or withdraw entries after then." (source)
What they probably mean is "you don't get a refund if you withdraw now".
If you "no-show" for each paper, your result will be an X (not a U). An X means "the student was absent from all parts of the examination." I can't see that being an issue at all, but if you want re-assurance just let the uni know that your exam centre say they it's too late to withdraw, so you'll be getting an X result.

I with OCR. I was gonna say, it doesn't seem right surely that can't force me to sit an exam so how would they not be able to withdraw me?
I understand about the refund, it is obviously very late and I don't mind if they don't refund me but I just wanna be withdrawn. Do you think I should email OCR myself?
Original post by flyingbunny.80
I with OCR. I was gonna say, it doesn't seem right surely that can't force me to sit an exam so how would they not be able to withdraw me?
I understand about the refund, it is obviously very late and I don't mind if they don't refund me but I just wanna be withdrawn. Do you think I should email OCR myself?

There's not forcing you to sit (i.e. attend) any exams. They're just saying "withdrawing you means we have to click a few buttons, and we really can't be bothered". I'd say your best bet is to send them the OCR link above and quote the text which points out the it's not too late for them to process a withdrawal.

I don't think contacting the exam board will help, as it's the exam centre (the college) which needs to withdrawn you. I guess it does no harm to call them though, as see if there's some way for you to withdraw directly with them. Actually, as you're a private candidate, this might be possible. (If you do manage to withdraw directly, do report back so others can benefit from that knowledge in future.)

Reply 4

Original post by DataVenia
There's not forcing you to sit (i.e. attend) any exams. They're just saying "withdrawing you means we have to click a few buttons, and we really can't be bothered". I'd say your best bet is to send them the OCR link above and quote the text which points out the it's not too late for them to process a withdrawal.
I don't think contacting the exam board will help, as it's the exam centre (the college) which needs to withdrawn you. I guess it does no harm to call them though, as see if there's some way for you to withdraw directly with them. Actually, as you're a private candidate, this might be possible. (If you do manage to withdraw directly, do report back so others can benefit from that knowledge in future.)

So I emailed OCR and they told me that they can't withdraw me, the centre must do it themselves and it is not too late to be withdrawn so just ask them to do it. I forwarded my centre that email asking them again to please withdraw me so let's see what happens.
But if they still don't agree, what can I do?
Original post by flyingbunny.80
So I emailed OCR and they told me that they can't withdraw me, the centre must do it themselves and it is not too late to be withdrawn so just ask them to do it. I forwarded my centre that email asking them again to please withdraw me so let's see what happens.
But if they still don't agree, what can I do?

Well done OCR for replying so quickly!

If the college doesn't agree to do what the exam board have confirmed they can do, then you're only option is to skip each exam and get an X.

Reply 6

Original post by DataVenia
Well done OCR for replying so quickly!
If the college doesn't agree to do what the exam board have confirmed they can do, then you're only option is to skip each exam and get an X.

So I emailed the college and they didn't reply till now. Now they're saying that the only way I can withdraw is if I pay £176, £126 is charged by the exam board and £50 is charged by the college. I thought that can't be right so I emailed OCR. OCR said they have no charge for withdrawals and the college can ask for the £126 refund as that is what we charged them initially. I don't understand what to do now.
Original post by flyingbunny.80
So I emailed the college and they didn't reply till now. Now they're saying that the only way I can withdraw is if I pay £176, £126 is charged by the exam board and £50 is charged by the college. I thought that can't be right so I emailed OCR. OCR said they have no charge for withdrawals and the college can ask for the £126 refund as that is what we charged them initially. I don't understand what to do now.

Well, if your college want to charge you £5 to withdraw or £500 to withdraw, there's nothing you can do about that. Unless you can find some price list or similar where they quote a specific price for withdrawal. It's reasonable that there is some fee (as there is some admin in their part), but £50 seems a tad steep.

But what you can stop them doing is charging £126 which they've incorrectly claimed OCR will charge - just forward the email from OCR to your college.

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