General Questions

Do examiners have training to mark papers?

Yes, most examiners are trained teachers who often hold senior positions in schools. They are experienced in marking papers and scripts and are familiar with marking schemes and following them to the standards required by the examination boards. Each examiner attends a meeting with the examination board to assess their ability to mark examination papers correctly and accurately. They are tested and supervised throughout the marking process by senior examiners. If they don’t pass the screening process their papers will be re-marked by a senior examiner to make sure all candidates are assessed to the same consistently high standards.

What does ‘cashing in’ mean?

There are four parts to the A level exam. Two modules for the AS and two for A2. Any of these can be taken more than once. So once someone has taken the two parts of the AS they are able to ‘cash in’ to receive an AS certificate. This means that the school or college needs to let the exam board know the student wants their marks added to the final grade and a certificate issued. When the same student goes on to complete the two additional A2 modules and cashes in for A level, a further certificate is issued for A level.

I want to resit my exams. I’ve already cashed in but can I decline as I don’t want these grades on my UCAS form?

The last chance to decline was in 2007 and the rule has now been removed. From now on, each time you resit a module and cash in, a new certificate will be awarded and recorded on your UCAS record. If you declined your grades before 20 September 2007— or have not cashed in after a resit from September 2007 onwards — then the grades in these subjects will not be on your UCAS record.

Access arrangements

I am dyslexic and I’m worried that this will affect my performance in the examinations. Are there any special considerations I can apply for?

Yes there are, but it would be surprising if your school hasn’t already done this and informed the exam boards involved. Check with your school and ask what provision has been made for you. Special consideration is usually given in the form of extra time allowed on the papers where your condition would put you at a disadvantage. There are many conditions that qualify for special allowances. In all cases, arrangements must be made through the school and appropriate documentation authenticating the condition submitted to the examining boards. The intention is, as far as possible that all students should have an equal opportunity when sitting exams and not be placed at a disadvantage over others because of the means used to examine them.

Concern about exams and results

I always get nervous at the start of the examination when people start writing straight away and I’m still reading the questions. What’s the best approach to take in these circumstances?

Research has shown that there are ‘rushers’ and ‘planners.’ The ‘rushers’ don’t read the paper properly and just start doing questions — often at random — and can do the wrong ones. If they had taken their time to read the paper, then they may have chosen different questions. Be a planner and get better marks. There is time allowed to read the paper; take that time and map out the questions that you intend to do. Jot notes down on the paper as you read the questions to remind you later on. Start with questions you feel comfortable with to build up your confidence before tackling ones which don’t seem quite so straightforward.

My daughter found her first A level exam difficult and thinks she has done badly. She is worried and can’t get on with preparation for the next exam. What can she do?

This worry can affect the best of us. There can be cases when the exam is really hard and chances are that everyone else taking the paper also found it difficult. In this case the examiners take this into account when deciding the grade boundaries and it is still possible to get a good mark. The best advice would be to concentrate on the exams she still has to take, where she can make a difference and influence the results.

I ran out of time and didn’t finish the paper. Does this matter if I have done well on the questions I have tackled?

It does, depending on how many questions you did and how well. Always try to do all the questions required. If you get full marks for half the questions the maximum you can get is 50%. If you do all questions then the maximum mark you could achieve becomes 100%. Use the marks beside the questions as a guide to how long to spend on each one and move to the next one when that time has passed. If it’s an essay, write down the important points and outline your argument — without writing it in the form of an essay. In science, write down the formulae required with an explanation as to how you would use them — without doing the calculations. Tell the examiner what you have done.

My exam results were a complete disaster. I didn't work hard enough and by the time I realised this, it was too late. What can I do now?

Get on the phone to secure a place at a university or college. Or if your results really were that bad you may need to rethink your ideas. But whatever you do, don't grab at just anything. If you do, you may find yourself dropping out later and landing back at square one, or worse. Many students will be in your position, as have many before you. Churchill and Einstein didn't do too well at school. And Charlotte Bronte's school report said that she 'writes indifferently' and 'knows nothing of grammar.' It's what you do now that matters. Remember, the harder you work, the luckier you become. And there is only one place where success comes before work — the dictionary.

Exploring options

I want to do a GCSE double award in engineering, but I’m worried that this won’t be viewed as being as valued as a GCSE in business studies. Can you advise?

It depends on what you want to do. A qualification will be judged by the employer, university or college as to how relevant it is to their industry or their courses. Look at your options. If it is engineering you want then you should find out how acceptable this GCSE would be to an employer or a further course of study. To help, look at the connexions website for information about careers, courses and qualifications. You can ask your teachers for advice too.

Can you tell me more about Advanced Extension Awards and what subjects they are offered in?

Advanced Extension Awards (AEAs) were introduced in 2002 to challenge the most able A level students. They are based on existing A level specifications and are marked totally externally. The subjects covered are: biology, business, chemistry, critical thinking, economics, English, French, geography, German, history, Irish, Latin, mathematics, psychology, physics, religious studies, Spanish, Welsh and Welsh as a second language.

I was predicted a B for history and Cs for ICT and English, but was shocked to learn that I didn’t even get an E for any of them. What is the minimum grade needed for retakes?

There is no minimum grade for re-takes as far as the exam boards are concerned. It will be a matter for your school or college to decide whether they will allow you to do this through them. If they don't, then you really need to look for an alternative school or college that will accept you. As you are past the compulsory schooling age, no one is obliged to offer you a place on a course — just as in university admissions, where it is the university that decides which qualifications are suitable for entry to their courses.

I completed my A levels a few years ago and achieved C,D,D and E grades. I now need to improve these grades to As. I am unsure where I stand as regard to re-sitting my exams. Please can you help?

Congratulations on taking this step. Since taking your exams a lot has happened so don’t delay in enquiring about your chances of studying in the autumn. Your first step should be to contact your local further education college or adult learning centre to see what the possibilities are.

Employers and exams

Do employers think A levels are valuable?

Absolutely. A levels are qualifications which are known and respected. They are a crucial indicator of potential and are highly regarded by employers — often becoming a determining factor when choosing graduates for jobs.

I hope you can help. I am an employer and have received a CV from someone with an A level from 2001 with a grade ‘N’. What does this mean?

This isn’t actually a grade, just an indication that this person just missed getting an A level grade in that subject. They have not passed, but nearly did. The ‘N’ grade was last used in 2001.