Despair and delight of UK’s Covid exam generation
Despair and delight of UK’s Covid exam generation: From the young carer robbed of a university place to twins who scored identical A*s and are now off to Oxford
By Josh White Education Reporter For The Daily Mail and Henry Martin For Mailonline
Published: 18:47 EDT, 13 August 2020 | Updated: 21:07 EDT, 13 August 2020
Pupils hit by the coronavirus A level chaos vowed to appeal yesterday after seeing predicted top grades downgraded, leaving them fearing they will miss out on university dreams.
A government algorithm recalculated marks suggested by teachers, with 40 per cent of results downgraded.
Teenagers who lost out told the Mail regrading was ‘unfair’ and was affecting their mental health.
An A-level pupil who still made time to care for his 102-year-old grandmother had his marks cut by as much as three grades, putting his university plans in doubt.
Another student lost out on a place at Cambridge after she was marked down from A*AA.
But there was still celebration for some, with one pair of identical twins both off to Oxford – albeit different colleges.
And one pupil, a refugee who left Iraq as a toddler, won a place at Cambridge to study medicine after achieving four A*s.
Here youngsters from across Britain describe the joys and despairs of a results day like no other…
Left to right: Victoria Sniadowska, Tamzin Iyayi and Aqsa Ali. Wiktoria Sniadowska said she would ‘definitely’ appeal after a computer algorithm cut her straight As to BBC
Teachers submitted ‘implausibly high’ predicted grades for A-level pupils, regulator claims
Teachers have submitted ‘implausibly high’ predicted grades amid widespread upset over A-level results, the exams regulator has claimed.
Nearly 40 per cent of results had been downgraded from teachers’ predictions, official data reveals, sparking complaints from pupils who say the system has let them down.
But the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) now claims that a minority of teachers put forward significantly inflated grades, the Telegraph reports.
A spokesman for the regulator said: ‘Because the circumstances meant there was no opportunity to develop a common approach to grading, the standard applied by different schools and colleges varies greatly.
‘A rare few centres put in implausibly high judgments, including one which submitted all A* and A grades for students in two subjects, where previously there had been normal distribution.’
After the 2020 exams were cancelled due to coronavirus, this year’s grades were been calculated by a statistical model that considers the pupils’ past performance along with the historic grades of their school, along with a rank order drawn up by teachers.
Sixth form where three top pupils got the chop
Several pupils at one sixth form college were downgraded after getting top predicted grades.
Wiktoria Sniadowska said she would ‘definitely’ appeal after a computer algorithm cut her straight As to BBC.
She is continuing her studies at Leyton Sixth Form College in London, where she will take an art foundation diploma.
But she said: ‘I know that if I’d done my exams, I’d have got better grades. It’s unfair.’
Tamzin Iyayi lost out on a place at Cambridge after being marked down from A*AA in history, law and politics. She said: ‘I just feel let down by the Government.’
Aqsa Ali had been offered places to study politics and international relations.
But she missed out after being downgraded to a B in politics and Cs in history and religious studies.
She said: ‘It’s had a big impact on my mental health and confidence.’
Young carer robbed of university place
A young carer has had his A levels lowered by as much as three grades, putting his university plans in doubt.
Maks Ovnik cares for his grandmother, 102, alongside his mother on the Isle of Wight.
He got ABB in his mocks and his school gave him AAB in maths, computing and physics.
But these were downgraded by Ofqual to ADE, meaning he loses his place to study physics at Southampton.
Maks, 18, who plans to appeal, thinks his results were downgraded due to his school’s performance last year. He said: ‘It’s not a nice feeling at all.’
Maks Ovnik cares for his grandmother, 102, alongside his mother on the Isle of Wight
Identical A*s for twins off to Oxford
Identical twin sisters are setting off to Oxford together – but will finally be separated as they go to different colleges.
Arianne and Enyala Banks have always taken similar paths and it was no surprise when both achieved four A*s.
But they are finally set to be parted as Arianne (pictured in blue and white top) will study law with French law at Mansfield College, while Enyala (in maroon top) will read materials science at Queen’s College.
Arianne studied French, history, politics and biology for A level at the private Cardiff Sixth Form College while Enyala took maths, physics, chemistry and history.
Enyala said of their A level experience: ‘For the first time Arianne and I have made separate friends, perhaps because we chose such different subjects.
‘As twins this is quite unusual as we are very alike in many ways but also have very different sides to our personalities.’
Arianne and Enyala Banks have always taken similar paths and it was no surprise when both achieved four A*s
From Iraqi patient to Cambridge medic
A refugee who left Iraq as a toddler to receive urgent medical treatment in the UK has earned a place at Cambridge to study medicine after getting four A*s.
Buraq Ahmed, 18, suffered an agonising hip condition. When he was three his parents sold their home to fund surgery in Britain.
Buraq, pictured as a child, came with grandma Saadiyah, 69 – and they couldn’t go home due to the Iraq War.
The teenager, who studied biology, chemistry, economics and maths at Cardiff Sixth Form College, said: ‘Having spent so much time in hospitals with some of my happiest times being looked after by amazing NHS nurses, I decided I wanted to help other people.’
Buraq Ahmed (pictured with his grandmother Saadiyah Khattab) suffered an agonising hip condition. When he was three his parents sold their home to fund surgery in Britain
Buraq, pictured as a child, came with grandma Saadiyah, 69 – and they couldn’t go home due to the Iraq War
