Recheck or Retake?

Over the past few weeks, A Level results of both Cambridge and Edexcel candidates who gave their examinations over the summer were released online amid numerous news reports and stories on how thousands of students are expected to receive wrong grades. 

There was a sharp drop in top grades and understandably, these poorer than expected results are difficult to accept. Many students who had obtained high grades in IGCSE exams ended up with disappointing grades in their A Levels, sometimes, even in the very same subjects. However, there are options provided to either give your paper for a recheck before September 14, 2015, or repeat the exam in the next session – in January next year.

According to reports published by The Telegraph (UK), the cause of claimed "incorrect" results are caused by a shortage of qualified markers, the struggle to get results delivered in time, papers that get lost and use of "guesstimation" when checking such scripts. If true then in many cases the students' papers are not marked on merit but rather on the examiner's partial perception of the script. 

Statistics and news pieces have had a striking effect on the students. As expected, outrage is being expressed over social networking sites where groups of students are organising protests along with signing online petitions. 

Sumaita Raidah Ahmed, an A Level candidate from Scholastica, flustered by the chain of recent events, has sent letters to Ofqual and media outlets like BBC. In her "cry for help", she outlines the need for compensation for those who received "incorrect" grades. Below is an excerpt from her letter:

"If I am right, then the reason behind the incorrect grading was due to a system failure. While many can't speak up for justice, others can't afford to send their scripts for rechecking. We are from a third world country, struggling to survive as we fall on the low income category, so many students can barely afford to sit for the examination let alone send the paper back for recheck. And so they have no option but to accept an unfair grade." 

Furthermore, these candidates feel victimised. Mohammd Mahmudul Hassan, currently a 12th grader at Mastermind School, says, "The moment I got to know from the websites that thousands received incorrect grades I was convinced that I am among the victims."

It is noteworthy that this year's case, though the effects do seem more drastic, is not an isolated occurrence. Just last year record levels of appeals were lodged against IGCSE and A Level results, and 45,500 grades were changed – forming an unsettling trend. Many students feel hard done-by and, rightly or wrongly, more students are considering getting their papers rechecked. 

Farah Neha, a graduate of Bangladesh International Tutorial – after her O Levels in 2013 – had sent her English paper for a recheck and later received enough marks to attain a higher grade. She says, "If you believe that you did not receive the grade you deserved then you should send it for recheck."      

Many students, however, are not confident about the rechecking procedure. Kazi Shehrin Ahsan, currently in 12th grade at Sunnydale School, says, "I want to give my copies for recheck but as you know there is no guarantee that CIE would change our marks and we would get our money back. Besides as we have heard that some copies were lost. If we opt for recheck, what are they going to check if they actually lost the copies?" 

Moreover, the concept of rechecking is not looked upon well by a majority of candidates as it requires a considerable amount of money. For instance, Edexcel offers three recheck services, the most basic of which, where the marks are simply recalculated, costs 2,800 BDT per paper. Furthermore, remarking the paper and remarking plus access to script costs 6,100 BDT and 8,900 BDT per unit for A Levels respectively. In contrast, taking each unit had cost 5,600 BDT, which means it actually costs less to re-sit an exam altogether. Even in case the marks are changed, there are rarely ever any full refunds.

"I honestly want to retake my exams because rechecking is too risky. I missed my desired grades by a wide margin; I don't think rechecking would make a big difference. Plus it's more expensive compared to retaking our exams," says Mayeesha Fairooz, an A Level candidate from Academia.

On the other hand, Robin Rahman, currently a 12th grader at Academia, points out the problems a candidate would face if he/she were to retake the unit(s): "If I go for a retake and the same thing happens, I would be more shook up and have wasted time which I could put into preparing for my A2." He further explains that retaking would be equally expensive as he would also have to pay again for mocks and other material before the exam.

President of the Student Council at Summerfield International School, Nabirun Muntakim Chowdhury, had hundreds of students looking up to him for inspiration but after the results he believes he has failed them. He expresses his distress, saying, "Part of me has given up already. I studied hard. Gave the best I could. Nailed my exams too. But things didn't work out it seems. Part of me wonders what if the same thing happens if I retake? I am going to send them for a recheck, only to try out my luck." 

There are also many people who had their repeat exams this session such as Ifrit Tanzeem Kristy, a student from International Turkish Hope School. Despite studying hard for the repeats, she ended up doing worse than she initially did. 

Nafisa Tasmim, a private candidate, shares a similar story, "I repeated my AS but it was a complete waste of time. My teachers were expecting that the least I can get is an A but it was a disaster and my hopes were shattered again. It takes great motivation to pick up the pieces and start working hard again. The sad part is that our parents think we are not working hard or there is a lack in our studying. Trust me, this time I left no stone unturned while preparing for my examination but still – same result."

Amir Bin Younus, who has given his AS exams this summer, says, "In many cases, you might do really well in Unit 1, but badly in Units 2 and 3, for example. Maybe that is down to the examiners making a mistake. If you feel that is the case, go for a recheck. However, if you know you had a bad exam, it's better to retake just those two units. Or better yet, if you just gave your AS exams, and you missed out on what you wanted by just a few marks, concentrate and work harder on your A2 exams. You could easily make up for it there."

Sadly, for many candidates, despite the options available, these results have derailed them from their plans to study in reputed institutions that have higher minimum grade requirements, such as IBA, BUET and universities abroad. Asad Alam*, who gave his AS from Scholastica, has to leave school to privately repeat his exams. He says, "I had plans to go to Australia for my undergraduate studies but now they have to be delayed by a year. It's all very traumatising. Not just that, my mom didn't talk to me for four days. She was so shocked. I still cry myself to sleep thinking what my life would be like right now if I got the grades I deserved."

Results day is often referred to as the "moment of truth". This year, for many, it was a joyous day but for others, there was anger and bewilderment. Through despair and stress, the reports and rumours, disappointment and heartbreak, life has to go on. While many may have been unfairly graded, the universities they dream of going to may not be considerate. Students may suffer from losing an academic session, money, or maybe both, but they still cling on to hope – hope to have their papers rechecked and graded justly, or give their exams again next session without a cloud of doubt.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy
    
Ref: 
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/13/a-level-results-show-falling-proportion-top-grades
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/11791625/Schools-raise-fears-over-mistakes-in-A-level-marks.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/11777405/A-level-results-exam-boards-guesstimating-students-grades.html
http://www.britishcouncil.org.bd/en/exam/igcse-school/results/retakes-remarking