1St Gcse Exam Today - Computer Error!

[Smowball]

My son had his 1st GCSE exam this morning- business studies, and this was the computer based exam. He has just got home and is in a right state .The exam was three questions - each worth 20 points. When he went to do the 1st question his screen kept saying 'computer error every time he tried to type an answer. He closed it down, refreshed etc but nothing. So he put his hand up for an invigilator and asked if he could have pen and paper to write it down and she said no he wasn't to do that and to just leave it out. After the exam he went and found his Business Studies teacher who told him that he was given incorrect information and he should have been allowed to write it down. He is now really upset as it was a third of the exam. What can he do now??

[Tilly2]

He should let his Business Studies teacher sort it out.

[MargoTester]

Not that is of much help now - but there is always a senior invigilator in the room and this should have been referred up to them. I would have advised your son to carry on with the rest of the questions and asked for advice. Perhaps you should ring the school head and ask for their help.

[MargoTester]

Please don't take Peeler's advice! If you can't reach the head ask his/her secretary to pass the message on urgently.

[Smowball]

Most helpful indeed. :/ Tilly I've just spoken to the school -they are going to let him re do it tomorrow x

[Old_Geezer]

Redoing a paper that the examinee has already seen is very generous.

I'd have thought they'd have taken the exceptional circumstances into account and estimate a score based on what he was able to do. But maybe that's too much like common sense.

[MargoTester]

Good result Smowball.

[Smowball]

Yes Margo I did ring school - thank god they were helpful !

[Gavmacp]

Why did they not have a contingency for this happening?

[Smowball]

No idea why - I said exactly this to the school when I rang. Computers are always going to be liable to this sort of thing. He is to go in first thing in the morning and re do the 1st question - not sure if it will throw up a brand new one or not - I don't know how these computer based exams work

[Jackdaw33]

I agree with OG. I would have calculated his marks as a % of 40 instead of 60.

[Tilly2]

Of course the school were helpful. They need the results.

His Business Studies teacher would have been furious that he was wrongly advised.

I'm glad it's sorted for him. How stressful, at the start of the exam season.

[DTCwordfan]

Not the best way to start your exams...however, he must be relieved. I would have thought that he would have just had to do the first section and not touch what he had inputted for the other two. That would be the fairest way and least stress-inducing.

[MargoTester]

DTC - he just has to do the first question (16.37 post)

[Smowball]

OG's answer does make more sense but either way at least he can complete the 1st question now. Think the school need to have clarification with the invigilators though.

[DTCwordfan]

thanks Margo, missed that in my skim read!

[Tilly2]

Invigilators are well paid for invigilating.

That one needs a bit more training, I think.

[MargoTester]

They most certainly need to talk to the invigilator that gave your son the wrong advice and bring them up to scratch.