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Tuesday, 17 September, 2002, 09:00 GMT 10:00 UK

Student twice given wrong exam grade

An exam board has apologised to a student in Leeds for twice giving her the wrong result.

The board concerned is OCR which is at the centre of controversy after it allegedly down-graded A-level results.

Jenny Brown from the independent Leeds Girls High School was given a U - "unclassified", in effect a fail - for the final module of her AS-level economics exam.

But in fact she had achieved almost the highest possible marks.

Exam script

Based on her previous modules, Jenny was expected to get an A grade.

So when the exam results came out in August, the school asked OCR to check the result .

But the board confirmed its orginal decision.

OCR was then asked for a copy of the exam script.

Upset and shocked

When it arrived Jenny saw she had scored 41 out of 45 marks, giving her an A grade.

Jenny, 17, was in bed with a high temperature at the family home in the village of Bardsey on Tuesday.

But her mother Debbie said: "When she came out of school with the results she was very upset and shocked."

"She couldn't see how she could have done so badly," she continued.

Saw the script

"Then when we compared the script with the letter from OCR saying she had a U we were just appalled."

A spokesman for OCR explained the 41 mark was transposed to 14 when it was put into a computer after marking.

"It is unacceptable that the clerical check requested by the school didn't pick this up," he said.

"We have apologised to Jenny."


Related to this story:
Exam fixing conspiracy denied (16 Sep 02 | Education) Pupils affected by exam paper blunder (12 Aug 02 | Wales) Pupils set wrong GCSE question (19 Jun 02 | Education)


Internet links: OCR | Leeds Girls High School
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