HOW GRADES AFFECT TEENS’ LIVES

Thomas Chandler, 18

Richmond, N Yorks

A pupil has told how he feels left dangling after failing to be awarded an A* in either English literature or German to study Classics at Cambridge.

Thomas Chandler was graded As for both, scoring an A* in art.

He said: “It’s frustrating. I was getting A* in course work and in class. Cambridge are waiting to decide.” He hopes to have his English literature upgraded. He said: “Everyone else can celebrate and I am left up in the air.”

Joseph Rice, 18 Darlington, Co Durham

JOSEPH has been rejected by Warwick University, where he had applied to study maths.

He scored A* in maths and physics and As in further maths and chemistry. He needed an A* in further maths for Warwick.

He said: “I’m a bit baffled as to why I have got an A and didn’t receive A*. Obviously I’m extremely disappointed.

“I cannot do the course I want, I feel like I have been let down.”

He plans to lodge an appeal.

Ranya Kumar, 18

Norwich

SHE plans to study medicine at Cambridge and got four A*s – on top of an A* in maths last year.

But despite being happy to get the grades, it was difficult to know they were awarded by algorithm.

She said: “I feel I can’t fully own my results, which is a hard feeling. But as long as you get to the next stage, that’s what matters.”

She said there “always will be” a stigma around results awarded this year “but when you get to university you will earn it again”.

Abbie Cooper, 17 Cwmbran, S Wales

THE AS-level student got two Ds and a U. She said: “My predicted (result) was a B-B-B.

“I thought I’d secured at least a C but this morning it said U-D-D.

“It feels like they just got a number or letter generator and gave you a grade based on that.

“It sucks because I need these to apply for university. How can I go anywhere with these? I’m quite distraught. I know people predicted A*s and they’ve been getting Bs. It’s awful.”