By Gavin Mackintosh-
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examination board (OCR) is under scrutiny after misplacing the exam paper of a maths genius and failing to adequately compensate the student by ensuring he suffered no disadvantage as a result of their negligence.
Jack Graham, 18 sat his maths A-Level in May but was downgraded from an A* to an A after the OCR mislaid one of his papers. This meant that the offer was void.
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The OCR’s final grade for Jack was based exclusively on his work. By failing to achieve an A* grade, he failed to meet his offer criteria for Oxford and was rejected.
“I have to admit I’m angry and frustrated at the whole situation. When I first heard that the exam board had lost one of my papers I wasn’t concerned because I thought my previous results were good enough to be awarded an A* and I know things like these happen all the time.
“It’s come to the point where now that the appeal has been rejected, I have to accept it, but the question will always be there in the back of my mind. What would my life have become if they were able to mark that paper and I was accepted into Oxford?
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“An A is certainly not a bad grade and I am grateful for it but all I feel now is devastation that my dream to attend one of the best maths colleges in the country has been shattered.”
Jack will instead study at Warwick University for the next four years to study Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE).
He said that although this was not his first choice, he is looking forward to starting at Warwick – which is the third best mathematics university in the UK behind Cambridge and Oxford.
Jack Graham’s journey through the world of mathematics is nothing short of remarkable.
At the age when most children are still mastering basic arithmetic, he passed his GCSE-level mathematics. Such feats are often the result of a unique combination of innate talent, dedicated support systems, and a passion for learning.
Achieving a GCSE qualification at such an early age is no small feat and speaks volumes about Graham’s exceptional abilities.
For Graham, the pinnacle of his academic aspirations was securing a place at Oxford University, specifically Lincoln College, to study mathematics.
Oxford, University, renowned for nurturing some of the world’s brightest minds and mathematicians, held a special allure for him. It represented the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
However, the dream was suddenly shattered when the OCR exams board reportedly lost one of Graham’s A-Level maths papers.
This unfortunate incident led to the downgrading of his result from an A* to an A, rendering his conditional offer from Oxford University void.
Like many students in similar situations, he initially believed that his prior academic achievements would compensate for the mishap. Sadly, this was not the case, and he found himself grappling with the harsh reality of a shattered dream.
While an A in mathematics is undoubtedly a commendable achievement, it fell short of Graham’s aspirations.
The disappointment of missing out on a spot at Oxford University, especially after years of unwavering commitment, cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment in his life.
The OCR’s Defense and University Admissions
According to OCR, the result they issued is considered fair and grounded in a comprehensive review of the available evidence. This includes an assessment of Graham’s performance in other exams and comparisons with his peers.
However, the response fails to explain how the blunder occurred, and why arrangements were not made to accommodate the talented pupil.
The Unanswered Questions and Future Prospects
The heart of the matter lies in the unanswered questions of would have happened if Graham’s paper had not gone missing .It appears he would have fulfilled his dream of joining the ranks of Oxford’s mathematical elite.
Oxford University and the OCR have been asked by The Eye Of Media to explain the missing paper and state how many other students have similar complaints.
Ofqual, the regulator of the exam board confirmed to this publication that it will be investigating the matter.
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