Given the wrong paper for my a levels? What can i do? (england)
For some context: At the beginning of Year 13, I became homeschooled, which meant I had to sit my A-levels as a private candidate. I paid over £700 to enter three A-levels through a college: Maths, Business, and Economics - all Edexcel.
With Economics specifically, I made it extremely clear multiple times through both phone calls and emails (i have proof of this) that I wanted Edexcel Economics A. I stressed this repeatedly because there are two versions of Edexcel Economics (A and B), and I was worried there could be confusion. I have clear proof from emails and other communication confirming this.
(Monday 11th May) was my first Economics exam.
When I arrived, I was seated in an exam room, but at around 9:20am they brought me an OCR English Language paper.
This was at 9:20 so already later than when the exam is supposed to begin. I tell them that they have the wrong paper. The teachers leave the room to find my paper again for another 8-9 mins.
They come back with OCR economics. I tell them again that Im sitting the edexcel paper. They go out again this time for a good 15 minutes. Its about 9:40 by now. The exam was supposed to start at 9 o clock.
This time 2 teachers come back in and tell me that this college doesnt offer Edexcel economics. At this point im literally speechless. Not once did they tell me that in the multiple emails I sent before paying and even after paying.
Not once did they say it on the phone when I was checking that I had the correct exam. I genuinely didnt even know what to say. I was already super nervous because it was my first A level exam that I had spent 2 years preparing for. If they had told me from the beginning that they did not offer that exam board, I would never have booked with that college in the first place.
At this point, I was extremely nervous and overwhelmed. This was my first A-level exam, and I was already under pressure. The teachers told me they would apply for "extenuating circumstances" and inform the exam board that I was supposed to be an Edexcel student sitting an OCR paper instead.
They then asked whether I still wanted to sit the exam.
Realistically, I felt I had no choice. If I refused to sit it, I believed I would automatically receive a U grade. So I went ahead and sat the OCR paper despite having spent the last two years preparing specifically for Edexcel Economics A. I also had never even heard of a situation like this ever happening so I couldve never known what to say. I was super nervous
I paid a large amount of money to sit these exams privately, was very clear about the exam board I needed, and despite that, I was entered for a subject specification the college apparently does not even provide. I genuinely don't even know what to do. Im still tense. I dont know who to talk to. Anyone have any advice on this matter. I guess my best option is to resit economics with the right exam board next year but doesnt resitting put me at a disadvantage for a lot of top unis? Tbh I dont even want to resit because its not even my fault. Its not fair that I have to resit because of a mistake my college made.
I then sent a long and strongly worded email to the college. I told them how much it affects my future. I asked them for:
Written confirmation of the specification and exam code i was entered for
Copies of the examination entry records submitted by my behalf
written confirmation of what has been reported to the exam board
details of any special considerations/extenuating circumstances applications being submitted
A full explanation of how this error occurred
information regarding the remedies the college intends to offer.
I sent that email to over 10 staff members at the college. I got 2 replies. One of them was from the quality offer and she said that they apologise and will try and get a refund for that specific exam. She said that they would get answers to the points and will send a full response when she has that info. I haven't got an email from the quality officer again. The other response came two days later when i asked the college if my next economics will be ocr or edexcel. They said in an email that my next exam will be OCR and that they do not offer edexcel for that subject at the college. They admitted it was an error on their part and will put a report to the exam board to take that it into consideration. And a letter to support my uni application.
I feel like the college is barely taking this seriously. I still havent got a further response and i sent that email on the 11th. I know i did badly in paper 1 for economics since it was OCR. I dont know if i should refuse paper 2 economics on monday since it is going to be OCR. I feel like its going to bite into my revision for other subjects. I have business p2 the next day and my business p1 went really well. Anyone have any idea what i should do?
They've agreed to refund me my original money for economics but i want money for my resit which i am now basically forced to retake and i potentially also want money for tuition fees because I was forced to resit in a gap year. What can i realistically ask for from a legal perspective? and how far can i take this?