My son had appeared in CIE AS Level exams in May/Jun 2015 as a private candidate. He had opted for Physics, Maths and Urdu as his subjects. After the written exams, he appeared in the Physics practical on May 19, 2015 at The City School Ravi Campus Lahore.

The reporting time for the practical was two hours before the actual time of the practical examination. My son reached the venue almost 1 hour and 30 minutes before the actual time of the exam. However, he was asked to fill in a late arrival slip and allowed to take the practical on his turn. He did very well in the practical.

The results announced on Aug 11, 2015 was shocking for me. My son had qualified for the other two subjects but was awarded a “U” (Ungraded) in Physics.

So we decided to go for the remarking of the Physics practical after paying Rs9,500. I have now received the British Council reply saying that my son was awarded a zero in the practical owing to late arrival.

I want to ask the British Council why the student was allowed to take the practical examination if ultimately he had to be awarded a zero owing to late arrival. Moreover, is the British Council merely a commercial entity, focused on making money?

Maj(r) Imran Aslam

Sargodha

Published in Dawn, October 7th , 2015

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