How to appeal your A level results
How to appeal your A level results
Getting a grade different to what you had come to expect from both your mocks and what your school was telling you are on course for is both disappointing and confusing. We have not had the guidance for appeal around this summer of the Pandemic. So we can use last year’s guide for guidance. Here at the Exam House, we predict there will be a great deal of appeals as schools will inevitably misjudge their candidates and perhaps input wrong.
(Update - We have created a page for the 2020 advice and guidance on exam appeals here)
Is it worth getting a re mark?
Lets look at the Stats:
In 2018, around 20% of A level grades that had been challenged, were changed. Either up or down.
The success of getting a remark all depends on your own circumstances. So its hard to compare.
Here is a short guide as to how to appeal your A level exam results:
First talk to your exam centre about reviewing the exam in question and getting it remarked. The exam centre will liase with the exam board.
There are two common types of errors on marks. Exam boards are human and on occasion do make mistakes. they are typically: Adding up the marks incorrectly. review of marking - Where the exam paper needs to be examined to check it was initially marked in line with the mark scheme. Be aware, the whole paper series will not be re marked. Rather just the place where it is suspected to be out of line.
You must go through the school or exam centre. Exam boards do not talk directly to candidates.
Talk to your subject teacher. They will have a handle on what you were predicted in the exams and will be able advise you on the next steps. They might also be able to give you career advice now results are out.
Talk to any one who was in the same exam. Find out what they got and see if it was in line with their expected grade or marks for each paper.
Talk to your university and explain to them you are getting your results remarked. Communication is key.
Speed things up if university place depends on the result.
It takes up to 15 days to complete the review from the date you submit it so you need to move straight away. From the day of getting the results. If you leave it later, there is a chance you miss the cut off for universities to consider your new grade.
If your A-level results are not university dependant, you have until mid September to request a re-mark which then take take 3 weeks to complete. Is there another way to appeal your exam results?
The next stage, if you are unhappy with the inital appeal is to head to to Ofqual. Ofqual regulate the exams.
You will have to do this through the school or exam centre that you sat the exam in. You have up to 21 days of getting your initial reviewed result to appeal directly to Ofqual through your exam centre.
Ofqual usually will get back to you in 10 working days. Even if they decide the appeal to them does not warrant further investigation by them.
If Ofqual do decide it is worth to hear your case, your school or exam centre will argue your case to Ofqual.
We have made a slide share of this page. You can find it here.