How to Appeal a GCSE, AS, or A Level Grade

Receiving results can be stressful, and sometimes you may feel that your grade does not reflect your performance. If you believe there has been a mistake, you have the right to challenge your result through the appeals process. This guide explains how to appeal against GCSEs, AS levels, A-levels, and other qualifications in England.

Appealing GCSEs, AS Levels, and A Levels

Step 1: Request a Review of Marking

If you think your exam has been marked incorrectly, you can ask your school or college to submit a request for a review to the exam board. The exam board will then re-check your script for marking or administrative errors.

• If you’re a private candidate, you can either contact the exam board directly or go through the school/college that entered you for the exam.
• You may be asked to pay a fee for the review if your grade does not change. Fees vary between exam boards, so confirm the cost with your school or college before proceeding.

Step 2: Receive the Review Outcome

The exam board will check for mistakes in the marking. If they find an error, your mark may change, which could lead to:

• A higher grade
• A lower grade
• Or no change at all

Step 3: Appeal the Review

If you still believe your grade is wrong after the initial review, you can ask your school or college to submit a formal appeal to the exam board. The exam board will then carry out a deeper investigation to decide whether your mark or grade should be corrected.

Step 4: Escalate to Ofqual

If you feel the exam board did not handle your appeal fairly or correctly, you can ask Ofqual (the qualifications regulator in England) to review the case. Ofqual does not remark work but checks whether the exam board followed proper procedures.

Appealing Other Qualifications (e.g., BTEC, NVQ)

If your concern relates to a qualification other than GCSEs, AS levels, or A levels:

1. Ask your school, college, or training provider to review the result.
2. If you’re unhappy with their response, you can appeal directly to the awarding organisation (the body that issued your qualification).
3. The awarding organisation will carry out a review and send you a final report.
4. If you believe the awarding organisation did not deal with your case properly, you can complain to Ofqual.

Deadlines and Timeframes

Deadlines for submitting reviews and appeals are set by each exam board and can vary depending on the qualification and the type of review you are requesting. It’s important to:

• Act quickly after receiving your results.
• Ask your school or college for the relevant exam board deadlines.
• Keep in mind that late requests are usually not accepted.

Key Things to Remember

• Appeals must go through your school, college, or training provider, unless you are a private candidate.
• Your grade can go up, down, or stay the same after a review.
• There may be a fee for reviews, which is often refunded if your grade changes.
• Ofqual can only review how the exam board handled the process, it cannot remark your work.
• Always check deadlines early to avoid missing your chance to appeal.

✅ Tip: Before starting the process, discuss your concerns with your teachers. They can help you understand whether an appeal is likely to succeed and guide you through the steps.