(David Davies/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Results day for GCSE students is today, which means students across the UK will soon be celebrating—or commiserating.
Post-lockdown, the academic recovery has not been easy for teachers and students.
However, the appeals process offers a fair opportunity to request a remark or change in grades.
So what is the appeals process for secondary school students? And, can you retake your GCSE exams if you need to?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Can you appeal GCSE and A-Level results?
Students have the chance to request a remark on their paper after their results are published.
The result, decided by the exam board, may be higher or lower than their original marks.
If the student is still unhappy with their grade they may appeal to the exam board through their school.
Exam boards must carry out reviews, if requested by a school or college, in line with The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) rules.
Most exam boards do not accept review requests directly from students, with the exception of private candidates.
After an appeal, a fee may be charged if your grade remains the same.
When can I make an appeal?
For A-Levels, speak to your teacher, exams officer, exam centre or the National Careers Service Exam Results Helpline (0800 100 900) until 20th August 2022, regarding options before making any decisions.
Talk to the university and ask if they are willing to hold the place for you (if possible, get it in writing). It is important to check with your school or college about the deadline for stage one of the appeals process.
The deadlines for a priority appeal (students who weren’t accepted by their firm choice university as a result of their grades) and for stage two of the appeals process – an appeal to the exam board – is determined by your exam board.
If students have only missed out on the grades by a narrow margin, they may find that the university still accepts you on your course – just make sure to call and check first.
For GCSE students, on Thursday 25 August exam boards set a deadline for the request of marked scripts.
Appeals can be made between those dates to the school if students feel there has been a marking or administrative error.
Speedy appeals can be submitted if other deadlines such as university admissions arise, but there is usually a minimum timeline for reviews.
They can also be made if they feel mitigating circumstances, like a death or illness, were not taken into account.
Grade boundaries, set by exam boards, are not subject to appeal.
How to appeal an exam board decision
The chance for a tertiary review, after appealing to the school/college and exam board, lies with the Exams Procedures Review Services (EPRS).
Schools and colleges can ask Ofqual to review the result through the EPRS.
Applications must be made within 15 working days of the exam board’s final appeal decision – only once it is complete.
Can I resit my GCSEs?
You can enrol to resit your GCSEs at a local school or college. Most schools and colleges will let you study your GCSEs alongside A Levels for other subjects.
Can I resit my A-Levels?
Yes, there is the option to resit your A-Levels. Your results are important for getting into universities and applying to jobs, but they might not be needed for every option, so, it’s worth considering whether you think it’s worth the time and money.
If you feel like you’ve not performed as well as you’d have liked, then, resitting is always an option to consider.
If you didn’t get into the university of your choice, clearing is always a sensible option to pursue first, but, if you’ve looked and can’t see anything suitable, then, resitting might be the best idea.
How do I resit my A-Levels?
Once you’ve decided that resitting is the option for you, you’ll need to decide how you want to go about it.
You can choose to do it at a school, college, sixth form, or online, reports the Mirror.
If you’re keen to retake the course in exactly the same way, then, there is the option to enrol at your school - and you can talk to your teacher about how to do this.
It’s also advised to try and resit through an online course, which is much more affordable than doing it with an independent college.
