Teachers and pupils across Northern Ireland have been enjoying a well-earned rest after schools broke up for their summer holidays in June.
However for a number of year groups, it means an important event is still looming – results day.
For students who sat their GCSEs and A-Level exams, most exams ended a month ago.
Read more: NI education cuts will hit poorest young people hardest, report says
It was the second year of formal exams since the Covid pandemic but there were still some changes to the process.
But that doesn’t mean the hard part is over as for many young adults and their parents. Waiting for the results can be just as agonising.
Thousands of anxious and excited young people will gather at schools and colleges next month to collect their exam results.
So, when are those all-important result days? Here's everything you need to know.
How have the grades been determined?
Northern Ireland's exam board - the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) - has said that fairness to students remains central to awarding in Summer 2023.
This includes both taking account of the impact of Covid-19 and ensuring that students taking CCEA qualifications can progress to the next stage of their learning pathway.
After the return to public exams in 2021/22, this year CCEA is continuing the journey back to the awarding arrangements that were in place before the pandemic.
It expects to be back to pre-pandemic standards in awarding qualifications by Summer 2024.
When can students expect to find out their grades?
Northern Ireland students will be able to find out their AS and A-Level results on Thursday, August 17.
GCSE students will have a wait of another week to receive their official results on Thursday, August 24.
Grades are usually available from 8am.
Pupils will be able to pick up their results in person from their school once again this year, after the tradition was scrapped in 2020 due to the pandemic.
However, some schools may also choose to send results digitally or by post.
What happens next?
Students will be able to appeal their grades if they don’t agree with the verdict of their schools and teachers. If you are unhappy with your grade, you should first talk to your school or college.
Your school will contact the exam board on your behalf and ask for your marks to be reviewed. If you still think you have been unfairly graded after a review, you can ask your school or college to appeal.
Universities get an advance sight of whether applicants have achieved their required grades, and will be going through their admission decisions ahead of the official release of results.
What if you want to appeal your results?
The first thing you should do is to talk to your school or college as they will help you decide the best course of action and if you then decide to seek a review of your results, they will make an application to CCEA’s Post-Results Service on your behalf.
As is the case every year, there are agreed steps that CCEA's Post-Results Service takes in line with guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).
Post-Results Services options
Service 1:
Clerical re-check A clerical re-check is undertaken of a script and a statement of marks for the component/unit.
Service 2: Review of Marking by Component/Unit (i.e., by script/paper)
A review of marking of an externally assessed component (i.e., a script or other assessed item) is undertaken for an individual student including a clerical re-check and a breakdown of marks for that component/unit. A copy of the reviewed script will be available on request.
Access to Scripts
When requesting Access to Scripts, students should note that CCEA’s quality assurance checks on scripts before dispatch may result in a change of mark. Marks may go up as well as down and students should be aware of this before signing the request form.
The corresponding Mark Scheme will accompany all Access to Scripts request types.
Is there a fee for making an appeal?
Following a return to the normal process of examinations, the usual script review fees will be in place for Summer 2022 and following. More information on CCEA’s Post-Results Services, including fees, can be viewed here.
A fee will not be charged for these services in the following circumstances:
- If the script review results in a change to an overall subject grade (up or down) when a student has cashed in. No charge will apply to any units requested for the subject.
- If the script review results in a change to the notional unit grade (up or down). No charge will apply to the individual unit only.
If you are not happy with the outcome of a Post-Results Service, you can then apply for an appeal through your school or college. Your Head of Centre will be able to support and guide you through the process if the circumstances arise.
Can a grade go down at a review?
One thing students should bear in mind, that when using the post-results/appeals services, the outcome could lead to your grade going up, but it also means your grade could go down.
If a school or college intends to apply for a script review / appeal, they should request a photocopy of the script at the initial Post-Results-Review stage.
If an original hard copy script has been returned to the school or college under the Access to Scripts Service, it cannot then form part of a review of marking or a subsequent appeal.
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