How to Appeal Your GCSE Results: Step-by-Step

Published

22 December 2024

Last updated

22 December 2024

Contents

Receiving your GCSE results can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you're feeling disappointed or believe there might have been a mistake in your exam marking, don't worry. This is not the end of the road. You have several options, and the staff at your school will guide and support you through this challenging time.

As teachers, we have helped many students to navigate the appeals process. Here’s what to do if you want to appeal your GCSE results.

How to Appeal Your GCSE Results:

1. Consult your school first

Your first step should always be to talk with your school staff. They are aware of your results and familiar with the appeals process. Speak to your school’s exams officer, who will be able to help you determine whether there are grounds for a review. They will guide you through each step of the process.

2. Request to See Your Exam Paper

Ask your school to retrieve your exam paper from the exam board. This will help you and your teachers to get the full picture on your performance, and you’ll be able to see if there might have been any errors in marking.

If you are a private candidate, you can contact the awarding organisation directly to ask for your marked paper or a review of the marking.

3. Reviews of marking and moderation

There are three types of review that your school can request from the awarding organisation:

Clerical recheck: This is an administrative check to ensure that your marks have been correctly calculated.
Marking review: This is an examination of the marking of your paper to check for any potential errors.
Moderation review: This is a check that the assessment criteria were applied correctly to any non-exam assessments that were marked by your teacher. This type of review would apply to all students who took the qualification at your school.

If the awarding organisation does not find any errors, your mark and grade will not change. However, if mistakes are found, your mark can change. Be aware that it could go up or down as a result. This is something you should give careful consideration to if your mark is on a grade boundary, so consult your subject teacher for further guidance.

4. Appeals to the exam board

If you or your school are not satisfied with the outcome of the review, you can challenge the decision via an appeal. This appeal will be considered by a panel at the exam board, and the outcome could see your mark changed. Remember that it could go up or down.

5. Exam procedures review service

If your school or college are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal, the final stage is to ask Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) to review the whole process. This process is called the exam procedures review service (EPRS).

This stage is not a review of your work; it checks whether all the procedures and rules were correctly followed in your case. If they weren’t, you could see your appeal reassessed and your grade could still change at this stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can GCSE Results Be Appealed?

Yes, GCSE results can absolutely be appealed!

You can appeal your GCSE results if:

Your school believes there was an error in marking.
There were administrative mistakes in processing your exam.
You have evidence of potential incorrect marking.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a GCSE Remarked?

Each exam board has its own pricing structure for GCSE remarking services, and these may vary according to subject. As a guide, AQA’s fee for a review of marking a GCSE paper in 2024 was £42 per paper or component. Reviews of moderation and further appeals also come at an additional premium.

Be aware that:

There will be no fees if your grade changes following a review.
Your school or college will be able to tell you the specific details about any fees that you may need to pay for this process.
The Ofqual exam procedures review service does not cost any additional fee.

Is It Worth Getting My GCSE Remarked?

There is no standard answer, as each individual’s situation is different. Obviously, there is much for you to consider. Carefully discuss potential outcomes with your teachers. They have experience in guiding students through these difficult decisions, and they will be able to advise on the best course of action for your individual situation.

Be aware that:

Appeals do not guarantee a grade increase
There's a possibility your grade could even be lowered
There will be a fee if your mark is not found to have changed

Is There a Deadline for Appealing GCSEs?

After the release of GCSE results, there is a window of about one month for students to request a marking review.

These key dates are published each year and are available on each exam board website. Your school’s exams officer will be able to advise you on the deadline that applies to you.

How Long Do GCSE Appeals Take?

The timescale for GCSE appeals varies. Typically, you can expect the process for a review of marking to take 15 to 20 days. Of course, further appeals will mean this process will take longer.

Alternative Options

If appealing doesn't seem like the right path for you, don’t worry. There are several alternative options available.

Consider:

Opportunities for resitting exams, especially for Maths and English Language.
Exploring alternative education or career paths open to you with the qualifications you’ve achieved.
Discussing all your options with your school's career advisor.

Further Information and Support

As a teacher, I’ve spent many hours helping students to consider their next steps after their GCSEs. Make sure you seek the support of school or college staff, who will have the same experience and knowledge to guide you through each step.

Your exams officer can direct you to information about your specific qualifications. Your subject teachers, form tutors, or learning mentors know your individual strengths and talents. They're ideally placed to help steer you towards the best options for you.

You can find further information in the Ofqual Student Guide to Exams and Assessments.

Ace Your GCSEs with Save My Exams

Of course, the best way to avoid the whole appeals process is to make sure you’re fully exam-ready, so you can ace your GCSEs first time round! Use our GCSE revision notes, exam questions, flashcards and past papers to ensure you’re confident of success in your GCSEs.

The earlier you start your revision, the greater your chance of success. Take a look at the full range of GCSE resources we have to ensure you reach your potential.

Explore our GCSE Resources