Results day can be a stressful time for the whole family. If the grades you see on the slip aren’t what you hoped for, it’s natural to feel disappointed and wonder what to do next.
Before making any quick decisions, it’s important to understand the two key things that can help you decide if you should ask for a review: grade boundaries and the remarking process. This guide is for students and parents to work through together.
Step 1: Check the Grade Boundaries
This is the most important first step. Before you even think about a remark, you need to know how close you were to the next grade up.
- What are grade boundaries? A grade boundary is the minimum mark you need to get a certain grade. For example, if the boundary for a Grade 7 is 165 marks, a score of 164 gets a Grade 6, while 165 gets a Grade 7.
- Why do they change every year? To keep things fair. Exam boards adjust the boundaries after the papers are marked to account for how difficult that year’s exam was. A tough paper might have lower boundaries, while an easier one might have higher ones.
- How do we check them? The best way is to speak to your subject teacher at school on results day. They will have access to the grade boundaries and can tell you exactly how many marks you were from the next grade up (or down).
Knowing you were only one or two marks away makes a remark a realistic option. If you were 10 or 15 marks away, a grade change is far more unlikely.
Step 2: How the Remark Process Works
If you’ve checked the boundaries and think there might have been a mistake, you have a couple of options. It’s important to know that these services must be requested through your school – you can’t contact the exam board directly.
Clerical Re-check
This is a simple check to make sure all the marks were added up correctly on your paper. It’s quick and doesn’t cost much, but it rarely leads to a grade change.
Review of Marking (A ‘Remark’)
This is the most common option. A different, senior examiner will look at how your paper was originally marked to check if the rules were applied correctly and fairly. They don’t mark it from scratch but review the work of the first examiner.
Key Things You MUST Know Before Requesting a Remark
- Your grade can go DOWN as well as up. This is the biggest risk. If the new examiner thinks the original marking was too generous, your mark and grade could be lowered. You and your family must be prepared for this possibility.
- There is a fee. A remark usually costs between £30 and £50 per exam paper. The school will usually refund this fee if your overall grade changes (up or down).
- There are strict deadlines. You normally only have about two weeks from results day to ask for a review. Your school will have the exact dates, so you need to act fast.
- It can affect college/sixth form places. If your place depends on this grade, you must let the college know you’ve requested a remark so they can hold your spot.
So, Should You Ask for a Remark?
This decision is a gamble, and it’s best made together. Use this checklist to have a calm conversation and make an informed choice.
- Have we spoken to the teacher? This is essential. Your teacher knows your ability, can see how close you were on the boundaries, and can give an honest, expert opinion on whether a remark is a good idea.
- How close was the grade? If you were just one or two marks away, it’s worth considering. Any more than that and the chances of a grade change drop significantly.
- Was the result a genuine shock? Was this grade completely different from your mock results and what your teachers predicted? A big, unexpected drop might suggest something is wrong.
- Is it an essay-based subject? Subjects like English, History, or Sociology have more room for a marker’s interpretation than subjects with clear right/wrong answers like Maths or Chemistry. Grade changes are slightly more common in these subjective subjects.
Whatever you decide, the key is to make the decision based on facts, not just disappointment. By working together and taking advice from your teachers, you can make the right choice for your next steps.
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