Post-results checks and appeals for school assessed grades - a guide for students and parents

Oct 23, 2026

Post-results checks and appeals guidance explains how students and parents can challenge grades awarded using school-assessed grades. It outlines outcomes of requests, including situations where grades may stay the same, be amended upward, be amended downward, or be withdrawn in exceptional circumstances. The guide describes required steps: Centre Review, then Post-results check Service 2 (options A and B) and Special Enquiry, followed by Stage 1 and Stage 2 appeals and key timelines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Step one: The Centre Review

Step two, option A: Post-results check Service 2

Step two, option B: Special Enquiry

Step three: Further appeals

Post-results checks and appeals for school assessed grades: a guide for students and parents We have a process for post-results checks and appeals so students can query any grade awarded using school-assessed grades. Before you apply for any post-results check services, you must understand that your grade can stay the same, go up, or go down. In exceptional circumstances, your grade may be withdrawn. There is an administrative fee for post-results checks and appeals. Your school can find the fees for these services on Direct. Step one: The Centre Review If you think one of your grades is wrong, you should start by asking your school to check whether they made a mistake when they submitted the grade to us, or when they were determining the grade. This mistake can include how your school applied special consideration in determining your grade, or how they accommodated any access arrangements that you would normally be eligible for. They will then conduct a Centre Review of their processes. If your school’s Centre Review concludes that a mistake has been made, they can tell us this using our Post-results check Service 1 process. We will amend the grade in line with what they tell us. If your school’s Centre Review concludes that there has not been a mistake in awarding your grade, and you are still concerned that the grade is incorrect, you can take one of the two options below: • Option A: If you believe your school’s judgement about the standard of your work is unreasonable, you can request a Post-results check Service 2 – option A below. • Option B: If you have concerns about the three pieces of evidence that were used to award your grade, or how special consideration or access arrangements have been managed, you can request a Special Enquiry, which is a form of appeal – option B below. Step two, option A: Post-results check Service 2 In awarding your grade, your school will have used three pieces of your work in that syllabus and made a judgement about the standard of that work. If you believe that your school’s judgement about the standard of your work is not correct, you can ask your school to submit a Post-results check Service 2. Your school must do this on your behalf, even if they believe their judgement is correct. For this, your school will send us your three pieces of evidence and the Rationale Document for the relevant syllabus for review. The Rationale Document explains how they used the evidence to determine your grade. One of our Assessment Specialists will review your portfolio of evidence and make a judgement about whether the grade awarded by your school was reasonable. If the Assessment Specialist concludes that the grade was not reasonable, we will issue a revised grade based on their judgement. If the Assessment Specialist concludes that the grade awarded by your school was reasonable, but you continue to have concerns about your grade, you can request a Stage 1 procedural appeal against the outcome of the post-results check. Step two, option B: Special Enquiry The Special Enquiry is a form of appeal. If this is requested, we will investigate the choice of the three pieces of evidence that your school has used to determine your grade and/or investigate how special consideration or access arrangements have been managed. The appeal will focus on whether your school has used an approach which is in line with our guidance for school-assessed grades, and applied their approach properly and consistently to your grade. The appeal process is not a way to change your school-assessed grade by substituting different evidence, unless the investigation determines that your school has made an error either in how they have determined their approach, or how they have applied it. We cannot accept a Special Enquiry from students or parents. However, your school must be prepared to submit a request on behalf of a student or parent even if the school does not have concerns about the gr

FAQs

What can happen to a grade after a post-results check or appeal request?

A grade can stay the same, go up, or go down. In exceptional circumstances, the grade may be withdrawn.

What is the Centre Review step and who performs it?

Students should first ask their school to check for mistakes when submitting or determining the grade. The school then conducts a Centre Review of its processes.

What is the difference between Post-results check Service 2 option A and Special Enquiry option B?

Service 2 option A focuses on whether the school’s judgement about the standard of work was reasonable, reviewed through evidence and a rationale document. Special Enquiry option B investigates whether the choice of evidence and the handling of special consideration or access arrangements followed guidance and were applied consistently.

Oct 23, 2026

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