I have given up on mine.
I am a private candidate who after coming out of retirement studied Ancient History for A level.
After 16 months self study i put myself in for the exam and in 2022 received a grade A.
I was delighted and had a real affinity for what i had learned.
So i decided to do the same A level for 2023 with 2 different modules (repeating 2 other obligatory modules).
I worked harder than before and did everything in the same way, revision,exam,essay style ectera.
Thought i had improved by 7/8 marks and in general returned a more polished tighter script.
Lost 52 marks from 2022 and received a grade D, completely non plussed.
Have looked at the scripts and just cannot understand why i was marked so low this year and so high last year.
However i decided not to proceed, without a school or history teacher behind me its too difficult.
The school would facilitate the appeal but its not even a subject they offer, just used them as an exam centre.
I am not on the poverty line but what is to stop the exam board taking the money and coming back 2 weeks later to say `nothing to see here`?
Decided to put it down to experience, and of course if i need to do so i am perfectly entitled to use my A from 2022.
Have put it out of my mind and will do Classical Civilisation at AS next summer, onwards and upwards.