Think i have the wrong result. How likely?

Evening everybody!
Will try and keep this short.
Last year took A level Ancient History, my first A level for 28 years!
Self studied and paid to take the exam as a private candidate.
Result 135/196 (Greece 66 Rome 69) Grade A.
So having greatly enjoyed it and confident that my method worked and was what was required, decided to do Ancient History again this year.
Choose 2 different modules. (There are 2 obligatory modules so 50% of the exam was a repeat of the previous year).
Also worth noting that my result basically reflected what i thought i had got, if anything it was 5/6 marks higher.
Study and revision carried out in the same fashion (if anything did more work) including re-reading and revising the repeat modules.
Exam answered in the same style and fashion as the previous year (difficult to change your style at 48!).
Thought i had improved by 6/7 marks as in 2022 did think 2 of my essays were slightly average.
Result: 83/196 (Greece 41 Rome 42) Grade D losing 52 marks!
Frankly baffled and bewildered, cannot believe this is correct.
Strangely enough 71 and 72 would take me to around what i thought i would get (and i predicted pretty well last year).
Could this be a transcribing error? Does this happen?
Frankly i just do not believe this can be correct!

Your passion for studying is impressive! This situation is odd, so it would be worth trying to request a remark if possible and appeal the grade you've received by contacting the centre at which you sat your exam.

Thankyou.
After some thought i have e mailed the school and i think i will appeal.
Just difficult to justify expense when practically its not something i need to do.
However i really think this needs sorting, its just so strange.
I am actually of the opinion that this is a transcribing error or some such problem.
Quite frankly either last years result was wrong or this years.
If i really only scored a D this year when 50% of the exam was on the same topics as last year than i do not see how i would have been
capable of an A last year.

Are you doing A-levels for fun?

Well i suppose in a way, yes.
However it goes deeper than that, gives me something to strive for and a sense of achievement, good for my mental health.
Have always loved History and like reading, also my wife works away so long train visits, holidays and evenings give me time to read which
is ideal for History.
Last year gaining an A gave me my third such grade at A level: Economics 1993, Italian 1996 quite a unique triumvirate i felt.
Also have a few others at lesser grades.