Remarks are officially referred to as 'reviews of marking'. Not sure whether you should get one? Here's what you should know
If your exam grades don't seem quite right, you might decide to request a review of marking.
This will mean the exam board runs some checks against your exam papers. If discrepancies are found, it could mean your grades are changed.
Bear in mind, this isn't a zero-risk strategy. It's possible your grades could go down as a result of the review, not just up. And if the result of the review is that there's no change to your grade, you'll have to pay for the service.
Still, if that eyebrow-raising grade is blocking your path – perhaps to your firm university choice – you may decide a review of marking is something worth doing. Let's take a closer look.
What happens in a review of marking?
When you request a review of marking, the exam board will start with a clerical check to make sure nothing has been missed.
This check will cover the basics. Have all parts of the exam paper actually been marked? Have those marks been added up correctly? Have the grade boundaries been applied correctly? They'll also make sure any special consideration has been applied, if that's relevant.
Next, a senior examiner will review how the previous examiner marked the paper. What they are looking at here is how your paper was marked the first time, rather than remarking the whole thing without paying any attention to the original mark.
So the examiner's job will be to decide whether your original mark was fair and consistent. If they decide it is, then your original mark stays. If they decide it isn’t, they will award a new mark for the paper.
If that new mark moves your result into a different grade boundary, your exam grade will be changed.
How do I get a review of marking?
As the student, you won't be the one who will request the review of marking. The exam boards deal directly with the exam centres – and so it is your school or college that will need to submit your application.
So, you will need to talk to your school or college if you want to get a review of marking. If you have a university place that's hanging on the outcome, you’ll need to make sure they request a priority review. This just means the review of marking will be completed more quickly.
Should I get an exam paper reviewed?
Reviews can be expensive. So before you make the decision to request one, here are some questions you should ask yourself.
Do I really need a review?
Does a uni place depend on that higher grade? Will your result actually affect your chances of getting into the career you want? If so, it could be worth a try. If not, is a review really necessary?
How close was I to the grade boundary?
Grade boundaries are released on results day. The closer your mark is to the next grade up, the more chance a review has of improving your grade.
Which paper/s should I get reviewed?
Find out your marks for each paper from the exam office at your school or college. Select the papers where you are confident you did better than the mark suggests.
How much does it cost to get a GCSE or A-level review of marking?
A priority review for AS and A-level papers, which is the one you need if you’re hoping your grade will change so you can secure your place at university, costs around £55 – £75. The exact price depends on the exam board.
A normal review for AS, A-level and GCSE papers costs around £40 – £55.
It may seem a lot, but if your grade changes as a result of the review you will not be charged.
The fees for a review of marking will vary by qualification type, as well as whether you are requesting a priority review.
Here are some of the main fees for each exam board for exams taken in summer 2024, along with links to their websites where you can find further information.
AQA
- Review of marking (GCSE): £42.00
- Review of marking (AS / A-level): £48.65
- Priority review of marking (AS / A-level): £57.85
All fees for AQA reviews of marking and other post-results services
Edexcel
- Review of marking (GCSE / Btec): £46.70
- Review of marking (AS / A-level): £54.30
- Priority review of marking (GCSE): £53.70
- Priority review of marking (AS / A-level / Btec): £64.70
All fees for Pearson (Edexcel) reviews of marking and other post-results services
OCR
- Review of marking: £61.50
- Priority review of marking: £75.75
All fees for OCR reviews of marking and other post-results services
WJEC/CBAC & Eduqas
- Review of marking (GCSE): £40.00
- Review of marking (AS / A-level): £46.00
- Priority review of marking (AS / A-level): £55.00
All fees for WJEC/CBAC & Eduqas reviews of marking and other post-results services
What is the deadline for requesting a review of marking?
If you want to get a priority review of marking for an exam you took in summer 2024, your request needs to have been made by 22 August 2024. Normally, exam boards will only complete priority reviews for level 3 exams, such as A-levels, AS-levels and Btec Level 3 Nationals
A non-priority review for exams taken in summer 2024 (including GCSEs) must be requested by 26 September 2024.
How long will a review of marking take?
If you request a priority review, the exam board will take up to 15 days to get back to you. You should request a review as quickly as possible if you’re waiting on a university place.
Or you can request a normal review. These can take up to 20 days.
What else can I do?
You can also request a priority copy of your marked script, to see if you wish to go forward with the review. This can be a good thing to go through with your teacher, as they can advise whether they think it’s worth going through with the whole review.
Exam boards will provide these scripts for free. Again, it is your school or college that will need to make your request.
However, if you’re waiting on a university place, the exam boards recommend you go straight to a priority review, as getting a copy of your script can use up valuable time.
Is there anything else I need to know?
It is worth noting that a mark can go down as well as up, and it is not guaranteed that a mark will change at all.
If you're still unsure whether to get a review, you could head to our A-level or GCSE forums for more advice from The Student Room community.
You can also speak to a trained careers adviser on the government's National Careers Service helpline, on the free phone number 0800 100 900.
