Contents
- How long does the A Level appeal process take?
- How do A Level appeals work?
- How do you appeal A Level grades?
- Can I still appeal my A Level results?
Your A Levels are a big deal. You’ve worked hard, got through the exams and had a nerve-wracking wait for the results. But hang on! Something doesn’t look right.
If appealing A Level grades isn’t something you’ve considered before, you might ask yourself, ‘Why bother?’ The answer is up to you, but if you feel strongly that your results aren’t accurate we’d say, ‘Why not?’ What have you got to lose? In fact, you might have everything to gain by appealing a grade. It could mean the difference between going to your first choice of college or university, applying to Oxford or Cambridge or even or influence whether you take a gap year in between.
Read on to find out more about the A Levels appeal process, how to appeal A Level results and how successful those who appealed their A Levels have been in recent years! 💪
How long does the A Level appeal process take?
An A Level results appeal typically takes a maximum of four weeks. It can take sooner but it really all comes down to how many appeals that particular exam board is dealing with at that moment.
In the meantime, why not look at your options: Apprenticeships v university, international universities, and university clearance. After all, knowledge is power and the appeal process waiting time could be a great time to take control of your life rather than feel like you’re in a helpless position! ⭐
How do A Level appeals work?
There are a number of steps you have to follow to appeal A Level results in England. Here’s a quick and easy guide:
- If you think a grade is wrong, first ask your school or college to review your grade.
- If you still disagree, ask your college or school to appeal to the relevant exam board on your behalf.
- If you still think the exam board has not correctly dealt with your appeal, you can ask Ofqual to look at it again.
If you get to step 3 and the appeal result is the same as the original grade you were given, it’s the end of the road for the appeals process but not for you! 😊
You may have to deal with your initial result and look at your options, but in most cases, it will just mean a different college or university. Often, these situations are the making of you and open up new and exciting opportunities, even though it might not seem like it at the time.
You might choose to retake and focus on more effective exam revision strategies or even decide to study with a private tutor so you can get higher UCAS points and pick a university which is right for you. Reforms since 2019 means A and AS Levels are taken in May or June the following year. Check out these reforms in England in this Ofqual document. Also, retakes don’t always mean waiting another year to go to university. Some allow you to start your course in January!
But hopefully, as a result of the appeal’s process, you’ll have got a new result that truly reflects your performance at steps 1 or 2!
If you’re appealing a grade in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the A Level appeals process is different.
How do you appeal A Level grades?
The process of how to appeal a grade is the same for GCSE, AS or A Levels. This is outlined above.
However, you may still need some help with the process to make it all a bit easier. We’re sure you’ve got enough going on at the moment! Here is a template for a sample appeal letter for exam results to send to your school or the exam board.👍
Can I still appeal my A Level results?
Most of the time, you’ll need appeal grade discrepancies within 15 days of receiving your result, but be sure to check with the individual exam board. It’s a good idea to keep your college or university informed if you’re in the A Level appeals process.
As we mentioned at the beginning, appealing a grade may seem like a lot of hassle, but may be worth doing according to the statistics from gov.uk:
|
Year |
No. of appeals |
Appeals upheld |
Percentage of appeals upheld |
Appeals which led to a change in grade |
|
2017 |
325 |
160 |
50% |
95 |
|
2018 |
370 |
145 |
39% |
70 |
|
2019 |
480 |
250 |
52% |
150 |
|
2020 |
1,355 |
1,040 |
77% |
995 |
It’s worth noting that the 2020 appeal result figures were largely due to the controversial A Level Algorithm as a result of Covid-19.
Now you know what you need to do, there’s nothing stopping you! At best, writing a couple of letters will mean your A Level results appeal has been successful and has led to a well-deserved better grade. At worst, you may not get a better appeal grade but you’ll know that the grade you were given was properly checked and verified.
If you’re upset or disappointed, make sure you look after yourself and find support here. Trust us, when things don’t go as planned, it’s often because there is something better around the corner. 🍀
