JCQ Guidance on Centre Reviews and Appeals
JCQ_Guidance_for_Students_and_Parents_on_Summer_2021.pdf
If a candidate considers an error has been made in determining their grade, they have a right to appeal.
There are two stages to the appeals process. The first stage is a Centre Review. The second stage is an appeal to the awarding organisation (submitted by the centre of the candidates behalf).
If the student or centre considers that the awarding organisation has made a procedural error, they can apply to the Exam Procedures Review Services (EPRS) to review the process undertaken by the awarding organisation.
Stage 1 - Centre Review
- A candidate can request that the centre reviews the
information to check for administrative or procedural errors
identified by completing and submitting section A of the form (below)
- Candidates must provide a brief and clear explanation of the error they believe has occurred
- Candidates must give their written consent prior to a review as their grade could go down, up or stay the same as a result of the center conducting a review
- Candidates are not able to negotiate which evidence is included in the range of evidence used to determine grades
- Grades are determined on holistic judgement via a grade based system, centres are not required to remark assessments
- If an error error is identified the centre will rectify/correct the error and inform the candidate of the outcome
- If no error is identified the centre will inform the candidate of the outcome
- If a candidate does not agree with the center's decision, there is no further internal centre review process. The escalation is to the stage 2- Awarding Organisation Appeal.
Deadlines for stage 1 appeals
| Date | Awarding Organisation | Type of appeal |
| 24th June | WJEC | All appeals |
| 16th August | JCQ organisations: AQA, OCR, Pearson | Priority appeals |
| 3rd September | JCQ organisations: AQA, OCR, Pearson |
Non priority appeals |
Any requests made after the deadline date will not be accepted
A priority appeal is only for students applying to higher education who did not attain their firm choice (i.e. the offer they accepted as their first choice) and wish to appeal an A level or other Level 3 qualification result. You should inform your intended higher education provider that you have requested a Centre Review or appeal.
JCQ_Review_and_Appeal_Form.pdf
Stage 2 - Awarding Organisation Appeal
- Candidates may request that their center submits a stage 2 appeal
to the awarding organisation if they consider that
- an error persists following the outcome of stage 1
- they consider the awarding organisation has made an error.
- the centre made an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement (i.e. a judgement was made without evidence). Note: assessments will not be remarked.
- A candidate requests a stage 2 appeal by submitting the form (below) outlining the error or grounds for appeal.
- The centre submits the appeal according to the awarding body requirements, including any necessary documentation, such as
- The result of the Centre Review
- the evidence used to determine the grade
- The awarding organisation conducts the appeal
- If an error is identified the awarding organisation will inform the center who will communicate the decision to the candidate. The awarding organisation will correct the error if it results in a grade change.
- If an error is not identified the awarding organisation will inform the center who will communicate the decision to the candidate
Deadlines for stage 2 appeals
| Date | Awarding Organisation | Type of appeal |
| 23rd August | JCQ organisations: AQA, OCR, Pearson (also applies to WJEC) | Priority appeals |
| 17th September | JCQ organisations: AQA, OCR, Pearson (also applies to WJEC) | Non priority appeals |
Any requests made after the deadline date will not be accepted
A priority appeal is only for students applying to higher education who did not attain their firm choice (i.e. the offer they accepted as their first choice) and wish to appeal an A level or other Level 3 qualification result. You should inform your intended higher education provider that you have requested a Centre Review or appeal.
Stage 3 - Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS)
The final stage of the appeals process is the EPRS. The EPRS will check whether an awarding organisation has complied with its own procedures and requirements.
As with previous years the EPRS will not review the accuracy of the grading decisions and will not change any grades.