GCSE Remark Success Rate: Is It Worth It?

If you’ve just received your GCSE results, and you narrowly missed out on your desired grade, you may be weighing up your options. 

One of the actions you may be considering is a remark, also known as a review of marking. These take time and cost money, so you’ll want to know your chances of success.

Our guide on GCSE remark success rates will help you to decide whether it’s the best course of action for you.

GCSE Remark Success Rate By Year

As shown in the table below, there is a 20.75% chance that a remarked GCSE paper will result in the candidate’s grade being changed. That’s just over one in five requests resulting in a grade change.

Factors Affecting Remark Success

If you’re considering a remark on one or more of your GCSEs, it’s worth thinking about some of the key factors that might affect the success of your challenge. 

Here are some factors to bear in mind:

Subjectivity in marking

Closed-ended questions, such as multiple-choice questions, rarely result in changes upon remark. However, extended response questions, which require examiner judgement, are open to flexibility in interpretation. 

Therefore, asking for a remark on papers involving essays, problem-solving, and language tasks will give you a higher chance of uncovering discrepancies, resulting in successful challenges.

Proximity to grade boundaries

If your result is a ‘borderline’ case, a remark could tip you over. This is where your mark is very close to the next grade boundary, for example, or you’re just a couple of marks short of a Grade 5. Here, the smallest correction could affect your final grade.

Exam board variations

AQA, OCR, and Edexcel share similar remark policies. However, slight differences in turnaround times or fees may apply. Check your exam board’s website for the latest guidance, or consult the exams officer at your school.

Clear marking errors

Success is more likely when errors are evident, such as marks not awarded for correct answers or missed total tallies. Your teachers can request your exam paper from the exam board to help you get the full picture of what happened in your case.

Time and cost

There’s typically a fee for requesting a review, although this is often refundable if the grade changes. Remarks can also take a considerable time period. You may have to wait several weeks to see whether you’ve been successful, and you’ve already waited long enough for your results. A remark may result in delays that could impact course offers, affecting your next steps in your education or training.

Are GCSE Remarks Worth It?

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about. But don’t worry, you’re not alone - your teachers have been in this position with other students before you. They will be keen to help you make the best decision and will guide you towards the best course of action.

When considering your options, perhaps the most important consideration is the cost versus potential benefit. Do the next steps in your education pathway and future career depend on the outcome? If not, it may be worth moving on. There are alternative options down the road, such as retaking the exam or pursuing similar courses in the future.

The GCSE Remark Process

If you’ve weighed up your options and a GCSE remark seems the best course of action, you’ll need to consult the relevant member of staff at your school or college to initiate the process. 

This is usually the exams officer, but your subject teacher will be able to advise you. Not only is this the best course of action, but your school may even cover the cost of the remark. 

However, if you’re a private candidate (you didn’t take your GCSE exams through a school), you’ll have to contact the exam board directly. The process differs between boards, so check their websites to find the specific details you need.

Our GCSE remark guide contains further details on the whole process, and you can also consult our step-by-step GCSE appeals guide.

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References

Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2019 exam series - GOV.UK

Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2022 exam series - GOV.UK

Guide to GCSE results for England, summer 2023 - GOV.UK

Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2023/24 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK