How to Appeal IB Results: Key Deadlines & Tips

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

23 June 2025

Contents

If your IB results weren't quite what you were hoping for, don’t worry. You might be able to appeal, and there’s a clear process (plus plenty of support) to help you along the way.

Whether you're aiming for a university offer or simply believe your score doesn’t reflect your performance, understanding how to appeal your IB results is key.

This guide covers everything from timelines and fees to alternative options.

What is the IB appeal process?

First on your list of priorities should be speaking to your IB coordinator or teacher to get a better idea of the appeal process. They’ve supported plenty of students in your shoes before and can guide you through the next steps.

Appealing your IB results starts with something called an ‘Enquiry Upon Results’ (EUR). Students and/or parents can’t request this service themselves, your IB coordinator must do this on your behalf.

An EUR can include the following services:

Category 1: Remarking – A second examiner independently remarks your exam. This is the most common first step.
Category 2: Return of materials – You can request copies of your marked papers.
Category 3: Re-moderation – For internally assessed components (like orals or projects), schools can request a review if they believe the moderation was unfair—but only if multiple students are affected.

These services aren't technically ‘appeals’ yet—they're reviews, and sometimes that’s all it takes to correct a mistake.

Your score could either go up, stay the same or go down, so discuss the pros and cons with your IB coordinator first.

What is the first stage of the IB appeal process?

If the Enquiry Upon Results doesn’t resolve your issue and you still believe something has gone wrong, you can escalate things by making an IB appeal.

In stage 1 of the appeal process, a senior member of IB staff who has not previously been involved with the case will review the evidence and the decision.

The IB allows appeals in five main situations where a school believes an error has occurred. Here's when you can appeal:

Your final results: If your school thinks your grades are still incorrect even after EUR, they can challenge them.
Academic misconduct decisions: If you've been found guilty of cheating or another exam violation and your school disagrees with the decision (but not the severity of the penalty), they can appeal it.
Special consideration issues: If you had serious circumstances (like illness or family emergencies) and the IB refused to make adjustments, your school can challenge that decision.
Inclusive assessment arrangements: If the IB turned down support you were entitled to (like extra time or other accommodations), your school can appeal that too.
Other admin mistakes: If there was any other IB decision that affected your result and doesn’t fall into the above categories, it might still be possible to appeal.

What is the second stage of the IB appeal process?

If you're still unhappy after the IB’s internal review, there’s a second stage. This involves a hearing with a panel of three people, including a member who is external to the IB.

They review the full history of your case—including any evidence you or your school submits—and make a final decision.

Is there a deadline for appealing IB results?

Yes, schools typically have until mid-September (for the May exam series) to submit EUR requests. Contact your IB coordinator to find out the exact deadline and for further information on IB appeal deadlines.

How much does it cost to appeal IB results?

The IB charges schools for both EURs and formal appeals. While costs may be passed on to students, some schools cover them, so check with your coordinator.

Fees vary depending on your country and currency and are not published by the IB, so you should reach out to your school for more information.

How long does it take to appeal IB results?

The appeal process can take some time depending on the type of appeal you’re making, but don’t let this discourage you if you feel your score is incorrect.

Here’s a rough guide to the IB appeals timeline:

EURs are usually completed within 18 days. This timeframe applies to Category 1 remarks, where exams are remarked by senior examiners.
Stage 1 Appeal: The IB aims to complete the Stage 1 appeal process within two months from the date the appeal is received.
Stage 2 Appeal: The decision from the Stage 2 appeals panel is communicated within one month of the hearing.

How does appealing IB results affect my university place?

Despite the appeals process being a stressful time for students, the good news is that universities are generally quite understanding. They have plenty of experience when it comes to dealing with students who have appealed their results, so try not to worry.

If you're just a few points short and you or your school inform the university that you’re appealing, they may hold your offer temporarily while you wait for the outcome.

Many universities—especially in the UK through UCAS—have flexible deadlines for appeals, as long as they know you’re taking action.

However, not all universities can guarantee to hold your place indefinitely, especially for competitive courses. That’s why communication is key:

Let them know you’re appealing
Share timelines or documents from your school or the IB
Stay in touch with admissions staff regularly

If your grade changes and meets your conditional offer, your place may be confirmed, even if it’s after results day. Universities often re-activate offers if you inform them promptly with proof.

If your appeal doesn’t lead to a grade change, your original offer may be withdrawn. This might not be the result you were hoping for, but remember you still have options.

You can apply through clearing in the UK or equivalent late-entry systems in other countries.

What support is available when appealing my IB results?

Appealing your IB results can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone. There’s plenty of support available to help you through every step of the process.

Here’s where you can turn for help:

Your IB coordinator or teachers

Your first stop should always be your school’s IB coordinator or a trusted teacher.

They can:

Explain the appeal options clearly
Submit Enquiry Upon Results (EUR) or formal appeals on your behalf
Advise you on risks, fees and deadlines
Communicate with the IB on your behalf via IBIS, the IB's secure system

Most importantly, they’ve likely helped other students with appeals and can guide you based on experience.

Your school’s exams office or counselling team

Some schools have a dedicated exams officer or university guidance counsellor. They can:

Help you contact universities if you're worried about conditional offers
Provide evidence for special circumstances (e.g. illness)
Help with admin and paperwork related to your appeal

Mental health support

Waiting for appeal outcomes or worrying about your uni place can be really stressful. If you're feeling anxious, upset or just need to talk, you can reach out to:

YoungMinds
Mind
Kooth
Your school’s counsellor or wellbeing team

Alternatives to appealing IB results

Appealing might not be for everyone, and that’s okay. Here are some other routes you can take:

Resit your IB exams

Resitting your exams may feel like a last resort, but for many students this actually turns out to be a great decision. Think of it as a chance to improve and prove to yourself that you’re able to achieve your goals.

You can resit specific subjects in the next exam session, which will fall in November if you sat your exams in May. You can keep your Internal Assessment (IA) results, but you’ll have to retake your exams.

If you struggled with revision this time around, Save My Exams’ IB revision resources can help you to refine your strategy and boost both your grades and confidence.

Consider other qualifications

Depending on your goals, you might want to explore:

Foundation programmes: Great if you just missed a uni offer
Apprenticeships: An alternative route that combines work and study
Internships: An excellent way to gain practical work experience

Take a gap year

If you’re feeling uncertain of what to do next, a year out can give you time to reflect. Use it to:

Travel or volunteer
Gain work experience
Strengthen your uni application
Resit IB subjects or consider other paths

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I appeal Internal Assessments (IAs)?

Yes, but only in certain situations. Since Internal Assessments (like lab reports, oral presentations or projects) are marked by your teacher and then moderated by the IB, you can't request a remark of just your individual IA. Instead, your school can request a review of the moderation applied to the whole subject group.

If your school believes that the moderation unfairly lowered everyone's IA marks, they can submit an Enquiry Upon Results (Category 3). This is a request for the IB to re-moderate the sample of IAs used.

This affects the entire cohort (not just one student), and your school needs to agree it’s worth challenging. If the review finds the original moderation was accurate, your marks could stay the same or go down.

Can my grade go down after an appeal?

Unfortunately, there is a chance that your grade can go down. It can either go up, go down or stay the same. Always discuss the risk with your coordinator.

Ace your IB exams with Save My Exams

Whether your IB results are worth celebrating or you’re already thinking about how to improve next year, Save My Exams can help you.

Join over 2 million students who trust Save My Exams and gain access to high quality, teacher-written revision resources. You’ll find everything from concise revision notes and exam-style questions to flashcards, each tailored to your specific exam board. This way, you can guarantee you’re only studying exactly what you need to know.

Explore our IB revision resources.