GCSE results can sometimes not go as well as hoped.
And seeing as this year students weren't even able to sit their exams due to the coronavirus pandemic, there's likely to be disappointment among some individuals.
GCSE results have been offered in a number of ways this summer following a backlash over A-level results - where around 40 percent were downgraded due to the new controversial Ofqual algorithm.
In a u-turn on Monday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that GCSE grades can now be based on teachers’ assessments - centre-assessed grades or CAGs.
But students awarded a higher grade by the moderation process will be allowed to keep it.
Taking into account these options, if you're still not convinced that your results are what you deserve, then there are ways you can appeal. Here's how and what you need to do.
Can I appeal my results?
If your results are not what you are hoping for you may be able to appeal it. If you have any concerns about grades you should talk to your schools about the options available. Here is what you can and cannot do according to the latest government advice:
You can ask your school or college to check whether it made an administrative error when submitting information to the exam board. Administrative errors might include, for example, mixing up two students with similar names, or accidentally copying across the wrong data, but do not relate to the professional judgements of centres in assigning CAGs. If your school or college finds it made a mistake in the information it provided it can ask the exam board to correct it.
Your school or college can appeal to the exam board on your behalf if it believes the exam board made a mistake when it communicated your grades.
You cannot challenge your school or college under the appeals process on the centre assessment grades it submitted or your rank order positions. Any appeal would have to be undertaken by someone better placed than your teachers to judge your likely grade if exams had taken place. In the unique circumstances of this summer, we do not believe there is such a person
You cannot appeal because your mock result was higher than the grade you were awarded. Your mock grade will have been taken into account in determining your CAG. You will either receive your centre assessment grade or your calculated grade (whichever is higher).
All appeals must be made by the school and the deadline is 17 September 2020.
Will I be able to take an exam?
According to Ofqual, the autumn exam series is an opportunity for students who either were unable to receive a calculated grade in the summer, or who want to try to improve their grade, to sit their exams.
While it usually costs around £35 depending on the exam board, the Department of Education has said that schools should front the bill this year.
They said: "Students who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their ability will have the opportunity to sit an exam in the autumn term. AS and A level exams will take place in October and GCSE exams in November.
"In cases where students wish to sit exams, we expect the school or college that entered them in the summer to enter them in autumn and make sure they have somewhere to sit their exams.
"We expect schools and colleges to pay fees for all students who were due to sit exams in the summer, rather than passing the cost on to students or their families."
Therefore, you should speak to your school if you want to enter for the autumn exam series.
If you do choose to take an exam, you won't need to do so for all of your subjects.
Students can choose to take as many subjects in the autumn as they want, but if you want to take a particular subject, you will need to take all the exam papers in that subject.
This story was updated at 11.28am on Thursday August 20 to reflect to the latest appeal advice by Ofqual.
