Complaints procedure
How to make a complaint, raise a concern (whistleblow) or report malpractice about an exam board, awarding organisation or qualification regulated by Ofqual.
CHECKPOINT. Do you want to complain, appeal against your grade, or ask a question?
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You cannot appeal against your grades using this complaints procedure. For information about the appeals process, see ‘Appeal against a GCSE, AS or A level grade or the result of a qualification’.
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If you want to ask a question about grade awarding, appeals or policy in summer 2024, please use our contact form or telephone us on 0300 303 3344.
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If you wish to complain about the service you have received from an awarding organisation, or from Ofqual, please first read all of the information on this page (including that shown below the ‘Start now’ button) to ensure that your concerns are routed correctly.
We want all users of organisations and qualifications we regulate to receive a good service and to have things put right when they go wrong. In order for us to investigate your complaint or concern we may require some specific information to help us investigate your complaint and we will help you through this process.
You will be able to give details of your complaint or concern and attach documents within this service.
You can use this service to:
- make a complaint
- report a concern of wrongdoing or malpractice
- raise a concern as a whistleblower
- manage an existing complaint or concern
Make a complaint
The process will take approximately 15 minutes.
Before you start
It will be useful to have documents or emails, awarding organisation, qualification and subject information to support your complaint or concern.
We can only investigate complaints about awarding organisations and qualifications that we regulate. An awarding organisation (also known as an exam board or awarding body) develops qualifications, issues certificates, diplomas or titles and learning outcomes of an individual following assessments.
Details of regulated awarding organisations can be found on Ofqual’s find a regulated awarding organisation service. Regulated qualifications can be found on the find a regulated qualification service.
Complaints we cannot deal with
If we can’t deal with your complaint, we will tell you and, where possible, suggest an alternative agency or organisation. Some examples where we may not be able to assist include:
- where there is an appeals process to challenge an assessment decision or a candidate’s results for a qualification regulated by Ofqual – see instead ‘Appeal against a GCSE, AS or A level grade or the result of a qualification’
- matters which have already been fully investigated through this complaints policy
- issues which do not fall under Ofqual’s remit, for example, if your complaint is about the quality of teaching or training by a school or college - you should complain to the school or college involved
- matters which are, or have been, the subject of legal or on-going regulatory action, or potential action
- where you disagree with our policies
Please note, if you are seeking financial compensation, you may wish to seek independent legal advice. Ofqual is unable to award compensation and cannot provide this outcome.
Contacting Ofqual
Once you have made a complaint or reported a concern to Ofqual you will receive a link to sign in and manage your complaint. You will be able to send and receive notifications related to your complaint.
To ensure Ofqual deals with all complaints equally and fairly, all complaints sent to other sections of Ofqual, including the Chief Regulator or board members, will be forwarded to the complaints investigation team for action.
Advice and support in making your complaint
You may find it helpful to have support to make your complaint. Your local Citizens Advice may be able to give you information and advice. There are other organisations that may be able to support people in specific situations, such as:
Someone who represents you and makes a complaint for you is called an advocate. If you decide that you want an advocate to make a complaint to us on your behalf, when they contact us about your complaint, we will check with you that you’re happy for them to do this.
Support if you are expecting results this summer
For advice on careers or next steps after receiving your results, you can contact the National Careers Service or UCAS.
Telephone: 0800 100 900
Lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and bank holidays.
For any questions about higher education application and admissions you should contact the relevant institution directly. You can also contact UCAS for more information.
Telephone: 0371 468 0 468
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm, and from 8am to 6pm on 17 August.
If you are concerned someone may be at risk of harm
Ofqual is not a referral body for safeguarding, but we do signpost people at risk of harm to relevant advice and support.
- If you are worried about immediate risk of harm to yourself or another person, please contact the police.
- If you want to report concerns to a relevant organisation who can check out your concerns, please contact your local council.
- If you are looking for someone to talk to about your concerns you might find it helpful to talk to one of these organisations, some of which you can contact at any time of the day or night:
- The Samaritans
- NSPCC (for younger people)
- Hourglass (for older people)
