Appeals for GCSE, AS, A level and Project qualifications: 2021 to 2022 academic year
Published 4 May 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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Introduction
This report presents figures for the number of appeals made during the 2021 to 2022 academic year in England for GCSE, AS, A level and Project qualifications. It also gives information on the number of qualification grades challenged and changed due to those appeals. The report covers all the opportunities to enter for the qualifications during the academic year:
- autumn 2021, November 2021 and June 2022 for GCSE qualifications
- autumn 2021 and June 2022 for AS and A level qualifications
- autumn 2021, November 2021, January 2022 and June 2022 for Project qualifications
In summer 2020 and summer 2021, exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result, the standard post-results services were not available. A different appeals process was in place for these exam series.
As part of the exceptional arrangements for exam grading and assessment in 2021, in addition to the November 2021 series for GCSE maths and English, and Project qualifications, the exceptional autumn 2021 series was put in place. This gave students who had been unable to receive a grade in summer 2021 the opportunity to do so. The autumn series also allowed students who were disappointed with their grade in summer 2021 the opportunity to improve their grade.
Summer 2022 saw the return of exams, with a package of support in place for students. The approach to grading led to overall results in 2022 being midway between results in 2021 and 2019.
For all GCSE, AS, A level and project qualifications, other than for summer 2020 and summer 2021, appeals could be submitted if a school or college was dissatisfied with the result of a review of marking, review of moderation, a malpractice decision, or the outcome of a reasonable adjustment or special consideration request. Appeals were made at the exam component level and, if related to the same issue, could cover more than one student. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guide to the awarding bodies’ appeals process describes 2 steps for appeals:
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Preliminary appeal (‘stage 1’ appeal): a review by a senior awarding organisation member who has not previously been involved with the particular case.
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Appeal hearing (‘stage 2’ appeal): applicants and awarding bodies present their respective cases to the panel of 3 or more members, one of which must be independent of the awarding organisation.
An appeal about a student’s grade could be made on multiple grounds. Appeals that were made on multiple grounds for the same component are counted as one appeal received.
Due to the exceptional nature of grading and the different appeals process being in place in summer 2020 and summer 2021, direct comparisons of appeals in the 2021 to 2022 academic year and these years are not valid and will not be made in the report. Instead, throughout the report we will present figures of appeals in the 2021 to 2022 academic year compared to the 2018 to 2019 academic year, as it is the most recent period where the same appeals process was in place. However, please note that whilst the same appeals process was in place, due to the differences in the grading standard applied as well as the additional autumn 2021 exam series, comparisons need to be treated with caution.
Furthermore, prior to the 2021 to 2022 academic year, a single appeal may relate to one or more units for the qualification grade challenged. This is not relevant for June 2020 and June 2021 where appeals were at qualification level. From 2021 to 2022, reporting changed so that all appeals are submitted at component level. For this reason, comparisons with the 2018 to 2019 academic year are most meaningful in sections which explore the number of grades challenged and changed. For comparisons involving the number of appeals received, upheld or leading to at least one grade change, greater caution is needed.
Key headlines
The key headlines regarding the number of appeals made for GCSE, AS and A level, and Project qualifications for the 2021 to 2022 academic year in England were:
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Overall, 2,460 (0.04%) of the 6.1 million grades certified for GCSEs, AS and A levels were challenged, a 23% decrease compared to 2018 to 2019 where 3,205 grades were challenged
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Overall, 610 (0.01%) of the 6.1 million grades certified for GCSEs, AS and A levels were changed as part of an upheld appeal, a 17% increase compared to 2018 to 2019 where 520 grades were changed
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The number of appeals received for GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2021 to 2022 was 1,545. Of these appeals 880 (57%) were upheld. To note, as it will be explained in the main report, one appeal may cover more than one grade
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The most common ground for an appeal in 2021 to 2022 for GCSEs, AS and A levels was ‘review of marking - marking error’
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For Project qualifications, 10 appeals were received in 2021 to 2022. They covered 290 grades, 0.6% of the 52,475 grades certified for projects in 2021 to 2022
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For all qualifications covered, 73% of upheld appeals resulted in a grade change in 2021 to 2022
The number of appeals received by exam series
GCSE, AS and A levels, and Project qualifications
For all qualifications, the majority of appeals were for the summer exam series.
The number of appeals received by exam series for GCSEs, AS and A levels and Project qualifications
Table 1: Number of appeals received by exam series for GCSEs, AS and A levels, and Project qualifications
| Qualification level | Autumn 2021 | November 2021 | January 2022 | June 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE | fewer than 5 | 35 | - | 1,055 |
| AS and A level | 15 | - | - | 440 |
| Project | 0 | fewer than 5 | 0 | 5 |
Due to the small number of appeals, Project qualifications are reported in a separate section from GCSEs, AS and A levels.
Total number of appeals received, upheld and leading to at least one grade change
An appeal may be submitted by a school or college, or private candidate, if they are dissatisfied with the result of a review of marking or moderation or if they wish to contest the outcome of a reasonable adjustment or special consideration request, or a malpractice decision. The appeal may be upheld at either a preliminary appeal or an appeal hearing, and this may lead to a change in one or more of the qualification grades involved.
The data tables and charts in the report contain figures on all grounds of appeals received by all awarding organisations.
GCSE
In 2021 to 2022, the number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for GCSE appears to be more in line with pre-pandemic years, following a rise in 2020 to 2021. This likely reflects the return to the ‘normal’ appeal arrangements in summer 2022 where most concerns about grades awarded were considered through reviews of marking and moderation, not appeals. In summer 2022 reviews of marking and moderation for the summer series were available for the first time since summer 2019. For this reason, direct comparisons between the academic year 2021 to 2022 and pandemic years should not be made.
The number of GCSE appeals increased from 775 in 2018 to 2019 to 1,090 in 2021 to 2022. The number of appeals upheld increased from 435 in 2018 to 2019 to 635 in 2021 to 2022 and the number of appeals upheld which led to at least one grade change increased from 275 in 2018 to 2019 to 470 in 2021 to 2022. The changes between 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022 may reflect the change in the way in which appeals were reported. Direct comparisons between these years may not be meaningful and should be treated with caution.
The number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for GCSE from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
In 2021 to 2022, the percentage of GCSE appeals that were upheld, as a proportion of GCSE appeals submitted, has returned to levels more in line with 2018 to 2019, likely reflecting the return to the ‘normal’ appeal arrangements in summer 2022.
Upheld appeals in 2021 to 2022 slightly increased to 58% from 56% in 2018 to 2019. The changes between 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022 may reflect the change in the way in which appeals were reported. Direct comparisons between these years may not be meaningful and should be treated with caution.
The percentage of appeals upheld for GCSE from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
Table 2: The number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for GCSE from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
| Year | Appeals received | Appeals upheld | Percentage of appeals upheld | Appeals leading to at least one grade change | Percentage of upheld appeals leading to at least one grade change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | 490 | 265 | 54% | 150 | 56% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 775 | 435 | 56% | 275 | 63% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 2,270 | 1,910 | 84% | 1,875 | 98% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 9,225 | 3,670 | 40% | 3,415 | 93% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 1,090 | 635 | 58% | 470 | 74% |
AS and A level
In 2021 to 2022, the number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for AS and A level appears to be more in line with pre-pandemic years, following a rise in 2020 to 2021. This likely reflects the return to the ‘normal’ appeal arrangements in summer 2022 where most concerns about grades awarded were considered through reviews of marking and moderation, not appeals. In summer 2022 reviews of marking and moderation for the summer series were available for the first time since summer 2019. For this reason, direct comparisons between the academic year 2021 to 2022 and pandemic years should not be made.
The number of AS and A level appeals decreased from 480 in 2018 to 2019 to 455 in 2021 to 2022. The number of appeals upheld decreased from 250 in 2018 to 2019 to 245 in 2021 to 2022 and the number of appeals upheld which led to at least one grade change has increased from 150 in 2018 to 2019 to 175 in 2021 to 2022. The changes between 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022 may reflect the change in the way in which appeals were reported. Direct comparisons between these years may not be meaningful and should be treated with caution.
The number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for AS and A level from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
In 2021 to 2022, the percentage of AS and A level appeals that were upheld, as a proportion of AS and A level appeals submitted, has returned to levels more in line with 2018 to 2019, likely reflecting the return to the ‘normal’ appeal arrangements in summer 2022.
Upheld appeals in 2021 to 2022 slightly increased to 54% from 52% in 2018 to 2019. The changes between 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022 may reflect the change in the way in which appeals were reported. Direct comparisons between these years may not be meaningful and should be treated with caution.
The percentage of appeals upheld for AS and A level from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
Table 3: The number of appeals received, appeals upheld and appeals leading to at least one grade change for AS and A level from the 2017 to 2018 academic year to the 2021 to 2022 academic year
| Year | Appeals received | Appeals upheld | Percentage of appeals upheld | Appeals leading to at least one grade change | Percentage of upheld appeals leading to at least one grade change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | 370 | 145 | 39% | 70 | 48% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 480 | 250 | 52% | 150 | 61% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 1,355 | 1,085 | 80% | 1,065 | 98% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 6,865 | 2,100 | 31% | 1,945 | 93% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 455 | 245 | 54% | 175 | 71% |
Nature of appeals in 2021 to 2022
In 2021 to 2022, an appeal could be made for a range of reasons, for instance: to contest the result of a review of marking or moderation, or to contest a malpractice decision or a decision on reasonable adjustments or special consideration. Please note that for GCSEs, AS and A levels there were no reviews of moderation in the autumn 2021 series as there were no non-examined assessments.
An appeal about a student’s grade can be made on multiple grounds. In this section each ground for appeal is counted separately. This means the total number of appeals in this section will not match the total number of appeals reported elsewhere in the report.
GCSE
In 2021 to 2022, ‘review of marking - marking error’ was the most common ground for GCSE appeal with 575 appeals received.
Nature of GCSE appeals in 2021 to 2022
Table 4: Nature of GCSE appeals in 2021 to 2022
| Nature of appeal | Number of appeals received |
|---|---|
| Review of marking - marking error | 575 |
| Malpractice | 315 |
| Reasonable adjustment or special consideration | 175 |
| Review of moderation - marking error | 15 |
| Review of marking - procedural | 15 |
| Review of moderation - procedural | 5 |
AS and A level
In 2021 to 2022, ‘review of marking - marking error’ was the most common ground for AS and A level appeal with 315 appeals received.
Nature of AS and A level appeals in 2021 to 2022
Table 5: Nature of AS and A level appeals in 2021 to 2022
| Nature of appeal | Number of appeals received |
|---|---|
| Review of marking - marking error | 315 |
| Malpractice | 70 |
| Reasonable adjustment or special consideration | 55 |
| Review of moderation - marking error | 15 |
| Review of marking - procedural | fewer than 5 |
| Review of moderation - procedural | fewer than 5 |
Preliminary appeals and appeal hearings
The appeals process, as set out in JCQ regulations, consists of 2 stages:
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Preliminary appeals (‘stage 1’ appeal): a review by a senior awarding organisation member who has not been previously involved in the individual case. As a result of a preliminary appeal, the case is either upheld or not upheld
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Appeal hearings (‘stage 2’ appeal): when the applicant and awarding organisation present their cases to the panel. An applicant may decide to progress to an appeal hearing if they are dissatisfied with the result of the preliminary appeal
An appeal panel consists of 3 or more members, at least one of which is independent from the awarding organisation (meaning they have not been an employee, examiner, committee or board member of the awarding organisation in the previous 5 years).
If a school or college, or private candidate, was still dissatisfied with the outcome following an appeal, they could apply to Ofqual’s Examination Procedures Review Service (EPRS) within 21 days of receiving the appeal outcome from the awarding organisation.
GCSE
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, 43% of all GCSE appeals received resulted in at least one grade change.
In 2021 to 2022, for GCSEs, 43% of all preliminary appeals and 13% of all appeal hearings resulted in a grade change.
The overall number of appeals and the number of appeals resulting in a grade change per stage for GCSE in 2021 to 2022
Table 6: The overall number of appeals and the number of appeals resulting in a grade change per stage for GCSE in 2021 to 2022
| Number of preliminary appeals | Number of appeal hearings | Percentage of preliminary appeals leading to appeal hearings | Preliminary appeals leading to at least one grade change | Appeal hearings leading to at least one grade change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,090 | 55 | 5% | 465 | 5 |
At the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were no GCSE appeals where the outcome of the appeal was pending the outcome from the Examinations Procedure Review Service (EPRS).
AS and A level
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, 38% of all AS and A level appeals received resulted in at least one grade change.
In 2021 to 2022, for AS and A levels, 38% of all preliminary appeals resulted in a grade change. There were no appeal hearings which resulted in a grade change in 2021 to 2022.
The overall number of appeals and the number of appeals resulting in a grade change per stage for AS and A level in 2021 to 2022
Table 7: The overall number of appeals and the number of appeals resulting in a grade change per stage for AS and A level in 2021 to 2022
| Number of preliminary appeals | Number of appeal hearings | Percentage of preliminary appeals leading to appeal hearings | Preliminary appeals leading to at least one grade change | Appeal hearings leading to at least one grade change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 455 | 35 | 7% | 175 | 0 |
At the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were no AS and A level appeals where the outcome of the appeal was pending the outcome from the Examinations Procedure Review Service (EPRS).
Grades challenged and changed
A single appeal may represent one or more qualification grades which are being challenged, for example when a school or college appeals its results for a qualification taken by a number of its students. Additionally, students are awarded 2 grades for GCSE combined science. An upheld appeal may result in a change to all, some, or none of the associated qualification grades. Therefore, an increase or decrease in appeals received may not be reflected in the number of grades challenged or changed.
A student may be involved in more than one appeal. In 2021 to 2022, there were 2,305 GCSE, AS and A level students whose grades were involved in an appeal compared to 3,085 in 2018 to 2019.
This equated to 2,460 (0.04%) of the 6.1 million grades certified for GCSE, AS and A level being challenged. Of these grades challenged, 610 (0.01%) were changed as part of an upheld appeal.
GCSE
In 2021 to 2022, there were 1,900 grades challenged and 450 grades changed for GCSE. This was a 13% decrease in grades challenged and a 39% increase in grades changed compared to 2018 to 2019, where 2,185 and 325 grades were challenged and changed, respectively.
The number of GCSE grades challenged and changed in 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022
Table 8: The number of grades challenged and changed for GCSE
| Year | Grades challenged | Grades challenged for upheld appeals | Grades changed for upheld appeals | Grades not changed for upheld appeals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 to 2019 | 2,185 | 1,345 | 325 | 715 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 1,900 | 740 | 450 | 250 |
The number of grades changed or unchanged refers only to grades included as part of an upheld appeal. It also does not include cases where either the pre or post appeal qualification grade is unknown or yet to be determined (for example, in cases where a preliminary appeal was upheld, the appeal progressed to an appeal hearing and the final qualification grade is awaiting the result of the appeal hearing). In 2021 to 2022, at the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were 45 GCSE grades from upheld appeals where either the pre or post appeal qualification grade was unknown or yet to be determined.
AS and A level
In 2021 to 2022, there were 560 grades challenged and 165 grades changed for AS and A level. This was a 45% decrease in grades challenged and a 17% decrease in grades changed compared to 2018 to 2019, where 1,020 and 195 grades were challenged and changed, respectively.
The number of AS and A level grades challenged and changed in 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022
Table 9: The number of grades challenged and changed for AS and A level
| Year | Grades challenged | Grades challenged for upheld appeals | Grades changed for upheld appeals | Grades not changed for upheld appeals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 to 2019 | 1,020 | 425 | 195 | 145 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 560 | 290 | 165 | 125 |
The number of grades changed or unchanged refers only to grades included as part of an upheld appeal. It also does not include cases where either the pre or post appeal qualification grade is unknown or yet to be determined (for example, in cases where a preliminary appeal was upheld, the appeal progressed to an appeal hearing and the final qualification grade is awaiting the result of the appeal hearing). In 2021 to 2022, at the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were fewer than 5 AS and A level grades from upheld appeals where either the pre or post appeal qualification grade was unknown or yet to be determined.
Completion within exam boards’ target timescales
The target timescales in 2021 to 2022 allowed 6 weeks (42 calendar days) to complete a preliminary appeal from the receipt of the application, and 10 weeks (70 calendar days) to complete an appeal hearing from the receipt of a request for an appeal hearing.
At the point at which Ofqual collected the data, in 2021 to 2022, there were fewer than 5 GCSE and fewer than 5 AS and A level appeals which were still in progress and might or might not be completed within the target timescale.
GCSE
In 2021 to 2022, 98% of GCSE preliminary appeals and 34% of GCSE appeal hearings were completed within the target timescale.
The median number of days to complete a GCSE preliminary appeal was 27 days and the median number of days to complete a GCSE appeal hearing was 94 days.
The percentage of GCSE preliminary appeals and appeal hearings completed within exam boards’ target timescales in 2021 to 2022
Table 10: GCSE preliminary appeals and appeal hearings completed within exam boards’ target timescales in 2021 to 2022
| Preliminary appeals completed in target time | Percentage of preliminary appeals completed in target time | Appeal hearings completed in target time | Percentage of appeal hearings completed in target time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,060 | 98% | 20 | 34% |
AS and A level
In 2021 to 2022, 98% of AS and A level preliminary appeals and 70% of AS and A level appeal hearings were completed within the target timescale.
The median number of days to complete an AS and A level preliminary appeal was 21 days and the median number of days to complete an AS and A level appeal hearing was 51 days.
The percentage of AS and A level preliminary appeals and appeal hearings completed within exam boards’ target timescales in 2021 to 2022
Table 11: AS and A level preliminary appeals and appeal hearings completed within exam boards’ target timescales in 2021 to 2022
| Preliminary appeals completed in target time | Percentage of preliminary appeals completed in target time | Appeal hearings completed in target time | Percentage of appeal hearings completed in target time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 445 | 98% | 25 | 70% |
Grades challenged at appeal
In 2021 to 2022, grade 3 was the most contested grade for GCSE, with 295 grades challenged. Grade 3-3 was the most contested grade for GCSE combined science, with 10 grades challenged, and grade B was the most contested grade for AS and A level, with 210 grades challenged.
Grades challenged at appeal in 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022 for GCSE 9 to 1, GCSE combined science and AS and A level
Source: Table 7: Data tables for appeals for GCSE, AS, A level and Projects: 2021 to 2022 academic year
Raw mark changes for upheld appeals
For upheld appeals, only changes where both the original and resulting mark are known are included in the distribution of changes to the raw marks.
Note that all mark increases of 10 marks or more have been combined into a single category (‘10 or more’) and all mark decreases of less than or equal to -1 have been combined into the category ‘less than or equal to -1’. A change of 10 marks or more may reflect an overturned malpractice decision where the student was originally given 0 marks due to alleged malpractice.
GCSE
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, 87% of upheld appeals (where both the pre and post appeal raw marks were known) resulted in additional marks given, compared to 72% in 2018 to 2019.
In 2021 to 2022 the most common outcome was a mark change of 10 or more (24%), followed by a mark change of 1 (22%). There were 5 appeals (1%) that led to a decrease in marks. Mark changes of 10 or more marks were predominantly from appeals on the grounds of ‘malpractice’, for example where a malpractice decision was overturned, and penalties were reduced or removed.
The number of GCSE raw mark changes at appeal
Table 12: GCSE raw mark changes in 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022
| Mark change | 2018 to 2019 | 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| less than or equal to -1 | 35 | 5 |
| 0 | 400 | 65 |
| 1 | 345 | 125 |
| 2 | 360 | 55 |
| 3 | 110 | 55 |
| 4 | 60 | 40 |
| 5 | 30 | 25 |
| 6 | 25 | 20 |
| 7 | 15 | 20 |
| 8 | 5 | 10 |
| 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 or more | 160 | 130 |
In 2021 to 2022, there were 230 GCSE raw mark changes for upheld appeals which were not included and 205 not included in 2018 to 2019. This is because either the pre or post appeal raw mark was unknown.
AS and A level
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, 86% of upheld appeals (where both the pre and post appeal raw marks were known) resulted in additional marks given, the same as in 2018 to 2019.
In 2021 to 2022, the most common outcome was a mark change of 1 (21%), followed by a mark change of 10 or more (20%). There were 15 appeals (6%) that led to a decrease in marks. Mark changes of 10 or more marksb were predominantly from appeals on the grounds of ‘review of marking - marking error’.
The number of AS and A level raw mark changes at appeal
Table 13: AS and A level raw mark changes in 2018 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022
| Mark change | 2018 to 2019 | 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| less than or equal to -1 | 10 | 15 |
| 0 | 50 | 25 |
| 1 | 60 | 55 |
| 2 | 60 | 35 |
| 3 | 35 | 25 |
| 4 | 30 | 10 |
| 5 | 35 | 15 |
| 6 | 25 | 15 |
| 7 | 10 | 10 |
| 8 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 15 | 10 |
| 10 or more | 95 | 55 |
In 2021 to 2022, there were 35 AS and A level raw mark changes for upheld appeals which were not included and 120 not included in 2018 to 2019. This is because either the pre or post appeal raw mark was unknown.
Grade changes for upheld appeals
In this section the magnitude of grade changes following an upheld appeal in 2021 to 2022 are reported. Instances where upheld appeals were for students who were not originally given a grade or where a student’s grade had not yet been determined after an appeal was upheld are not included in this section.
GCSE
In 2021 to 2022, where an appeal was upheld and the original and resulting grades were known, 62% of GCSE grades challenged had a grade change of one or more grade. The majority of grade changes were of one grade only.
Grade changes from upheld appeals for GCSE
Table 14: Grade changes from upheld appeals for GCSE
| Grade change for upheld appeals | Number of grades 2018 to 2019 | Number of grades 2021 to 2022 | Percentage of grades 2018 to 2019 | Percentage of grades 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade change of 0 | 715 | 250 | 69 % | 38 % |
| Grade change of 1 | 295 | 330 | 29 % | 50 % |
| Grade change of 2 | 20 | 55 | 2 % | 8 % |
| Grade change of 3 or more | 10 | 30 | 1 % | 5 % |
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, for upheld appeals where the grades were known, 250 (38%) of GCSE grades challenged did not result in a qualification grade change. This was a 65% decrease compared to 2018 to 2019 where 715 GCSE grades challenged did not result in a qualification grade change. Among those GCSE grades that were changed, in 2021 to 2022, 80% changed by one grade (compared to 92% in 2018 to 2019) and 20% changed by 2 or more grades (compared to 9% in 2018 to 2019).
At the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were 75 GCSE grades challenged for upheld appeals where grades were either unknown, not awarded (for example, if the student was absent) or yet to be determined. These grades are not reported in this section.
AS and A level
In 2021 to 2022, where an appeal was upheld and the original and resulting grades were known, 55% of AS and A level grades challenged had a grade change of one or more grade. Again, the majority of grade changes were of one grade only.
Grade changes from upheld appeals for AS and A level
Table 15: Grade changes from upheld appeals for AS and A level
| Grade change for upheld appeals | Number of grades 2018 to 2019 | Number of grades 2021 to 2022 | Percentage of grades 2018 to 2019 | Percentage of grades 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade change of 0 | 145 | 125 | 43 % | 44 % |
| Grade change of 1 | 185 | 135 | 54 % | 48 % |
| Grade change of 2 | 10 | 20 | 3 % | 7 % |
| Grade change of 3 or more | 0 | fewer than 5 | 0 % | 0 % |
Overall, in 2021 to 2022, for upheld appeals where the grades were known, 125 (44%) of AS and A level grades challenged did not result in a qualification grade change. This was a 14% decrease compared to 2018 to 2019 where 145 AS and A level grades challenged did not result in a qualification grade change. Among those AS and A level grades that were changed, in 2021 to 2022, 86% changed by one grade (compared to 94% in 2018 to 2019) and 14% changed by 2 or more grades (compared to 6% in 2018 to 2019).
At the time when data was reported to Ofqual, there were 5 AS and A level grades challenged for upheld appeals where grades were either unknown, not awarded (for example, if the student was absent) or yet to be determined. These grades are not reported in this section.
Project qualifications
Table 16: Appeals received, appeals upheld, grades challenged and grades changed for Project qualifications
| Year | Appeals received | Appeals upheld | Grades challenged | Grades changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | fewer than 5 | fewer than 5 | 15 | fewer than 5 |
| 2018 to 2019 | 10 | fewer than 5 | 335 | fewer than 5 |
| 2019 to 2020 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 15 |
| 2020 to 2021 | 105 | 35 | 130 | 30 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 10 | fewer than 5 | 290 | 15 |
In 2021 to 2022, there were 290 students for Project qualifications whose grades were involved in an appeal. Overall, 15 (0.03%) of the over 52,000 grades certified for Project qualifications were changed as a result of an appeal.
There were 10 appeals received for Project qualifications in 2021 to 2022, fewer than 5 (27%) of which were upheld and fewer than 5 of which led to at least one grade change.
Contextual information
This report presents data on requests for appeals made to awarding organisations for the academic year 2021 to 2022. The qualifications covered in this report are GCSEs, AS, A levels and Project qualifications in England.
Further information on this release is available in the background information as well as data tables accompanying this report.
User feedback
We welcome your feedback on our publications. Should you have any comments on this statistical release and how to improve it to meet your needs please contact us at data.analytics@ofqual.gov.uk.
Head of profession: Nadir Zanini