Enquiries about results for GCSE and GCE

Awarding organisations must have published arrangements for the submission of enquires about results and for appeals against the awarding organisation's decisions.

Ofqual requires awarding organisations to have processes and quality assurance checks to ensure the marking of candidate work is accurate and consistent. Awarding organisations are also required to have processes so that results can be queried where there are concerns about the accuracy of results issued to candidates. For GCSE and GCE examinations the Enquiries about Results (EAR) process provided by awarding organisations allows centres to request that awarding organisations conduct a post-results review of the marking of individual scripts, or of the moderation of internal assessments.

We collect annual data on the number of post-results enquiries received by awarding organisations and the number of resulting grade changes. The data collected also confirms the extent to which awarding organisations have resolved enquiries within the deadlines required by the regulator. This data provides us with evidence that awarding organisations are meeting requirements in relation to the provision of post-results checks, timely resolution and the amendment of results and grades where relevant. It also provides an indication of the extent to which awarding organisations' pre-results quality assurance of marking has been successful in delivering accurate results. However, the EAR data is just one piece of evidence of the level of accuracy in the marking of assessments by awarding organisations. This is supplemented by further evidence from any monitoring of the pre-results marking process and any issues or concerns raised by stakeholders, which will be investigated where necessary. Factors such as changes in the structure of GCSE and GCE qualifications over time will also be influencing variations in the number of EARs awarding organisations receive, and the resulting number of grade changes, from one year to the next.

Data on EARs is published annually to highlight the availability of post-result checks, and to provide transparency about the scale of post-result enquires and grade changes.

We use the data on post-result enquiries to inform where further investigation regarding the accuracy of marking may be required. Where figures raise concerns regarding the extent to which pre-results quality assurance has been effective, we will seek more detailed evidence and explanation from awarding organisations. This may involve specific focus on particular qualifications, subjects or awarding organisations. Where any significant failures in the pre-results quality assurance of marking are evident, we will require awarding organisations to take steps to reduce the scope of any future inaccuracies in marking.

Release list:

In addition to the professional and production staff at Ofqual, CCEA and DCELLS, pre-release access to the statistics of up to 24 hours is granted to the following postholders:

Ofqual: Chief Executive; Head of Awarding Organisation Performance; Director of Communications; Chief Press Officer, Press Officer

Department for Education: Examinations Delivery team leader; Senior Press Officer

CCEA:  Communications Manager

AQA: PR & Media relations manager

OCR: Group Director, Public Affairs

WJEC/CBAC: Marketing & Communications Manager

Edexcel: Head of UK Corporate Affairs

JCQ:  Director of JCQ, Head of Policy and Communications

Additional resources:

Glossary

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 11:05 Tags: Ofqual, education, examination regulation, qualifications, assessments