Updated 17-July-2026
If you believe your A-Level or GCSE exam was graded unfairly, you can request a "Review of Marking" (commonly called a remark). However, private candidates cannot apply directly to the exam board. You must go through the exam centre where you sat the papers. Because grades can go down as well as up, you must provide written consent. If your university place is on the line, you must request a "Priority Review" immediately after Results Day.
You have just opened your results envelope. Instead of the Grade A you needed for your university offer, you are staring at a Grade B. You know you performed better than this. The immediate thought that crosses every student's mind is: "I need a remark."
For students in mainstream schools, the process is simple: they walk into the head of year's office and ask the school to handle the paperwork.
But if you are a Private Candidate—a home-educated student, an adult learner, or a retake student—the process can feel like a daunting bureaucratic maze.
At Exam Centre London, we process hundreds of post-results queries every summer. This definitive 2026 guide will demystify the "Review of Marking" process, explain the strict JCQ regulations, and help you decide if a remark is actually worth the risk.
The first thing to understand is that the exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, CIE) no longer use the term "remark." The official term is a Review of Marking.
This is a crucial distinction. When you request a review, your exam paper is not wiped clean and marked from scratch by a new examiner.
Instead, a senior examiner will review the original marking to ensure:
No administrative errors were made (e.g., ensuring all pages were scanned and every question was marked).
The total marks were added up correctly.
The original examiner applied the mark scheme correctly and reasonably.
If the original examiner's marking is deemed "reasonable" (even if the senior examiner might have been slightly more generous), the mark will not change. Marks are only changed to correct genuine marking errors.
One of the most common mistakes private candidates make is trying to call AQA or Edexcel customer service to demand a review. The exam boards will not speak to you regarding post-results services.
Under strict JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) rules, all post-results requests must be submitted by the registered exam centre that hosted your exams.
Your exam centre acts as the legal intermediary. If you sat your exams with Exam Centre London, you must contact our Exams Officer. We have access to the secure exam board portals required to submit your request, process the fees, and receive the updated results.
Timing is everything when it comes to remarks. Missing a deadline by one hour means your request will be automatically rejected by the exam board portal.
This service is exclusively for A-Level students whose university place is pending. Because UCAS deadlines are tight, the exam boards prioritize these reviews, usually returning an outcome within 15 days.
Deadline: You usually have less than one week after A-Level Results Day (mid-August) to submit this request to your exam centre.
This is for GCSE students, or A-Level students who do not have a pending university place relying on the outcome.
Deadline: The deadline for standard reviews is typically in late September. The turnaround time is up to 20 days.
Before you rush to request a review, you must understand the golden rule of post-results services: Your grade is not protected.
When a senior examiner reviews your paper, three things can happen:
Your marks go up, resulting in a higher overall grade.
Your marks stay the same (or go up slightly but not enough to cross the grade boundary).
Your marks go down, resulting in a lower overall grade.
Because of this risk, JCQ regulations legally require exam centres to obtain written consent from the candidate before submitting a Review of Marking. A parent cannot sign this consent form on your behalf if you are over 16.
Reviewing exam papers costs money, and these fees are set by the exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, etc.), not the exam centre.
The Fees: The exam board fee usually ranges from £40 to £70 per exam paper (Priority services are more expensive than Standard services). The exam centre will also charge a small administration fee to cover the secure processing.
The Refund Policy: If your Review of Marking results in an overall grade change (e.g., you move from a Grade B to a Grade A), the exam board will refund their fee in full. (Note: The centre administration fee is usually non-refundable). However, if your marks go up but your overall grade stays a B, the fee is not refunded.
Do not request a review out of pure emotion. Follow this strategic checklist:
Check the Grade Boundaries: Ask your exam centre for a breakdown of your marks. If you are 1 mark away from the next grade, a review is a highly calculated risk. If you are 15 marks away, a review is almost certainly a waste of money.
Request a Copy of Your Script: Before paying for a review, you can request an "Access to Script" service. This allows you (or your private tutor) to look at your marked paper and see if the examiner genuinely missed something obvious.
Contact Your University: If you missed your offer by one grade, call the university admissions team before requesting a remark. They might accept you anyway through Clearing!
Sign the Consent Form: Ensure you have signed the candidate consent form provided by your exam centre.
Q: Can a private candidate apply directly to the exam board for a remark?
A: No. You must submit your request through the registered exam centre where you sat your exams.
Q: Can my A-Level or GCSE grade go down after a remark?
A: Yes. A Review of Marking can result in your grade going down. You must provide written consent before the centre can submit the request.
Q: How long does a remark take?
A: A Priority Review for A-Levels usually takes up to 15 days. A Standard Review for GCSEs or non-urgent A-Levels can take up to 20 days.
Q: Will I get my money back if my grade goes up?
A: If your overall subject grade changes (up or down), the exam board fee is refunded. If only your marks change but the grade remains the same, there is no refund.
Being a private candidate does not mean you have to face Results Day alone.
At Exam Centre London, our dedicated exams team is here to guide you through the complexities of post-results services. We ensure your Review of Marking requests are processed securely, swiftly, and in full compliance with JCQ regulations.
If you are concerned about your upcoming results or want to understand your options, Contact our Exams Officer today for expert, professional support.
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