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GCSE Exam boards’ Grade boundaries 2023 now out – how close to the grade boundary was your mark? Should you appeal?

by Tabitha BardaAugust 24, 2023

The GCSE and IGCSE grade boundaries for 2023 are now out, and in the wake of the return to the tougher pre-pandemic grading system, students are more interested than ever to check whether their mark fell close to the border of a higher grade.

Reports of appeals against A Level paper grades suggest that there have been some dramatic results following requests for remarks this year, with one Head of English claiming that a request for a remark of an OCR English Language and Literature A Level paper resulted in one candidate receiving 10 extra marks, leading to a grade change.

But is your mark close to the grade boundary? And, if so, should you request a remark?

How to find your exam board’s GCSE grade boundaries for 2023

The grade boundaries have now been made public on the websites of exam boards such as Edexcel (which does IGCSEs, popularly taken in the UAE), AQA, OCR, and Cambridge Assessment International Education.

You can access the relevant grade boundaries via the links below:

Cambridge Assessment International Education’s IGCSE grade boundaries are available here
Edexcel / Pearson GCSE and IGCSE grade boundaries are be here
AQA GCSE grade boundaries are here
OCR A-level grade boundaries are here

Should you Appealyou GCSE or IGCSE Grade?

Appealing a GCSE or IGCSE grade must go through your school, and it’s worth noting that grades may go up or down, and a cost may be incurred.

The number of GCSE appeals in the UK increased from 775 in 2019 to 1,090 in 2022, despite last year’s grade boundaries being slightly more generous than those seen in pre-pandemic years.

Pundits predict this figure will surge again with the stricter grade boundaries, which could see up to 300,000 fewer top marks handed out on GCSE results day on Thursday.

How to Appeal your IGCSE or GCSE Grade

Appealing a GCSE grade involves a specific process that varies depending on your circumstances and the reason for the appeal. Ofqual is the official place for guidance on this matter. If you believe there has been an error in the grade you received, you can follow these general steps to initiate an appeal:

Contact Your School or College: Start by speaking to your teacher or school’s exams officer. They can provide guidance on the process and help you understand the reason for your grade.
Review the Marking: If you believe there may have been a mistake in the marking, you can request to see your marked exam paper. This can help you understand how the grade was determined.
Request a Review: If you still believe there is an error in your grade, you can request a review of marking or moderation. This means asking the exam board to recheck your exam papers or coursework. Your school or college will need to submit this request on your behalf.
Deadline: Keep in mind that there is a deadline for submitting review requests. This deadline is typically a few weeks after the results are released. Make sure to check the specific deadline for your year.
Pay Attention to Fees: In some cases, there might be a fee associated with the review process. If the review leads to a grade change, this fee is usually refunded.
Await the Outcome: Once the review is requested, you will need to wait for the exam board’s decision. This can take several weeks.
Appeal to the Exam Board: If you’re still unsatisfied with the outcome after the review, you can consider making an appeal directly to the exam board. This step involves a formal process and usually requires your school’s support. The grounds for appeal could include errors in the process, application of procedures, or if your school believes that the grade doesn’t reflect your abilities.
Contact Ofqual: If you exhaust the internal appeal process and remain dissatisfied, you can contact the exams regulator, Ofqual, for further guidance. They can provide information on your options and the next steps to take.

Remember that the process and deadlines for appealing grades can change, so it’s crucial to stay updated through your school or college and official exam board communications. It’s also important to approach the process with clear evidence and a legitimate reason for your appeal.

GCSE results will be officially released to all students across the world at 11am UAE time today. Stay tuned for our minute-by-minute live coverage, as we bring the results from every UAE school as they come in.

See the SchoolsCompared.com LIVE GCSE results feed here.

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