Exam Results 2025 - A-Level / Level 3
On this page you will find information on how to interpret your exam results and how to access Post Result Services offered by your Exam Boards. If you need further help or assistance then please ring the school on 0191 731 7070 or e-mail our Examinations Officer, Peter Lilley, via peter.lilley@whitleybayhighschool.org.
Understanding your exam results
Please ensure you have read the advice sheet that was issued with your results (either as a paper copy if you collected your results in person, or as an attachment if you received your results via e-mail) - a copy of this document is shown below in case you have not yet read this information.
When you received your exam grades you will have received a sheet showing your overall qualification grade (this will be shown in the column titled 'Grd1').
Under the column marked 'Mark Equiv', the overall number of marks you received for that qualification will also be displayed. This mark can then be used in conjunction with the Exam Board grade boundaries so that you can see how close your mark is to the next grade. Please use the document shown below to access this information.
Post-Results Services
We hope you are pleased with your results and that they enable you to move forward with your future plans. We know that every year some students wish to find out more about their results, and may wish to ask the Exam Boards to review their marking to ensure it is accurate and correct. We have listed below the options that are available to you – You will find a link to the form to use to request any of these services at the bottom of this information.
Requesting a ‘Priority Review’ of your paper
This is a priority review of the marking of your paper and is only available when a university or HE place is dependent on the outcome. Please be aware that marks, and therefore overall grades, can go down as a result of a review of marking.
During a ‘Priority Review’, the Exam Board will review the original marking to ensure that the mark scheme has been applied correctly. During this process, marking errors can be identified which occur because of:
• an administrative error;
• a failure to apply the mark scheme where a task has only a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer;
• an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement.
The awarding body will train its reviewers to conduct reviews of marking accurately and consistently. Reviewers will not re-mark the script. They will only act to correct any errors identified in the original marking
Deadline: Requests for a ‘Priority Review’ must be submitted by 2pm on 21st August.
Completion target: The deadline for completion is within 15 calendar days of the Exam Board receiving the request.
Cost: Exam Boards charge to carry out this service, with each exam board setting a slightly different fee. The fee is returned if the outcome of the review leads to your grade going up.
AQA: £61.59 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
OCR: £82.52 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
Pearson Edexcel including BTEC: £69.92 OR £85.34 if you would like to receive a copy of your reviewed exam paper
WJEC: £59.64 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
Informing your university: Exam Boards strongly advise candidates to inform their university or college choices that a review of results has been requested. By informing them, they may be able to keep your place open until the review has been completed. An Exam Board will not inform UCAS or others that a review of marking has been requested. However, it will advise UCAS of any grade change arising from a review.
Requesting a ‘Review’ of your paper
A ‘Review’ will follow the same approach as a ‘Priority Review’, but the deadline for submission is much later – use this service if your future university or work commitments are not impacted by your grades. Please be aware that marks, and therefore overall grades, can go down as a result of a review of marking.
Deadline: Requests for a ‘Review’ must be submitted by 2pm on 25th September.
Completion target: The deadline for completion is within 20 calendar days of the Exam Board receiving the request.
Cost: Exam Boards charge to carry out this service, with each exam board setting a slightly different fee. The fee is returned if the outcome of the review leads to your grade going up.
AQA: £51.82 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
OCR: £67.09 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
Pearson Edexcel including BTEC: £58.61 OR £74.03 if you would like to receive a copy of your reviewed exam paper
WJEC: £50.38 - this includes a copy of your reviewed exam paper
Requesting a ‘Priority Copy’ of your paper
This is a photocopy of your exam paper to help you decide whether or not to request a ‘review’.
Deadline: Requests for a ‘Priority copy’ must be submitted by 11am on 28th August.
Completion target: All copies will be returned to the school within a week of the request.
Cost: There is no fee for this option as Exam Boards do not charge for this service.
Please remember that School Teachers are on holiday when Exam Results are released – subject specialists may not be available to look at your exam paper and assist with advising if they think you should request a review.
Requesting the return of your ‘Original Script’
You can only select this if you do not wish to get your exam ‘reviewed’. The ‘original script’ can help if you are planning to resit the unit again.
Deadline: Requests for your ‘Original Script’ must be submitted by 2pm on 25th September.
Completion target: ‘Original Script’ requests will be processed as soon as possible, but priority will initially be given to reviews and priority copies.
Cost: There is no fee for this option as Exam Boards do not charge for this service.
Important matters to consider before submitting a request
Payments for reviews & priority reviews will be added to your SCOPAY request. Payment MUST be made promptly and the result with be withheld until payment is showing on the SCOPAY system. Once you've submitted the form, payment requests should be visible on SCOPAY in 2-3 working days at most.
Please note that requests must be submitted by the candidate - a parent, extended family member or friend can not submit a request on your behalf. When submitting the request, you will be asked to provide an e-mail address for you, the candidate, and also one for a parent which will be used to follow-up on payment matters as required.
Requests for Reviews and Priority Reviews can lead to your overall grade going down - this can occur when the Exam Board reviews the original marking and finds errors. Therefore, you must think very carefully about whether the grades you have received allow you to do what you wish to moving forward.
At the top of this page we explain how to check if your overall mark is near to the next higher and lower grade boundaries. If your mark is less than half-way to the next grade boundary up then the chance of a successful review is low. Furthermore, if you are within 4-5 marks of your current grade boundary then we would not recommend submitting a request as the risk of your grade going down increases. This risk depends on the number of marks between each grade - please speak with school staff if you need further advice or help.
For Reviews and Priority Reviews we recommend that you ONLY submit a request for one paper / component in a specific subject at a time - this is because if you review more than one paper at a time then one may go up and the other may go down and cancel out any opportunity to increase your grade. If you submit your first review by 4th September then you will receive the outcome of that review in time to submit at least one more review before the final deadline.
Making a request
Please use the following form to make a request to use any of the above services > https://forms.office.com/e/bLzXP1HWha
If you are selecting a service that includes a fee, this will be added to your SCOPAY account. Please note that this fee includes a small administration charge to cover the use of SCOPAY by the school. If your Priority Review or Review of marking leads to an increase in your overall grade, you will receive a full refund for that Review.
All SCOPAY balances must be settled in order for the school to provide you with the outcome of your request.