Appeals process extended to allow challenge to downgraded exam results

Qualifications Wales has issued a statement confirming they are extending the grounds for appeal for this summer’s GCSE, AS and A levels, and the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications.

Exams this year were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with learners awarded grades based on teachers’ estimates but were then put through a standardisation process,.

Results published on Thursday showed that just over 42% of Welsh A-level students had their results downgraded from teachers’ recommendations.

GCSE students are due to receive their results next Thursday.

Students can appeal their results on the grounds that there is evidence of internal assessment that has been judged by the school or college to be at a higher grade than the calculated grade awarded.

Internal assessment evidence will need to meet specific criteria, which will be published shortly.

If the appeal is successful, the grade will be revised to be the same as their internal assessment grade, but no higher than the Centre Assessment Grade submitted by the centre.

WJEC will provide further details on the process to submit appeals which will be available early next week.

The statement also offers assurances that all learners who are named in an appeal, whether they have provided consent or not, will not be at risk of having their grades lowered as a result of the appeal. Grades will only go up or remain the same as part of the appeals process.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “Earlier this week I directed Qualifications Wales to broaden the grounds for appeal for A levels, AS, Skills Challenge Certificate and GCSEs.

“Today, they have now confirmed what this means for students. I accept that learners wanted and needed more clarity, and I believe this achieves that.