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Examinations
The Examinations Officer is Mrs Carol-Anne Lale, contactable by email c.lale@palladianacademytrust.com or telephone 01225 838014.
Exam Results
Grade Boundaries
Grade boundaries are the minimum number of marks needed to achieve each grade. After all exam papers have been marked, senior examiners and assessment experts review students' overall performance and set the grade boundaries. Although exam papers are designed to be of a similar standard each year, some papers may be slightly easier or more difficult than others.
By setting grade boundaries after marking has been completed, exam boards can take into account the level of difficulty of that year's exam. This helps ensure that students who demonstrate the same level of knowledge and skills receive the same grade, regardless of when they sat the exam. In short, grade boundaries help to make results fair and consistent from year to year.
AQA - AQA Grade boundaries
Pearson – (Edexcel and BTEC) - Grade boundaries | Pearson qualifications
OCR - Grade boundaries
WJEC (Eduqas) -Grade Boundaries
Post result services
If you have concerns about your results, there are two main services available:
- Access to Scripts (ATS): View your marked exam paper to understand how it was assessed.
- Review of Results (RoR): to request a review of the original marking by a senior examiner.
Details of post result services, deadlines and how to apply for these services will be included within your results envelope and posted on the school website.
A Level Post Results Service Request Form 2026GCSE Post Results Service Request Form 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
I am only a few marks away from the next grade. Should I request a Review of Marking?
Being close to a grade boundary does not automatically mean that an error has been made in marking.
A Review of Marking is not a re-mark. A senior examiner checks whether the original examiner applied the mark scheme correctly. Marks can go up, stay the same, or go down.
Students should carefully consider whether there is evidence that the marking may not reflect their performance before requesting a review.
Can marks go down?
Yes.
When a Review of Marking is completed, the overall mark may increase, decrease or remain unchanged. Students must understand and accept this risk before submitting a request.
Does being close to a grade boundary mean the paper has been marked incorrectly?
No.
Grade boundaries are set after all papers have been marked and reviewed by the exam board. A student being one or two marks below a grade boundary does not indicate that a marking error has occurred.
Should I request a copy of the script first?
Access to Scripts can be helpful where a student or teacher wishes to see how marks were awarded before deciding whether a Review of Marking may be appropriate.
However, candidates should be aware that Post Results Services deadlines are fixed and waiting for scripts may not always leave sufficient time to request a Review of Marking.
Will a teacher review my examination script?
Not necessarily.
Teachers are not required to review examination scripts as part of the Post Results Services process. Where staffing and availability allow, a teacher may choose to provide guidance, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Are teachers available during the summer holidays?
Some teachers attend results days in school, and this is your best opportunity to speak to someone if you have concerns over your results.
Most teaching staff are on annual leave during the summer holiday period.
As a result, subject-specific advice may not always be available before the beginning of September. Students should be prepared to make decisions using the information provided by the school and exam boards.
Can parents request Post Results Services?
Requests can be discussed with parents; however, examination boards require the candidate's written consent before a Post Results Service can be submitted.
The school cannot submit requests without the student's consent.
Why is candidate consent required?
Candidate consent is required before a school can request access to an exam script because the script contains the candidate's personal information and examination responses. Exam boards require written permission from the candidate to ensure their personal data is protected and that they agree to their script being viewed.
When requesting a review of marking, exam boards require candidates to confirm that they understand:
- The service being requested.
- That marks and grades may go up, stay the same, or go down.
- The potential implications of any grade change.
- Requests cannot be processed until consent has been received.
How long do Post Results Services take?
Timescales vary between exam boards. The deadlines below are the maximum time allowed for awarding bodies to complete the service from the date they receive the request.
- Service 1: Clerical Re-check - Up to 10 calendar days
- Service 2: Review of Marking - Up to 20 calendar days
- Priority Service 2: Review of Marking (A Level and other eligible qualifications only) - Up to 15 calendar days
- Access to Scripts are often available much sooner however, turnaround times can be affected by high demand, and we will prioritise requests required to support Reviews of Marking.
Will the fee be refunded if the grade changes?
Yes. Fees are refunded where a review results in a change to the overall qualification grade.
If papers are reviewed separately, only the fee for the review that leads to the grade change may be refunded. If several papers are reviewed together and one of them results in a grade change, all fees associated with that review request are usually refunded.
How to Request a Post Results Service
Step 1 - Read the Guidance
- Read the information on this webpage so that you understand:
- The services available.
- The fees payable.
- The published deadlines.
- The risk that marks and grades may decrease.
Step 2 - Consider Whether a Request Is Appropriate
Where possible, discuss your results with a teacher.
Please note that teachers may not be available during the summer holiday period.
Step 3 - Complete the Post Results Request Form
Submit the school's Post Results Services Request Form, indicating:
- Candidate name.
- Candidate number.
- Subject and component.
- Service requested.
Step 4 - Provide Candidate Consent
The candidate must sign the required consent declaration before any request can be submitted to the exam boards. An email directly sent to the Exam Officer will be accepted as written consent.
Requests received without consent cannot be processed.
Step 5 - Make Payment
Payment must be received before the school submits the request to the exam board. Details of fees and payment methods can be found above.
Step 6 - School Submission
Once the completed form, consent and payment have been received, the Examinations Officer will submit the request to the exam board.
Step 7 - Outcome Notification
The Examinations Officer will inform the candidate of the outcome as soon as the exam board releases the result. Any adjustment to marks or grades will be communicated as promptly as possible.
Before You Submit Your Request
Please ensure that:
- You understand that marks can go up, down or stay the same.
- You have read the fees and deadlines. Remember, fees are per exam paper, not per subject.
- You have provided candidate consent.
- You have considered any university, college or sixth form deadlines.
- Payment has been made.
- Only when all the above have been completed can a request be submitted to the exam board.
Certificates
You are strongly advised to make every effort to collect your certificates. Your certificates are valuable documents. Valuable in the sense that replacements can cost up to £50 per certificate but also as they are proof you studied at Ralph Allen School and completed the course. This is irrespective of the grades you achieved.
If you go on to further education at any time in the future you will need to produce them. Many employers will also ask to see them. It is in your interest to collect your certificates even if you don’t think you will ever need them.
We are only obliged to keep your certificates for one year after which they will be securely destroyed. Replacements will only be available directly from the relevant awarding bodies at a cost as previously mentioned.
GCSE Certificates Summer 2026
A celebration event is to be held on Wednesday 25 November allowing you to come back together and collect your certificates. Details of this event will be published on the school website and emailed to parents in the autumn term.
If you are unable to attend the celebration evening, there are other ways to collect your certificates. Students remaining at Ralph Allen School will be issued with their certificates via their tutors. If students do not remain at Ralph Allen to attend sixth form, certificates will be made available for collection from the main school reception between 26 November - 3 December.
A level Certificates Summer 2026
A celebration event is to be held on Wednesday 6 January allowing you to come back together and collect your certificates. Details of this event will be published on the school website and emailed to alumni. If you are unable to attend this event certificates will be made available for collection from the main school reception between 7 – 14 January.
Previous Years Certificates
There is limited availability to collect previous years certificates and this can be done by prior arrangement only. Certificates will not be available during examinations or results periods. You should either;
1. Email Mrs Petmezas, Examinations Assistant m.petmezas@palladianacademytrust.com asking to arrange collection. If you are unable to collect certificates yourself you may email Mrs Petmezas with details of who you would like to collect them on your behalf. The nominated person will need to bring photo ID with them upon collection. Unfortunately if we cannot see any ID we will not be able to release your certificates.
2. Complete and return the certificate posting form together with a payment of £5.50 to cover the cost of recorded delivery and packaging. Payment details shown on the form.
I’ve lost my examination certificates, where can I get hold of copies?
You will need to contact the awarding body directly to receive a replacement certificate or certified statement of results https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate. If you cannot remember which awarding body you took your examinations with you will need to contact each in turn to see if they have a record of you achieving a qualification with them. Please note that there is generally a charge for issuing confirmation of qualifications and you will need to be able to prove that you are the certificate holder.
Internal mock exams
To help you prepare for your external exams, internal mock examinations will be conducted under formal conditions, following the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) regulations. This is your opportunity to experience what real exam conditions feel like, so you’ll know exactly what to expect when it matters most.
Why is this important?
Understanding and following the rules isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting your hard work. The awarding bodies take exam security very seriously, and any breach of the rules, even accidental, can lead to serious consequences such as penalties or disqualification.
To support you, each student will receive a candidate handbook along with their exam timetable. This handbook, along with the JCQ publications listed under Information for Candidates below, provides clear guidance on:
- What to expect during exams
- What is and isn’t allowed
- How to avoid common mistakes that could be seen as malpractice
Take the time to read these documents carefully. They’re there to help you succeed and ensure your exams run smoothly. Knowing the rules means you can focus on doing your best without any unnecessary stress.
Year 11 mocks 9 - 19 November 2026
Year 13 mocks 11- 22 January 2027
Year 12 mocks 5 - 9 July 2027
Information for candidates
The following information is issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications and should be read and understood by students taking external examinations.
Information for candidates - Written Examinations
Information for candidates - Onscreen Tests
Information for candidates - Non Examination Assessment
Information for candidates - Coursework
Artifical Intelligence and Assessments
AI in Assessments - A quick guide for students
Internal Appeals Procedure
Our internal appeals procedure covering internally assessed marks and post results services has recently been updated. Internal Appeals Procedure Policy
On Exam Day
Candidates must arrive on time.
Should you experience problems on your journey to any of your exams e.g. you are unwell or delayed, please contact the Exams Officer on 01225 838014. If we are unavailable to take your call, please leave a message including your name and telephone number in case we need to call you back.
If you arrive late, but before the published start time, go to your exam venue. You may be asked to report to the Exam Officer if your absence has already been reported.
If you arrive after the published start time you must report to the Exam Officer in the first instance and will be taken to your exam venue.
In exceptional circumstances If you do arrive later than 1 hour past the starting time:
- you will be allowed to sit the exam only at the discretion of the Exams Officer.
- a full written report will be sent to the awarding body.
- you will be advised that the awarding body may not accept your work.
Illness or absence
Illness and other absences must be reported to the Exams Officer prior to the exam beginning. A parent/carer must ring the exam officer on 01225 838014 if for any reason you are unable to attend your exam and advise her accordingly. This action should be taken before your exam takes place.
In the event of illness during your exam you must advise the invigilator at the time of your exam.
Special consideration
Special consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate’s mark or grade. This is to reflect temporary illness, temporary injury or some other event outside of a candidate’s control at the time of the assessment. For further details, please see a guide to the special consideration process.
JCQ A Guide to the Special Considerations ProcessYou must tell an invigilator at the time of your exam if you feel unwell or experience any other circumstances that affect your performance. You will be asked to complete a special considerations request form if you meet the eligibility criteria.
If you have been absent from an examination due to illness you will be asked to complete a JCQ/ME Form 14 and return it to the exam officer with supporting evidence.
External Examinations and Assessments
Details of the courses, specification codes and awarding bodies are shown below.
