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	Access and fairness
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Access and fairness

Candidates with particular requirements

Two types of additional procedures exist to ensure that all candidates have fair access to an examination. Special arrangements are made for candidates with permanent or long-term disabilities or learning difficulties, such as candidates with visual impairments. These arrangements must be approved by the awarding body before an examination. Special consideration is given after an examination to candidates whose performance in the examination is affected by circumstances beyond their control; for example, illness, accident or bereavement.

Requests for special arrangements and special consideration must be made by a centre on behalf of their candidates. The Joint Council publishes details of the arrangements in their booklet Regulations and Guidance relating to Candidates with Particular Requirements. The circumstances affecting candidates may be considered during the review of grading described in the section called ‘Awarding grades and results’.

Enquiries about results and appeals

Where centres are dissatisfied with their results, they can request an enquiry about results or ask to see the candidates’ scripts. Candidates cannot request an enquiry on their own behalf, but must go through their centre. Enquiries about results cover a range of services from a clerical check to the re-marking of an exam paper or the re-moderation of coursework. Awarding bodies charge a fee for each type of service. Each awarding body must publish details of its arrangements for enquiries about results and appeals and the fees charged. Copies of these arrangements are sent to every centre. The Joint Council has also produced a leaflet Enquiries about Results and Appeals. This describes the common arrangements agreed by the awarding bodies.

Where a re-mark of an exam paper is requested, the awarding body arranges for a senior examiner to re-mark the candidate’s work according to the original mark scheme. A clerical check is also conducted to ensure that the marks were calculated and recorded correctly. In general, the outcome of an enquiry about a result may lead to a candidate’s overall grade being confirmed, raised or lowered.

If a centre is dissatisfied with the outcome of an enquiry about a result, they may lodge an appeal with the relevant awarding body. An awarding body’s appeals process is in two stages. It must first carry out a preliminary appeals process to review all aspects of the case and then, if the centre or candidate remains dissatisfied with the outcome, a formal appeal hearing is conducted. Once an awarding body’s enquiries about results and appeals procedures have been exhausted a centre may appeal to the Examination Appeals Board (EAB) if it is still dissatisfied with the result.

The EAB is an independent body which has been set up to ensure that schools and colleges (and through them candidates and parents), are satisfied that the grades awarded are as fair and accurate as they can be. The EAB will consider whether the relevant awarding body has used procedures consistent with the regulatory authorities’ code of practice and whether it has applied these procedures properly and fairly in arriving at judgements. It is the final avenue of appeal against the results of A level and GCSE examinations

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> EAB
> JCQ