A-Level re-marks: enquiries about results
Cambridge calls a re-mark an enquiry about results. Here is what the services actually do, how to decide whether one is worth the fee, and what the grade thresholds tell you before you commit.
Start with the numbers, not the feeling
Nearly every re-mark decision comes down to one figure: how many marks you were below the boundary. Your school can see your component marks in Cambridge International Direct or on the component mark report. Add them up the way the option code weights them (your school or our grading guide explains the weighting) and compare the total with the syllabus thresholds for your session and option. Then look at the per-paper component thresholds to see which paper is closest to a boundary — that is the one to query.
A reasonable rule of thumb: within about 2% of the maximum mark of a boundary, an enquiry is a genuine option; beyond 5%, reviews very rarely move a mark that far, and the fee is better spent on a retake. Every session page on this site shows both tables — open your subject from the grade boundaries index.
The services
| Service | What happens | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical re-check | Checks that every page was marked, marks were added correctly and transferred correctly. No re-marking. | You suspect an administrative slip (e.g. a page missed) rather than a judgement call. Cheapest and fastest. |
| Review of marking | A senior examiner reviews the original marking of the component against the mark scheme. Mark can go up, down or stay the same. | You were close to a boundary on a paper with extended answers, where examiner judgement matters. |
| Review of marking with a copy of the script | As above, plus you receive a copy of the marked script afterwards. | You want to see where marks were lost — useful if you are retaking, or planning an appeal. |
| Copy of script only | A copy of the marked script, no re-check or review. | You have accepted the grade but want the script for revision before a retake. Ordering it usually rules out a later review of the same component. |
Availability varies slightly by component type (coursework, speaking tests and practicals have their own arrangements). Your exams officer has the current list and fees for the series.
Deadlines and timing
Enquiries are made by the school or centre, not by the candidate, and Cambridge sets a closing date a few weeks after results are issued. Schools set their own internal deadline earlier than that to process the paperwork, so raise it in the first day or two. Outcomes typically take up to a month; priority services with shorter turnaround exist for candidates holding university places, and universities in the UK will usually hold a place while a priority enquiry is pending if your school tells them about it.
Fees and refunds
Each service is charged per component (per paper), and schools may add an administration fee. If a review of marking changes your grade, the fee for that service is normally refunded; a change in mark that does not cross a threshold is not refunded. That is another reason to check your distance from the boundary first.
How grade changes actually happen
The thresholds do not move. A review re-examines the marking of one component; if the component mark changes, Cambridge re-weights it, re-totals your syllabus mark and compares it with the same published thresholds. So on a 250-mark option where the A boundary was 190 and you scored 187, you need three more marks on the reviewed paper (after weighting) — anything less leaves the grade where it was, and a review that finds over-generous marking can take you further away. Cambridge reports the new mark whether it is higher or lower.
A worked decision
Suppose your Chemistry total is 4 marks under the A* line on a 260-mark option, and the component marks show you were 1 mark under the A threshold on Paper 4 (the long structured paper) but comfortably placed on the others. Paper 4 is the one to review: it has the most examiner judgement and you are closest to a boundary on it. Ordering a review with a script copy costs slightly more but shows you exactly where the marks went if you end up retaking in November. Reviewing Paper 1 (multiple choice) would be pointless — there is no judgement to review, and a clerical re-check would catch any adding error.
Frequently asked
- Can a re-mark lower my A Level grade?
- Yes. A review of marking can move the mark up, down or leave it unchanged, and the new mark stands. Grades only change if the revised mark crosses a published threshold, which is why knowing your distance from the boundary matters before you apply.
- Do grade thresholds change after a re-mark?
- No. Thresholds are fixed for the session when results are issued. A re-mark only changes your mark; it is compared with the same published thresholds.
- Can I apply for an enquiry about results myself?
- No. Applications go through the school or exam centre that entered you, within the deadline Cambridge sets for the series (a few weeks after results). Private candidates apply through the centre where they sat the exam.
- What if I still disagree after the review?
- Your centre can lodge an appeal against the enquiry outcome. Appeals check that procedures were followed correctly; they do not re-mark the script a third time on academic judgement.
Related: results day guide · grade boundaries explained · grade calculator
Independent study tool. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Cambridge Assessment International Education. Grade boundary figures are sourced from official releases; always confirm with your exam board.