Changes to SQA Appeals

1. Changes to SQA Appeals

2. What is changing There will be NO post-results appeals There will be two Results Services available: Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service Post Results Service Applies to all externally-assessed courses

3. Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service • Happens before results are published • Applies only if we believe a candidate has suffered as a result of an exceptional circumstances (bereavement, illness etc.) • School informs SQA immediately • Alternative evidence (e.g. coursework, classwork, prelims) is submitted to SQA • SQA will consider evidence (and results of other students) in determining whether to change grade.

4. Post Results Service • Available after results are issued • There may be a cost for this service (depending on the outcome) • Two types of request can be made: • Clerical Check • Marking Review of the Script

5. Clerical Check SQA will check that: • All parts of the script have been marked • The marks given for each answer on the script have been totalled-up correctly • The correct total/result was entered into the system for that script (the system evaluates all the results received in the different parts of the course, in order to the calculate the final grade) • The mark/grade can go UP or DOWN

6. Marking Review of the Script • This process will involve: • a clerical check (same as above) • an SQA Senior Examiner reviewing the marks that the candidate was given for each question/component/item in the exam paper, to check whether the original marking was in line with the national standard • The mark/grade can go UP OR DOWN

7. Why is this important? • We need to know immediately about any exceptional circumstances • Evidence of those circumstances may be required • Performance on the day becomes crucial – no chance to upgrade grades on appeal afterwards • Checking the paper after the result may LOWER a grade • Work all the way through the course (classwork, as well as a prelim) matters