{"title":"GCSE and A-Level Remark Success Rates by Subject: 2026 Statistics","question":"How often do GCSE and A-level remarks change grades?","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates","answer":"About 1 in 4 GCSE and A-level grades sent for a remark change, almost always up by one grade. In summer 2025 that was 24.2% at GCSE and 24.1% at AS and A level in England (Ofqual, the exams regulator). Your mark on a paper can go down (11.3% of reviewed GCSE paper marks did), but it rarely costs a grade, and fewer than 0.1% of grades went down. A remark is most likely to pay off when your total is a mark or two below the next grade boundary.","edition":"2026 edition","dataCoverage":"Data: summer 2025 exam series and 2024 to 2025 appeals, England. Summer 2026 figures are due on 10 December 2026 (the date may change).","published":"2026-11-03","updated":"2026-11-03","nextUpdate":{"date":"2026-12-10","expected":false,"release":"Ofqual, Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2026 exam series (provisional date, 9:30am)"},"citeAs":"Aripsy (2026). GCSE and A-Level Remark Success Rates by Subject: 2026 Statistics. https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates","note":"Cite the original publisher for each figure. Aripsy re-checks every figure against its source on the verified date shown.","keyFindings":[{"value":"24.2%","claim":"of challenged GCSE grades were changed after review in summer 2025 (58,725 of 243,150). For AS and A level it was 24.1% (14,150 of 58,830).","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#gcse-remark-success-rate","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Key headlines","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"value":"Under 0.1%","claim":"of challenged grades went down in summer 2025, which was 230 of 243,150 at GCSE and 20 of 58,830 at AS and A level.","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#remark-grade-down","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Tables 9 and 10","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"value":"11.3%","claim":"of reviewed GCSE marks went down in summer 2025 (14.5% at AS and A level, an Aripsy calculation from Ofqual's counts), yet fewer than 0.1% of challenged grades did.","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#remark-marks-down","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Tables 8 and 9","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"value":"14% to 40%","claim":"the range of GCSE remark success rates in summer 2025 across subjects with at least 500 challenged grades, from combined science and performing / expressive arts (both 14.2%) to citizenship studies (40.4%).","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#remark-success-by-subject","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Table 22","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}}],"tables":[{"caption":"What happened to challenged grades after review, summer 2024 and 2025, England","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#grade-change-outcomes","columns":["Outcome","GCSE 2024","GCSE 2025","AS and A level 2024","AS and A level 2025"],"rows":[["Up 2 grades or more","900","965","75","55"],["Up 1 grade","59,020","57,535","14,220","14,075"],["No change","208,690","184,250","47,585","44,675"],["Down 1 grade","270","225","30","20"],["Down 2 grades or more","fewer than 5","5","0","0"]],"note":null,"source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Tables 9 and 10","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"caption":"How reviewed paper marks changed, summer 2025, England (percentage of reviewed marks)","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#mark-changes-2025","columns":["Change in mark","GCSE","AS and A level"],"rows":[["Down 5 or more","0.6%","0.9%"],["Down 4","0.6%","0.7%"],["Down 3","1.3%","1.5%"],["Down 2","2.8%","3.6%"],["Down 1","6.0%","7.8%"],["No change","62.7%","55.7%"],["Up 1","10.2%","11.1%"],["Up 2","6.0%","6.9%"],["Up 3","3.5%","4.2%"],["Up 4","2.4%","2.8%"],["Up 5 or more","3.8%","4.8%"]],"note":"Aripsy calculated the totals above (11.3% and 14.5% down, 26.0% and 29.8% up) from Ofqual's counts.","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Tables 8 and 9","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"caption":"GCSE remark success rate by subject, summer 2025 and 2024, England","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#gcse-success-by-subject","columns":["Subject","Grades challenged 2025","Grades changed 2025","Success rate 2025","Success rate 2024"],"rows":[["Citizenship studies","885","360","40.4%","38.5%"],["Economics","645","245","38.1%","41.5%"],["Religious studies","7,605","2,800","36.8%","35.1%"],["Art and design subjects","6,445","2,280","35.4%","26.5%"],["Spanish","4,320","1,440","33.4%","28.7%"],["Computing","4,265","1,380","32.4%","29.7%"],["Business studies","6,310","2,025","32.1%","29.8%"],["Statistics","1,025","330","32.1%","33.2%"],["Geography","10,110","3,180","31.5%","30.8%"],["Social science subjects","1,805","565","31.3%","29.1%"],["French","3,860","1,200","31.1%","28.2%"],["Physics","7,520","2,285","30.4%","26.1%"],["Mathematics","23,370","6,915","29.6%","29.7%"],["History","12,465","3,655","29.3%","26.3%"],["Other modern languages","605","175","28.9%","29.4%"],["Physical education","6,590","1,890","28.7%","19.4%"],["Biology","8,670","2,480","28.6%","29.6%"],["Media / film / TV studies","875","245","27.9%","20.1%"],["Classical subjects","1,215","335","27.7%","30.1%"],["Chemistry","6,450","1,645","25.5%","27.4%"],["German","975","250","25.5%","30.6%"],["English literature","32,030","7,650","23.9%","20.8%"],["Design and technology","4,680","995","21.3%","18.9%"],["Food preparation and nutrition","1,680","350","20.9%","16.8%"],["Drama","3,535","610","17.2%","15.7%"],["English language","60,570","9,890","16.3%","15.5%"],["Music","2,925","460","15.7%","15.3%"],["Combined science","20,785","2,955","14.2%","14.5%"],["Performing / expressive arts","620","90","14.2%","19.2%"]],"note":"Subjects with at least 500 challenged grades. Engineering (210 challenged, 9.0% changed) and other sciences (95, 23.7%) are left out. Combined science counts twice because it is the size of two GCSEs.","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Table 22","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"caption":"AS and A-level remark success rate by subject, summer 2025 and 2024, England","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#a-level-success-by-subject","columns":["Subject","Grades challenged 2025","Grades changed 2025","Success rate 2025","Success rate 2024"],"rows":[["Business studies","2,730","930","34.1%","32.7%"],["English language","730","240","32.7%","27.1%"],["Economics","4,210","1,290","30.7%","34.1%"],["Biology","4,600","1,385","30.1%","31.9%"],["Physics","2,625","760","28.9%","28.5%"],["Geography","2,505","715","28.6%","23.6%"],["Law","795","225","28.2%","29.7%"],["French","640","175","27.6%","24.0%"],["Further mathematics","1,105","300","27.2%","26.5%"],["Media / film / TV studies","1,140","310","27.1%","18.1%"],["Sociology","2,520","665","26.4%","25.7%"],["Spanish","800","200","24.9%","22.6%"],["Mathematics","4,820","1,165","24.2%","21.2%"],["English language and literature","600","145","24.1%","15.4%"],["Music","645","155","23.9%","22.7%"],["Political studies","2,295","550","23.9%","27.3%"],["Computing","1,290","305","23.6%","18.3%"],["English literature","4,085","885","21.7%","19.5%"],["Religious studies","1,115","235","21.3%","17.9%"],["Psychology","4,510","860","19.1%","22.4%"],["Classical subjects","540","95","17.9%","15.3%"],["Art and design subjects","1,245","220","17.8%","24.3%"],["History","5,165","920","17.8%","13.1%"],["Chemistry","3,055","540","17.6%","16.2%"],["Physical education","1,660","275","16.5%","17.9%"],["Design and technology","1,130","170","15.2%","22.0%"],["Drama","970","125","12.8%","17.0%"]],"note":"Subjects with at least 500 challenged grades in summer 2025. Left out are German (205 challenged, 18.5% changed), performing / expressive arts (90, 16.9%), other modern languages (220, 24.8%), other sciences (60, 24.6%) and Ofqual's \"all other subjects\" group (730, 25.3%).","source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Table 23","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"caption":"Average days to complete a review, England","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#review-times","columns":["Type of review","GCSE 2024","GCSE 2025","AS and A level 2024","AS and A level 2025"],"rows":[["Administrative error review","1.2","0.7","1.3","1.2"],["Review of marking (standard)","7.3","6.3","4.5","4.5"],["Review of marking (priority)","2.2","2.5","3.7","3.5"],["Review of moderation","21.3","20.6","17.8","17.3"]],"note":null,"source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Table 17","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}},{"caption":"Students with grades challenged and changed after review, England","url":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates#students-challenged","columns":["Measure","GCSE 2024","GCSE 2025","AS and A level 2024","AS and A level 2025"],"rows":[["Students receiving results","989,880","1,019,010","338,840","336,045"],["Students with a grade challenged","188,855","172,995","52,255","49,865"],["Share with a grade challenged","19.1%","17.0%","15.4%","14.8%"],["Students with a grade changed","54,790","53,290","13,750","13,615"],["Share with a grade changed","5.5%","5.2%","4.1%","4.0%"]],"note":null,"source":{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":"Tables 15 and 16","tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0."}}],"sources":[{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2025-exam-series","published":"2025-12-11","locator":null,"tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.","status":"Official statistics","dataPeriod":"Summer 2025 exam series, with comparisons to 2024, England","verified":"2026-11-02"},{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Data tables for reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A levels: summer 2025 exam series","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693994b0e447374889cd907c/Reviews_of_marking_and_moderation_for_GCSE_AS_and_A_level_summer_2025.ods","published":"2025-12-11","locator":null,"tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.","status":"Official statistics (data tables)","dataPeriod":"Summer 2022 to 2025 exam series, England","verified":"2026-11-02"},{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Appeals for GCSE, AS, A level and Project qualifications: 2024 to 2025 academic year","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/appeals-for-gcse-as-a-level-and-project-qualifications-2024-to-2025-academic-year/appeals-for-gcse-as-a-level-and-project-qualifications-2024-to-2025-academic-year","published":"2026-04-02","locator":null,"tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.","status":"Official statistics","dataPeriod":"2024 to 2025 academic year, England","verified":"2026-11-02"},{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Ofqual student guide to exams and assessments in 2026: What to do if you think there is a mistake in your results","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofqual-student-guide-to-exams-and-assessments-in-2026/what-to-do-if-you-think-there-is-a-mistake-in-your-results","published":"2026-01-15","locator":null,"tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.","status":"Guidance","dataPeriod":"2026 exams and assessments, England","verified":"2026-11-02"},{"publisher":"Ofqual","title":"Reviews of marking and moderation for GCSE, AS and A level: summer 2026 exam series (release announcement)","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/reviews-of-marking-and-moderation-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-summer-2026-exam-series","published":"2025-12-16","locator":null,"tier":"official","licence":"Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.","status":"Release announcement","dataPeriod":"Release date: 10 December 2026, 9:30am (provisional)","verified":"2026-11-02"}],"csv":"https://aripsy.com/en/research/gcse-a-level-remark-success-rates/data.csv"}