Candidates sometimes don’t get the results that they hoped for. If this happens to you, try not to worry too much. Your results may still still open up many different exciting opportunities for your further education and future career. 

However, in some cases, you may want to consider re-marking or retakes – for example, if your teacher predicted a much higher grade.

Retake an exam

If you or your teachers think that you could achieve better grades, you can choose to re-take your exam. 

What is a retake?

An exam counts as a retake if you have sat the same syllabus in the past year. 

You will need to wait for the next exam registration and then request a retake.

What you need to do

You need to provide your: 

  • previous centre number
  • candidate number
  • confirmation of syllabus retake.

Note: the retake option may not apply to all subjects.

Re-marking

Teams of examiners assess every exam paper. They are specialists in their subjects, and follow a strict marking scheme. Principal examiners oversee the process to make sure that grades are awarded fairly. 

If a student is awarded a grade that differs significantly from their teacher’s prediction or comparative performance, their exam is automatically re-checked and often re-graded. Borderline grades are also re-marked to ensure the grade is fair. 

The exam marking process is carefully designed to be fair to all students. However, if you feel that your exam result does not represent your work, you can ask to have your paper re-marked. 

Request a re-mark

If you are a school student and believe that your exam results are incorrect, you should talk to your teacher. If your teacher agrees that you should request a re-mark, you will need to contact the British Council as soon as possible after you get your results. You will have to pay a re-marking fee. 

If you are a private candidate, you should contact the British Council as soon as possible after you get your results.

Remember: your grade and mark may be lowered, confirmed or raised following the enquiry. If your grade is raised, you may be entitled to a full refund for this service. 

Teachers and exam officers must obtain consent from a candidate before ordering a examination re-mark. Please contact the British Council for more details.