Need to appeal an Exam Board decision? You have 10 working days—here’s how.

Academic Appeals

Exam Board Appeals: A Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students

Receiving your exam results can be a stressful time, and if you feel that a decision made by the Exam Board is unfair or incorrect, you have the right to appeal. This guide outlines the key steps, grounds for appeal, and what to expect from the process.

It’s important to bear in mind the University’s Rules of Assessment when looking at what options the Exam Board have offered – they can only depart from these rules where there have been accepted Extenuating Circumstances. Whilst you may not always like the options/results you have been given, they may still be the correct outcome in line with these Rules.

It’s important to act quickly, as appeals must be submitted within 10 working days of your results being published. Read on to understand how to submit a strong appeal and how SU Advice can support you through the process.

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KEY STEPS WHEN YOU CAN APPEAL WHAT YOU CAN’T APPEAL POSSIBLE OUTCOMES WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WRITING A STRONG APPEAL HOW SU ADVICE CAN SUPPORT YOU GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPEAL

Key Steps to Appeal Your Exam Board Decision

Check your deadline – You have 10 working days from the publication date of your results to submit an appeal (please note this may not be the date you view your results – check when they were published).
Understand your grounds for appeal – You must have valid grounds, which we explain below.
Gather evidence – Your appeal must be supported by evidence where necessary.
Submit your appeal – Use the online appeal form available on the University’s website.
Await the outcome – Your appeal will be reviewed, and you’ll be informed of the decision.

When Can You Appeal?

You can appeal if one or more of the following apply:

New Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) – You were unable to submit an EC claim before the published deadline, or you now have new evidence to support an existing claim.
Procedural Irregularities – The University made an administrative or procedural error in handling your assessment, marking, or progression.
Prejudice or Bias – You believe that the Exam Board’s decision was affected by bias or unfair treatment.

If your appeal does not meet any of these grounds, it is unlikely to be accepted.

What Grounds Are Not Accepted?

Your appeal will not be accepted if it is based solely on:

Disagreeing with a mark or grade (marks cannot be changed unless a procedural error is proven).

Provisional or informal marks that were not formally approved.

Late submission of extenuating circumstances (unless you can justify why you could not submit earlier).

Disputing how the Exam Board assessed your extenuating circumstances.

Requesting a higher classification due to narrowly missing the grade boundary.

Complaints about teaching or academic support (these should be raised through the Student Concerns and Complaints Procedure before the Exam Board meets).

Possible Appeal Outcomes

The Exam Board follows strict Rules of Assessment, so your appeal should request a realistic outcome. Possible outcomes include:

No change – If your appeal is unsuccessful, the original decision stands.
Reassessment opportunity – You may be offered another attempt at an assessment.
Repeating a year or module – In some cases, you might be allowed to retake a module or year.
Correction of procedural errors – If an administrative mistake is identified, it may be rectified.

The University cannot:

Increase your marks.

Assume what grade you might have achieved without extenuating circumstances. If you're unsure what to request, SU Advice can help.

What Happens After Submitting Your Appeal?

Initial check – Your appeal is checked for validity (i.e., submitted on time and has valid grounds).
Review by an Appeals Officer – They will consider:
- Your appeal and evidence.
- The original Exam Board decision and reasoning.
- Any relevant University records.
Decision made
- If the appeal is dismissed, the original decision remains.
- If the appeal is upheld, the case is sent back to the Exam Board for reconsideration.
- In some cases, the Deputy Dean may resolve the case directly (e.g., correcting a clear error or allowing a student to repeat a year instead of reassessment).

Writing a Strong Appeal

When writing your appeal, consider the following:

Clearly state what decision you are appealing.

Explain why you are appealing and link it to one of the valid grounds.

Be specific and avoid vague statements – Provide clear details about how the issue affected you.

Include evidence where necessary (e.g., medical documents, emails, or University policies that were not followed).

If citing extenuating circumstances, explain why you couldn’t report them before the deadline.

If claiming procedural errors, provide proof of how the University failed to follow its own policies.

If citing prejudice or bias, include evidence showing unfair treatment (e.g., emails, comparative cases).

How SU Advice can support you

We can support you with your appeal by:

Reviewing your draft appeal and offering feedback.
Explaining possible outcomes and what you can realistically request.
Helping you understand the appeals process.
Guiding you on evidence submission.

Want feedback on your appeal?

Fill out the online Exam Board Appeal form.
Send screenshots of your completed form and a Client Information Form to suadvice@essex.ac.uk.
One of our advisers will review your appeal and offer suggestions.

Important:

If the Exam Board gives you options (e.g., reassessment), you must select your preferred choice by the deadline—even if you are appealing.
The University may impose a decision if you don’t choose in time.
Appeals take time to process, so contact us as early as possible before your deadline.

For further advice, contact suadvice@essex.ac.uk. We’re here to help you navigate the process.

DIVE DEEPER

Want even more in depth information? Read our full information on Appeals.