How to collect your exam results

The College submits all grades to the relevant exam boards. These grades are what our teachers have assessed as the outcome you would have achieved, had you sat your exam(s).

Our teachers have used coursework, mock exam results, assessments and general records of performance throughout the course to award a grade. Exam boards then check these submitted grades against a model designed by regulators, to ensure consistency and fairness.

Nottingham College has submitted provisional (centre assessment) grade(s) and rank order(s) to the relevant awarding body in accordance with the Ofqual guidance on Awarding qualifications in summer 2020 and in line with the awarding body instructions.

The links below take you directly to student guides related to assessments and appeals:

• Student guide to post 16 qualification results Summer 2020
• Got your results, what next (Leaftlet)

To achieve fairness nationally, awarding bodies are putting these grades through a standardisation process to ensure grading standards are consistent across all colleges, schools and assessment centres. The rank order of candidates will not be changed but the final grades candidates receive may be different to the centre assessment grade.

On your statements of results (results slips) and certificates, final grades will be reported in the same way as in previous years.

At results time, Ofqual will be providing information for students that sets out how grades were calculated this year and the options available if you believe your result was not properly produced, including access to appeal. The National Careers Service Exam Results Helpline (Call 0800 100 900 or Text your name and the word ADVICE to 07766 413219) offers advice each year for students who have not received the results they had hoped for.

Ofqual will also make a helpline available to students and their parents or carers to talk about the appeals process and any other questions they may have about their results this summer.

Awarding bodies will also likely provide information for students about results. We will be adding any further guidance from Awarding bodies to this page so please check back here if you have any further queries.

If you have a concern about a grade you have been awarded, you can ask us to:

• Check whether an error was made when submitting your centre assessment grade and rank order to the awarding body
• Raise a complaint if you feel you have evidence of bias or that you were discriminated against; you could also pass such evidence on to the awarding body who could investigate for potential malpractice
• Seek any information the awarding body holds in relation to how your final grade was calculated
• Provide information about the opportunity to take an exam in the autumn series or in summer 2021

The arrangements for awarding qualifications in summer 2020 state:

Candidates can appeal their grades through their centre if they feel the process this summer was not followed correctly in their case.

A candidate can:

Ask Nottingham College to appeal on their behalf to an awarding body if there is evidence that leads a candidate to believe:

• The centre made an error when submitting a centre assessment grade or rank order information
• An awarding body made a mistake when calculating, assigning or communicating a grade

Appeal against the centre’s decision:

• Not to seek any information the awarding body holds that would be needed for an appeal; and/or
• Not to appeal to the awarding body

However candidates cannot:

• Appeal against their centre assessment grades and position in the rank order
• Appeal in respect of the process or procedure used by Nottingham College in calculating your centre assessment grades and position in the rank order
• Appeal directly in any respect to the awarding body (unless a private candidate)

We are currently awaiting Ofqual's updated appeals guidance since the government announcement and changes to now issuing the Centre Assessed Grades/Moderated Grade whichever is higher.

You can also read our exams appeals policy with further guidance and information on the process.

If you are interested in resitting an exam, we offer a private exam entry service for a range of exams including GCSE, A Level, Functional Skills, AAT and more. For more information on this service and how to enquire about being entered for a resit, please see our private exam entry service page.

Although getting your results can be an exciting time, it can also cause a lot of stress. Our Achievement Coaches will be on hand to offer our students support if they need it when they get their results. They will also be there in the weeks that follow if needed. Our team of mental health first aiders are on standby to provide virtual drop-in support too.

Other useful resources

• The Wellbeing Hub on StudentNet has a whole range of resources you can use.
• Student Minds – the UK’s student mental health charity
• BBC Advice on studying and work – a really useful hub with lots of different resources
• Various support agencies including Kooth counselling can also be accessed through StudentNet.

The UK Government has produced helpful guidance in the run up to Results Day.