Still time to appeal grade but students urged to view exam script

THERE is still time to appeal a Leaving Certificate grade for anybody who has fallen short of the points needed for one of their preferred courses in Round 1 of CAO offers today. While appeal applications have to reach the State Examinations Commission (SEC) by Wednesday, September 2, and should, therefore, be returned to schools the previous day, students considering such a move are strongly advised to view their exam script.

This facility is available for a number of years and allows unhappy candidates gauge if they have a realistic chance of getting a result upgraded.

All students should have received a form with their results slip last week, which must be filled in and returned to their school by tomorrow if they wish to have a look at one or more exam scripts.

Each school will then arrange viewing on either August 28 or August 29, next Friday and Saturday week. It is recommended a subject teacher accompanies students, as the marking scheme on which papers are graded is available to view.

The SEC charges a €40 fee for each subject being appealed and a €15.50 charge applies for anybody appealing their result in the Leaving Certificate Applied marks.

Last year, almost 11,300 individual grades were appealed, up from 9,913 in 2007, by 6,369 students, out of 360,865 grades awarded to 52,143 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme candidates. While almost one in five appeals resulted in an upgrade, the success rate varied widely between subjects.

The SEC expects to notify the outcome of all appeals to students by mid-October, and any changes in a student's results will also be notified to the CAO.

lAdvice on appeals, calculating points and how to access course information is available from the National Parents Council (Post Primary) Exam Helpline at 1800 265 165 from 10am to 6pm today and 10am to 3pm tomorrow.