Key stage 2 tests: applying for a review of pupils’ test results
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-07)

Information about applying for a review of marking for key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests.

We will update this guidance in July 2026 for the academic ear 2025 to 2026.

Schools can apply for a review of pupils’ test results using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form in the ‘Available activity’ section of the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG) (https://www.primaryassessmentgateway.education.gov.uk/publicaccessproduction/selfservice/citizenportal/login.htm). The form will be available from 7:30am on Tuesday 8 July until 11:59pm on Friday 18 July 2025.

A marking review is successful and free of charge to the school if it results in:
- a change to the pupil’s status from not meeting the expected standard to meeting the expected standard
- a change to the pupil’s status from the pupil meeting the expected standard to not meeting the expected standard
- 2 or more marks being added to or subtracted from the raw score
- a correction of a code due to supplier error
A raw score to scaled score calculator will be available within the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form on the PAG. Schools can use it to calculate what effect a change to the total raw score might have on the scaled score awarded. This can help when deciding whether to apply for a review. Test materials and mark schemes are available in the collection of past test materials (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-past-test-materials).

A clerical review is successful and free of charge to the school if it results in:
- a correction of a test marked on paper, such as a correction of errors made when adding up marks
- matching a test script previously matched to an incorrect pupil to the correct pupil
- a correction of a code on the attendance register
We will only accept review applications made by schools where the application has been authorised by the headteacher or a delegated senior member of staff. We will not accept applications from pupils, parents or governors.

Types of review

Marking review

Schools can apply for a marking review for as many pupils as required if they consider there is a discrepancy between how the questions have been marked and the published mark scheme. We recommend that schools only submit a review application if the above criteria for a successful review are met.

Marking reviews can only be conducted where a pupil has received a result for a paper. Where pupils have compensatory marks for the English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2, schools can still apply for a review for English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1.

If a pupil’s test script for English grammar, punctuation and spelling or mathematics is lost, schools can still apply for a review for the remaining pupil’s test scripts for that subject – for example, if a pupil’s mathematics Paper 1 is lost, you can still request a review for the pupil’s mathematics Papers 2 and 3.

Schools should be aware that a pupil’s raw score and scaled score could go up or down as a result of a marking review.

Clerical review

Schools can apply for a clerical review if:
- a test marked on paper has an error, such as incorrectly added up marks
- a test script has been matched to the wrong pupil
- there is an error on the school attendance register – for example, an attendance code needs to be corrected
Changes to attendance registers can only be made where there is a genuine error – for example, if a pupil has taken a test and their script has been sent for marking, their school cannot request that the attendance register is changed to indicate that the pupil was working below the standard of the test (marked as B).

Schools should be aware that a pupil’s raw score and scaled score could go up or down as a result of a clerical review.

Charges

The table below sets out the charges for a review if it does not meet the successful criteria outlined above:

Where charges apply, our supplier Capita will invoice your school through the ‘Outstanding activity’ section on the PAG once the review process is complete. Your school’s account manager will receive an email notification when your review invoice is available.

Applying for a review

Schools should read this guidance in full before requesting a marking or clerical review on the PAG.

Schools can request a review by using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form in the ‘Available activity’ section of the PAG and selecting the test subject. Reviews must be submitted for each pupil and each subject individually. To do this, use the ‘Request’ button in the review column next to the relevant pupil’s outcome.

On the application form, schools must select whether the request is for a clerical or marking review.

For a clerical review, schools must:
- select a reason from the dropdown list
- provide more information about the reason for the request
- provide up to 2 alternative contacts for any application queries during the summer holidays
- select ‘Submit’
For a marking review, schools must:
- provide more information, including the reason for the review for each paper and question – please use the following format to enable the review marker to understand and respond to your concerns: ‘Paper (insert which paper)/Question (insert question number) – (insert comment)’
- provide up to 2 alternative contacts for any application queries during the summer holidays
- select ‘Submit’
Schools cannot apply for a marking or clerical review if the school:
- believes the pupil has provided an acceptable response, but that response is not within the published mark scheme
- does not submit the request during the published 10 day application window
The PAG generates an automated email, confirming that the review application has been submitted and can be amended until 11:59pm on Friday 18 July.

You must provide contact details so our supplier can resolve queries with your school. We may reject applications if our supplier cannot contact your school to resolve queries during the review marking period over the school summer holidays.

The review process

During a marking review, we check all of the pupil’s test papers for the relevant subject, to make sure that the original application of the mark scheme was accurate and no clerical errors were made – for example, for mathematics, we review mark Paper 1: arithmetic, Paper 2: reasoning and Paper 3: reasoning.

A panel of experienced supervisory markers, who have achieved the highest-quality marking standards throughout the marking period, conduct review marking. Review markers are supervised and their work is sampled to ensure that the mark scheme for the subject they are reviewing is applied correctly and marking quality is maintained. If review markers do not apply the mark scheme as required, or do not adhere to the review procedures, they will be stopped from review marking. In this situation, any review marking they have carried out will be reviewed again by another review marker.

We may award or deduct marks following the review of a pupil’s test papers. As a result, a review can lead to an increase or decrease of the raw score, which may affect the scaled score and whether the pupil meets the expected standard.

Tests marked onscreen

Test scripts marked onscreen will be reviewed onscreen. However, if there are any difficulties review marking a script onscreen, it will be review marked on paper.

Tests marked on paper

We mark the following tests on paper:
- all braille, braille transcription, enlarged print and modified large print versions of the tests
- test scripts that could not be scanned for onscreen marking – for example, due to the condition of the test scripts
If you apply for a review for a test script which was marked on paper, you must return this to Capita to enable a review. You can arrange a marking review script collection by contacting the national curriculum assessments helpline on xx-xxxx-xxxx. A marking review for tests marked on paper also includes a clerical review of the addition of marks.

Schools must ensure the original marked test script is ready for collection as agreed with Capita. We will not accept copies. If schools do not have scripts ready for the agreed collection, it will be the school’s responsibility to return scripts to Capita by an agreed date at their own cost. In this instance, schools would need to contact the national curriculum assessments helpline to confirm the return address and deadline.

If Capita does not have the original hard copy scripts marked on paper, they will be unable to conduct the review and the application will be rejected.

We will only consider review applications if a pupil’s test script has not been amended or annotated in any way following the original marking, including circling the evidence for review or adding sticky notes to the test script. This is so the review marker can reach an impartial judgement. Schools can provide comments using the ‘more information’ box within the review application form. We reserve the right to reject review applications without giving any further reason if a school has made amendments of any kind to a pupil’s test script.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Review outcomes

We will inform you of the outcome of your review by Wednesday 10 September 2025. Where required, we will update the pupil’s results in the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form on the PAG, to reflect the outcome of the review.

For each subject, you will receive a letter confirming:
- the outcome of your review application
- a notification of changes sheet
- a marking review report for each pupil
Each of these contains important information about your review. The marking review report is completed by the review marker who review marked your school’s test scripts for a given subject.

You will be able to access test scripts which were reviewed onscreen by using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form in the ‘Available activity’ section of the PAG. This will show the review marks for each pupil. If you send test scripts marked on paper for review, we will return them to your school by Thursday 4 September 2025.

Where a mark is changed through the review process, changes to the scaled score will not be taken into account in the provisional school level performance measures until the school checking exercise (https://check-your-performance-measures-data.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb) takes place in September 2025.

You can find more information about your school’s performance tables in the Department for Education’s ‘Compare school performance’ service (https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables).