Key stage 2 tests: applying for a review of pupils’ test results
Information about applying for a review of marking for key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests.
Schools can apply for a review of pupils’ 2026 test results on the National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal) from 7:30am on Thursday 16 July until 11:59pm on Monday 7 September.
Review outcomes will be available on the NCA Portal by Wednesday 30 September.
A pupil’s raw score and scaled score could go up or down as a result of a review.
Types of review
Schools can request a clerical review or a marking review. When completing the review request on the NCA Portal, schools must provide details of which review they are applying for and why they believe this is required.
Clerical review requests
Schools can request a clerical review if:
- a test script has been matched to the wrong pupil
- a test marked on paper has an error, such as an incorrect addition of the marks awarded
- 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).
If the request does not meet these criteria, charges apply.
Marking review requests
Schools can request a marking review if there is a discrepancy between how a question has been marked and the published mark scheme which has resulted in a change to:
- the pupil achieving the expected standard
- the pupil not meeting the expected standard
- 2 or more marks to the raw score
The request can be for one or more pupils, and for one or more questions, as long as each pupil has sat and received a mark for that paper and meets these criteria.
Where pupils have compensatory marks for 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 pupil’s remaining 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.
We will reject marking review requests where:
- the request does not relate to the application of the mark scheme
- pupils have not sat or received a mark for that test paper
- the paper is lost or has been awarded a compensatory mark
If the request is rejected or does not result in the changes to pupils’ outcomes outlined above, charges apply.
Charges
Clerical and marking reviews do not incur a charge if they meet the criteria outlined above.
The table below sets out the charges for requests which do not meet the criteria:
| Type of review | When charges would apply | Cost per pupil, per subject |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical review | The review confirms that the test script was matched to the correct pupil. The review does not result in a change to the pupil’s raw score or scaled score, or their assigned code on the attendance register. | £5 |
| Marking review | The review is rejected because it does not relate to the application of the mark scheme, or pupils have not sat or received a mark for that test paper. Alternatively, the review is accepted but does not result in a change to the pupil achieving the expected standard or not meeting the expected standard, or to the pupil’s total raw score by more than 2 marks. | £9 |
Where charges apply, our supplier Pearson will invoice your school once the review process is complete. Your school’s account manager will receive an email when your invoice is available.
The review process
Reviews of pupils’ test results are processed by Pearson.
A pupil’s raw score and scaled score could go up or down as a result of a review.
During a marking review, all of the pupil’s test papers for that subject are checked to ensure the original application of the mark scheme was accurate and no clerical errors were made – for example, for mathematics all 3 papers are checked even if the review is requested for a single question. Marking reviews are carried out by the most experienced markers only.
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.
Test scripts marked on screen will be reviewed on screen. However, the following test scripts will be reviewed on paper and must be returned to us in order to be reviewed (see Returning tests marked 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 there are any difficulties review-marking a script on screen
Applying for a review
Read this guidance in full before requesting a review.
Schools can request a clerical or marking review on the ‘Key stage 2 test results and outcomes’ page within the ‘Dashboard’ on the NCA Portal.
Applications are open from 7:30am on Thursday 16 July until 11:59pm on Monday 7 September.
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. Please also ensure the request meets the criteria outlined in the Types of review.
Full instructions for completing the application are available within the ‘Instructions’ tab on the ‘Key stage 2 test results and outcomes’ page on the NCA Portal.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming your submission and submission reference number. You can amend your application within the NCA Portal until 11:59pm on Monday 7 September.
Returning tests marked on paper
If you apply for a review for a test script that has been marked on paper, this test script will be at your school and you must return it to Pearson to enable a review:
- Call the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013. Request a script collection of a test script marked on paper for review marking, confirming your NCA Portal submission reference number. Confirm when you are able to have the test script collected from the school.
- You will receive an email confirmation that the collection has been booked.
- Ensure the original marked test script is ready for collection, as agreed. We will not accept copies. If we do not receive the original hard-copy script marked on paper, we 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. You can provide comments using the ‘Reason for marking review’ 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.
- Once the test script has been collected and received, the marking review will be completed. Marking reviews for tests marked on paper also include a clerical review of the addition of marks.
- Once the review is complete, Pearson will return the test script to the school and confirm the review outcome on the NCA Portal.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk. Where applicable, please ensure you have your submission reference number and details available.
Review outcomes
We will confirm the outcome of your review application on the ‘Key stage 2 test results and outcomes’ page on the NCA Portal by Wednesday 30 September.
On the ‘Review outcomes’ tab, you will be able to download a letter which contains important information about your review, including:
- the outcome of your review application
- a ‘Notification of changes’ sheet
- a review report for each pupil – for marking reviews, this is completed by the review marker who review-marked your school’s test scripts for a given subject
On the ‘Key stage 2 test results and outcomes’ tab, we will also update affected pupils’ results to reflect the outcomes of any reviews, where applicable. You will then be able to:
- download the latest results for your school
- view the updated scripts marked on screen, showing the final review marks
We will return any test scripts that were review-marked on paper to your school by the end of September.
Where a mark is changed through the review process, changes to the scaled score will not be reflected in the provisional school-level performance measures until the school checking exercise takes place in September.
You can find more information about your school’s performance tables in the Department for Education’s ‘Compare school performance’ service.
Updates to this page
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Guidance updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
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Updated for the 2025 test cycle.
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Updated for the 2024 test cycle.
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Updated for the 2023 test cycle
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The deadline for submitting a review of key stage 2 test scripts has been extended to Friday 22 July
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updated information: applying for a review of marking for key stage 2 national curriculum tests for the current test cycle
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Banner updated for current test cycle
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Updated for 2019 test cycle.
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We have updated this guidance to reflect what is classified as a successful review for 2018. Schools will not be charged, if there is a change to whether the pupil met the expected standard or not or if there is a change of 2 or more marks to the raw score, not 3 marks as in previous years.
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Updated for 2017 test cycle.
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Updated for 2016 test cycle.
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Updated for 2015 review dates
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Further information added on how and when to apply for a review. For example deadlines and which scripts to return for review.
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First published.