It costs €40 to apply for each subject you want rechecked

WHETHER or not they are viewing scripts, candidates may request an appeal form from the school where they sat their exams.

While there is no charge to view a script, there is a fee of €40 to recheck a Leaving Certificate (established) subject and €15.50 to recheck a Leaving Certificate Applied subject, which is repayable if the appeal is successful. The school sends all requests for rechecks to the SEC; candidates should submit their forms to the school as early as possible, but no later than early on September 6 so the principal can approve the appeal and forward it in good time.

Even if applying online, candidates should return a copy of the application to the school, so any exam work being stored by the school can be sent on.

The results of rechecks will not be available until October, so candidates must make decisions around any offers without knowing the outcome of an appeal.

If a candidate is upgraded and it is found that they missed out on a course as a result of not being awarded the correct grade initially, they will be offered the place at that stage.

Even though many students are motivated to apply for rechecks as a result of narrowly missing out on a course, where a new offer is made in October, many decide to stay put, as they have already made friends, found accommodation and settled in.

There is always the possibility that a result will be downgraded (six last year, out of more than 9,000 appeals) so students should also bear that in mind.