Examination Appeals Procedure

The Institution's Appeals Procedure is explained below:-

  • Candidates who wish to appeal against the fail result that they have been given must register an appeal in writing within one calendar month from the date of the results were posted by IFE Head Office (i.e. the date appearing on the results letter)

  • Candidates cannot appeal against a pass result in order to achieve a higher grade

1. First Level of Appeal

  • A candidate who appeals against a fail decision must submit in writing the grounds for the appeal. The candidate will be charged a fee of £30.00 per paper to have scripts re-marked.

  • The candidate will be notified in writing the outcome of the appeal.
  • Candidates may download a copy of the current Examinations Appeal Application Form by clicking here.
  • Once completed, the form may be returned by post, fax or by e-mail attachment.
  • Other letters or e-mails of appeal should be clearly marked Examination Appeal and should contain information similar to that included in the downloadable document.
  • Completed applications should be sent to:-

The Examinations Officer,
The Institution of Fire Engineers,
London Road,
Moreton in Marsh,
Gloucestershire GL56 0RH
United Kingdom

Fax no: +44 (0) 1608 812581

E-mail: exams@ife.org.uk

2. Second Level of Appeal

A candidate who disputes a dismissed first appeal may appeal further. In this instance:-

  • The candidate should submit different reasons for the second appeal. If these are no different from those offered for the first appeal, the second appeal will fail and the Examinations Office will inform the candidate that no further correspondence will be entered into. Applications for any second appeals must be received within one calender month from the date that the results of the first appeal were posted by IFE Head Office (i.e. the date appearing on that letter).
  • Where a candidate produces new reasons for the second appeal, the Examinations Office, (on receipt of a further fee of £30 per paper) will arrange for the original script to be marked by an independent examiner (i.e. an examiner who was not part of the original team of markers for that paper).
  • Once the independent marker's report has been received, the Examinations Office will review it and make a decision based on that report, together with any further evidence submitted by the candidate. The appeal may be upheld or dismissed and the candidate will be informed in writing.

3. Third Level of Appeal

  • Should the candidate continue to dispute a dismissed appeal, an independent professional expert will monitor the audit trail of the conduct of the appeals procedure. If in this expert's view the procedure has been adhered to, that decision will be final. The candidate will be informed of this decision and no further correspondence will be entered into.
  • When appeals are upheld the fee(s) for remarking will be returned to the candidate.