A college taking part in a pilot scheme allowing A level students to inspect their marked exam papers has hailed it a success.

Students from City and Islington College sixth form centre in north London, who received their government and politics results on Thursday, also had the chance to pick up photocopies of their marked scripts.

The subject was one of 10 being used in the trial, involving about 1,000 A level centres.

The pilot is part of an initiative designed to help candidates learn from their mistakes, and reduce the number of appeals against mis-marking.

No complaints so far

From this year, any school or pupil wanting to appeal against their grades will be allowed to see their marked papers, whether or not they wish to appeal.

If the pilot, being run by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, is judged to be successful, it could be opened up to all candidates in some form next summer.

There are fears that returning scripts could prove costly for schools and colleges

A total of 44 students at City and Islington College sat the government and politics exam, and around half of them chose to collect their marked papers when they received their results.

Keren Abse, head of the sixth form centre, said no students had raised any complaints about the marking with the college.

And she said she thought the scheme was a good idea, as it would help students understand the "mythical" marks they receive, and would reduce the numbers wanting papers re-marked.

Time to reflect

"The most important thing is that students are able to look at it. In subjects where they can't see the papers, they might be wondering why they've got a D when they thought they would get a B.

"If the papers are there, they themselves can look and think "Oh God, what a load of rubbish", or whatever.

"For other students, it's terribly difficult, as the results of any re-marks don't come through until the end of October, which prevents university entrance this year."

The college is planning to send marked scripts on to the students who chose not to collect them on results day, in case they decide, after reflection, they would like to see them.

Teachers could also benefit from looking at the marked papers, Ms Abse said.

"One of the most frustrating things is that you teach somebody for two years, then they sit the exam, and it's the only bit of work you don't see."

It would also help teachers make sure they were on the right track when teaching syllabuses.

'Helpful'

Oliver More, 18, from Hackney, was one of the students who received his marked script.

He needed three Bs for his place to read politics and economics at Sheffield University, and achieved straight A grades in government and politics, economics and history

"I think it's a good idea to let us see our papers. It's helpful to know what we've done wrong and what we've done right.

"It was quite interesting - when you come out of an exam you can't really remember what you've written.

"There were some people who didn't get as good grades as they had expected, and I think that seeing their papers will stop people questioning their grades.

"I wish I could see my papers for my other exams."

Concern over cost

Exam boards have expressed doubts about the scheme, fearing that storing and returning scripts will cause administrative problems.

And the Secondary Heads Association and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have warned that the extra costs will be passed on to schools.

But Ms Abse although the scheme would increase the amount of time schools and colleges needed to spend on administration, and would mean teachers spending time going through the papers, the additional cost would be worth the benefits of seeing the marked scripts.

Four models of a similar scheme are being piloted at GCSE level, involving 200 examining centres.

The moves are part of a change to the whole appeals process from this summer.

In recent years, there have been only about 200 appeals a year, out of more than four million GCSE and A level entries.