What this guide covers
- What Enquiry Upon Results means
- The three categories of enquiry
- When an enquiry makes sense
- Deadlines, fees and who requests it
- How long it takes and what to expect
- Enquiry or resit
- Frequently asked questions
What Enquiry Upon Results means
Enquiry Upon Results, usually shortened to EUR, is the International Baccalaureate's formal process for asking the organisation to check or reconsider a component result after grades are published. Parents often call it a remark, and that is close to the truth for the most common category, but EUR is broader than a simple re mark and it is worth knowing which service does what before spending money on it. The process is initiated by the school's IB coordinator, not by the candidate directly, and it runs to fixed deadlines after each session.
The central caution is that grades can move in either direction. An enquiry is a genuine re examination of the marking, so a component grade can go up, stay the same, or in some cases go down. That risk shapes when an enquiry is sensible and when it is not.
The categories of enquiry
There are three main categories. Category one is a re mark of externally assessed work, such as examination scripts, by a senior examiner. This is the service most families have in mind, and it is the one that can change a grade. Category two is the return of the marked externally assessed materials, so a school can see how the work was graded, and it is often taken alongside or after a category one enquiry. Category three is a re moderation of internally assessed coursework at the school level, which reviews whether the school's marking was correctly moderated rather than re marking individual pieces.
Each category serves a different purpose. If the goal is to challenge a subject grade that looks out of line with expectation, category one is the relevant service. If the goal is to understand where marks were lost, category two provides the evidence. Category three is mainly relevant where a whole cohort's coursework moderation appears to have shifted marks.
When an enquiry makes sense
An enquiry is most worthwhile when a subject grade is clearly out of step with strong, consistent internal evidence, such as reliable predicted grades, mock results and coursework marks all pointing higher. It is particularly worth considering when a single grade sits just below a university offer, because even a one grade change can confirm a place. It is less worthwhile when the result broadly matches the candidate's track record, because the likelihood of a change is lower and the risk of a downward move, while small, is real.
Enquiries and university offers
If a place hinges on a single grade, tell the university you have requested an enquiry and ask them to hold the place while it is resolved. For the wider results day picture, see our guide to IB diploma retakes and how predicted grades are formed.
Deadlines, fees and who requests it
Enquiries run to strict deadlines in the weeks after results are released, so the decision has to be made quickly. Only the school's IB coordinator can submit a request through the IB's system, which means the first step for a family is always a conversation with the school, ideally on results day or the day after. Each service carries a set fee per subject or component, payable to the IB, and category one fees are often refunded if the grade changes. The exact schedule is updated each session and is held by the school's IB coordinator, so ask them for the current figures rather than relying on estimates.
How long it takes and what to expect
Category one re marks typically take a few weeks to be returned, though timing varies with demand in a given session. When a grade changes, the candidate's overall diploma points are recalculated and any revised certificate is reissued. Schools receive the outcome through the same IB system used to submit the request, and they then pass it to the family. Because the window is short and the university calendar moves quickly, families weighing an enquiry should treat it as an urgent results day decision rather than something to consider at leisure.
Enquiry or resit
An enquiry and a resit solve different problems. An enquiry asks whether the existing work was marked correctly and can deliver a fast change with no further study. A resit accepts the mark and aims to improve through fresh preparation in a later session. Where the internal evidence strongly suggests the marking was harsh, an enquiry is the first move. Where the result genuinely reflects the performance on the day, a resit is the more realistic route to a higher grade.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IB Enquiry Upon Results?
It is the IB's formal process for checking or reconsidering a component result after grades are published, including a re mark of examination work, the return of marked materials, or a re moderation of coursework. The school's IB coordinator submits the request.
Can an IB remark lower your grade?
Yes. A re mark is a genuine re examination of the work, so a grade can go up, stay the same, or go down. That risk is why enquiries are best reserved for grades that look clearly out of line with strong internal evidence.
Who can request an IB remark?
Only the school's IB coordinator can submit an enquiry through the IB system, so families start by contacting the school, ideally on results day, since the deadlines are tight.
How much does an IB Enquiry Upon Results cost?
Each service carries a set fee per subject or component, and re mark fees are often refunded if the grade changes. The schedule is updated each session and held by your school's IB coordinator, so ask them for current figures.