How to Deal with an Unfair School Mark

Put in the effort but didn’t get the result you expected? Here’s how to handle it when you believe your grade doesn’t reflect your work.

You poured hours into your assignment — followed all the instructions, ticked every requirement, created multiple drafts, and carefully edited and formatted your final piece. You felt confident about a high score.

Then the paper comes back… and the mark is far below what you anticipated. To make things worse, your friend’s work looks no better than yours, yet she scored higher.

So what’s really going on?

It’s one thing to feel your mark is unfair — it’s another to know exactly what to do next. The most constructive approach is to speak with your teacher, ask for a review of your work, and seek clarity on how your grade was determined.

Don’t Assume the Worst

Even if the mark feels unjust, avoid jumping to the conclusion that it was deliberate. Teachers mark dozens — sometimes hundreds — of assignments, and mistakes can happen. Enter the conversation with an open mind.

A respectful way to start is to say you’re disappointed with the grade and want to better understand where you fell short. Ask if they could go through the assignment with you, explaining their reasoning and offering suggestions for improvement.

Sometimes, walking through the work together may even lead your teacher to realise an error was made.

If You Still Disagree

If, after the discussion, you still believe your grade is too low, politely ask whether they could reconsider. For example:

“Thank you for taking the time to review my work with me — I appreciate it. I understand your feedback much better now, but I still feel my mark may be lower than it should be. Would it be possible to take another look?”

Be prepared for them to say no. At that point, weigh the importance of the grade against the potential impact on your relationship with the teacher. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on improving future results rather than risking ongoing tension.

Taking It Further

If you believe strongly in your case, you could ask the Head of Department to review the assignment. Keep in mind, there’s always a chance your mark could go down rather than up — but if you’re certain you’ve been unfairly assessed, the risk may be worth it.

Alternatively, accept the grade but make sure you get as much guidance as possible for the next task. Clarify expectations, check your understanding of the brief, request feedback on drafts, and do practice work to show your commitment and improvement.

When Extra Support Helps

If your teacher isn’t giving you the feedback you need — or you want additional help meeting assignment criteria — seeking outside assistance can be invaluable.

Aussie Edu Hub provides expert tutors who can help you interpret marking guidelines, strengthen your subject knowledge, and refine your work so you’re better prepared for the next assessment. With personalised support, you’ll have the tools to meet expectations and perform with confidence.