THE children's commissioner has raised concerns about a new appeals process that recommends pupils cannot dispute grades.
GCSE, AS-level, A-level and vocational exams have all been cancelled this summer.
Instead, results will be predicted and based on a combination of information provided by schools and statistical data.
A public consultation closed this week.
The CCEA exams body has recommended that pupils will not be able to appeal their grades themselves, even if they disagree with the result awarded by their teacher.
Koulla Yiasouma, Commissioner for Children and Young People, said she welcomed that CCEA moved quickly to provide clarity.
However, she said she was concerned young people's rights were not protected.
In consultation with her Youth Panel, a group who advise her, she said there were worries about the potential for teacher bias.
The panel also shared anxieties about the variation and range in evidence upon which teachers and schools will make their assessments.
"It is not acceptable that there is little to no opportunity for young people to exercise their right to appeal," she said.
"For the first time, grades are being based almost entirely on teacher and school judgement. Whilst NICCY wishes to acknowledge teachers' professionalism, expertise, and hard work, particularly in these challenging times, I and my panel members are concerned that omitting this main component of determining grades from the appeals process is unjust.
"I am deeply concerned that students who have experienced illness or trauma will not have these ‘extenuating circumstances’ taken into account this year. The potential disadvantage for these students will be all the more exacerbated if they do not have the right to appeal."
