Claims that defective A-level grades were awarded by the Oxford and Cambridge Examinations and Assessment Council have been rejected by the Independent Appeals Authority for School Examinations. Winchester College appealed against A-level results given to three 1997 economics students who had failed externally marked assignments while gaining grade As for the rest of the syllabus. IAASE's independent observer concluded OCEAC's procedures were "fit for purpose" and were "applied properly and fairly".