Exam Information

During the Examination Sessions Preparation

Candidates will have a copy of their exam timetable. It is vital that each Candidate knows which day each exam is and whether it is taking place in the morning or afternoon. In the past, Candidates have been at home studying at 9 o’clock, thinking that they’ve got an afternoon exam, only to receive a phone-call telling them that their “afternoon” exam is actually a morning exam! Make sure the School Office has a phone number for you and keep your mobiles on until you get to the examination room.

Equipment

It is the Candidates' responsibility to ensure that they bring in the required equipment for each examination – calculators, writing implements, measuring implements, etc. Some exams (such as Drama) require certain notes to be brought in to the examination. It is imperative that Candidates have hard copies of these notes in advance of the examination.

Disallowed materials

Mobile Phones, iPods and MP3 players are strictly forbidden in an examination and if a Candidate is found to possess these in an exam, even in their bag at the back of the Hall, it can result in a unilateral disqualification from all exam boards! Also, pencil cases must be TRANSPARENT and calculator cases are not allowed on the desk.

During the Exam

Silence is mandatory and Candidates must not give invigilators any suspicion that they are attempting to converse with another Candidate. If there are problems, then Candidates must raise their hands for an invigilator to help them.

It is an offence to write on any materials provided by the exam boards which are clearly not for the purpose of the exams. This includes Candidate Identity Cards on the desk, formulae booklets and any maps. Any graffiti will be dealt with severely and may be considered to constitute an attempt to communicate unlawfully and thus the candidate may be subject to disqualification.

Access Arrangements

Access Arrangements, such as extra time and the provision of laptops, are implemented by the Exams Officer and a prior assessment must take place to ensure that a candidate qualifies for this. A file of students requiring long-term access arrangements is kept by the Exams Officer and contains evidence collected by the school to support applications. Candidates who require laptops must let the Exams Officer know in which exams they are needed.

If things go wrong

DON’T PANIC! Things can go wrong, but there is always a solution. Almost every situation has been considered, and there is nothing for Candidates to worry about. Candidates are recommended to make sure that they have the school’s number at hand and to ensure that the school can contact them if necessary.

If a Candidate is late for an exam, it is most likely that they can be admitted and allowed to sit the full length of the paper. As soon as the Candidate knows that they are going to be late, they should inform the school as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

A Candidate is considered very late if they arrive after the awarding body’s published finishing time for the examination or 30 minutes after the awarding body’s published starting time, whichever is later. While they may sit the exam, a report will have to be made. It is possible, however, that the Exam boards will not accept the script.

If a Candidate finds that they are unwell before an examination, the best thing to do is usually to come in and sit the examination where possible. A special consideration can be made, though the maximum percentage that can be awarded from a Special Consideration is 5. However, if the Candidate is contagious they must remain away from the school. In case of illness, the Candidate should try to arrange to see a doctor that day outside of their examinations so that they can provide evidence of illness.

This will also be true if a Candidate is taken ill during an examination. If a Candidate has to leave an exam due to ill health, then their script will still be sent in with a special consideration, and it is possible that a mark may be extrapolated from what is submitted.

It is imperative that the Exams Officer is kept fully informed so that the best course of action can be decided.

Special Considerations

As has already been mentioned, in the event of injury, illness, or other circumstances which affect a Candidate’s examination performance, a special consideration can be applied for. However, this requires the examination officers to receive full and appropriate professional evidence, e.g. from a GP or medical consultant