A to Z
Guide to Examinations
For Students and Parents
A guide to everything you need to know about
the examination process
Updated: 17/03/2015
Absence from Examinations:
You must attend all exams on your individual timetable which will be given to you after
the Easter holidays at the latest. Misreading the timetable will NOT be accepted as a
satisfactory explanation for your absence.
IF YOU ARE ABSENT FROM AN EXAMINATION DUE TO ILLNESS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE EXAMS OFFICE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. WE SHALL ADVISE YOU ABOUT THE PROCEDURE WE NEED TO FOLLOW TO REQUEST SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION (ALSO SEE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION)
Access Arrangements:
They are adjustments agreed before an assessment which allow disabled
candidates/learners and those with special educational needs or temporary injuries to
show what they know without changing the demands of an assessment.
These adjustments include extra time, rest breaks, separate invigilation, the use of a
Reader, the use of a laptop, etc. The school needs to apply to the exam boards for these
arrangements well in advance of the start of an exam session.
All requests for access arrangements need to come to the Exams Office via Learning
Support. This includes all emergency arrangements.
A letter will be emailed to all candidates and their families in February/ March regarding
any access arrangements requested and approved for the relevant pupils.
NO ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE APPLIED FOR UNTIL LEARNING SUPPORT CONTACT THE EXAMS OFFICE.
Access to the Mansion:
To ensure the best possible conditions for sitting examinations, we
shall display QUIET signs inside and outside the Mansion while exams
are ongoing. Please respect those taking examinations.
Art Exams:
GCSE and A Level Fine Art exams take place in the Art Rooms and last for a whole week.
The Art teachers will give all details to students regarding these exams which often take
place in the 2 weeks before the start of the exam period for written exams.
When the time comes for your work to be displayed for the moderator’s visit (usually in
the week before the Midsummer Festival), you will need to be available on the days and
times the Art teachers set for this.
You will not be able to collect your artwork until the Autumn term following your exams as
it needs to stay at school in case a re-moderation is needed.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Awarding Bodies or Exam Boards:
These are the organisations that provide qualifications for schools and colleges. Awarding
bodies most commonly used in Michael Hall are: AQA, Edexcel/Pearson and OCR. We are
also an exam centre for CIE (Cambridge International Examinations).
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is the overall governing body which oversees all
the awarding bodies and issues general rules and guidelines for both exam boards and
schools.
Bags, Coats, Books, etc:
They cannot be taken into the exam room and should be left on the large table in the
black and white hall as you come into the Mansion or in your own lockers so as not to
disturb candidates remaining in the exam rooms when you leave.
Any valuables such as wallets, mobiles, etc can be left in Reception.
The school accepts no liability for items of value which are left in bags. If in doubt, please
do not bring valuables with you when you are sitting exams.
SOME OF THE EXAM ROOMS ARE “CHILLY” AT TIMES SO YOU CAN TAKE IN AN EXTRA CARDIGAN OR OTHER
WARM ITEM OF CLOTHING WITH YOU. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOMS IS CHECKED DAILY BUT
ADJUSTMENTS ARE SOMETIMES SLOW!
Calculators:
Calculators may be used in most Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and ICT
examinations. Your subject teacher will tell you if they are prohibited.
Where restrictions apply, graphic calculators may not be used and only some
scientific calculators are allowed.
A fault or operational mistake with a calculator will not be considered as
justifying an application for special consideration.
No printed instructions or cases are permitted; if you cannot remove the case from your
calculator you must ensure that all instructions are securely covered.
You must bring your own calculator if you need one. You may not use the calculator
functions of your mobile phone and may not borrow a calculator from another
candidate.
IMPORTANT: WE WILL NOT NECESSARILY HAVE SPARE CALCULATORS AVAILABLE ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM.
ALSO, THE INVIGILATOR WILL MOST PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO USE YOUR OWN
CALCULATOR IF YOU RUN INTO TROUBLE, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLEAR ON ALL THE MODES AND
HOW TO CHANGE FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Candidate Entry Reports (or Statements of Entry):
They show the list of all exam units that you are entered for in a particular exam series. It
is essential that you check all details on these statements very carefully to ensure that:
a) you have been entered for the right examinations – in particular if you have applied
for re-sits or if there are different tiers available
b) all of your personal details are correct, in particular with regards to spelling, as
this information will be printed on your examination certificates. It is relatively
simple to make changes at this stage but once certificates have been issued, you
will incur substantial costs if you notice any errors.
In February, you were given hard copies of your entry reports and were asked to sign them
to say they are correct or marked any changes needed.
Candidate Number:
Your candidate number consists of the last four digits of your UCI (Unique Candidate
Identifier). You will need to write your candidate number in all your written exams,
coursework, etc. This number will be the same for all your GCSE and A level exams.
You will have a card with your name, candidate number and centre number on
your desk for all written exams.
Cashing-In:
Marks for each of the units for which you have been entered are “banked” by the
appropriate exam boards. To “cash-in” these marks for an overall grade, the school has to
add a cash-in code when it submits its exam entries; without this code a grade will not be
calculated and no award for an AS or A2 level will be obtained.
We do not usually “cash-in” AS units which means that you will get a mark for each of the
units you have taken but you will not be given a final AS grade.
If you do not carry on to A2 level with a particular subject, please request that your AS
units are cashed-in for the next exam session in class 12.
Centre:
Centres can be schools, colleges or other establishments that have been approved by an
awarding body to offer qualifications, enter students for exams and conduct the awarding
body’s exams.
OUR CENTRE NUMBER IS 56385
YOU WILL NEED TO WRITE THIS ON ALL OF YOUR EXAM PAPERS
Certificates:
GCSE and A Level Certificates are issued in the Autumn term.
For A Level, you will only receive an AS certificate if the AS units have been
cashed-in.
You do not need an AS certificate if you carry your subject to A2 level.
You will be asked to collect your certificates once they are received (usually
in November). If you are unable to collect them from Reception, they will be
posted to you by recorded delivery.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Please let the Exams Office know if you change your address to enable any outstanding
certificates to be sent to your correct address.
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST KEEP ALL YOUR CERTIFICATES SAFE AS IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES THEY CANNOT BE
REPLACED. THE SCHOOL DOES NOT KEEP COPIES OF YOUR CERTIFICATES. IF YOU LOSE THEM, YOU NEED TO
CONTACT THE EXAM BOARD DIRECTLY.
Clashes:
If you have an examination clash involving different subjects, you will have to sit the
exams one after the other. Normally one exam will take place in the morning session and
the other in the afternoon session. You will have to be supervised at all times between the
two sessions. The Exams officer will go over the details with you well before the exam
date. While being supervised, you will not be able to use your mobile phone or any other
electronic equipment.
If you have a clash on your timetable involving two or three exams of the same subject,
you will sit your papers one after the other. This generally happens with different units of
modern language exams like Listening and Reading units.
Conduct in the Examination Room:
You must be silent in the exam room, including the times when you come in and go out.
Once you have entered an exam room, you are not allowed to leave unescorted until the
end of the exam, and only then when you are given permission to do so.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE AN EXAM EARLY EVEN IF YOU HAVE FINISHED AS THIS DISTURBS
OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE ROOM
Should you require any assistance, please raise your hand clearly and wait for an
invigilator to come to you.
Coursework & Controlled Assessments:
All coursework, controlled assessments, including Science practicals, will be carried out
either during the academic year (class 9 and class 10 for GCSE) or just before the written
exams period starts depending on the specification of each subject and qualification.
The dates and times are set by the subject’s department according to the exam board’s
deadlines and they are generally during the normal lessons for the relevant subject.
If you have any problems attending a particular lesson where a piece of coursework is
taking place, you need to contact the teacher straight away.
Some assessments can be re-scheduled for you but this might not always be possible in
which case a special consideration request can be submitted as long as we have the
relevant supporting information from your doctor or other such source.
The exam boards will return most coursework at the start of the Autumn term at the
latest. Students wishing to reclaim their coursework should ask their teachers as soon as
possible in September.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Dictionaries:
You may not use a dictionary unless dictionaries are permitted
by the subject specification, or special arrangements have
been approved by the exam board in advance.
Your teacher will be able to tell you if a dictionary is allowed
in a particular exam.
If your first language in not English and you would like to use a
bilingual dictionary for a particular exam, please contact
Learning Support.
End of Examinations:
The invigilator must collect your exam paper before you leave the exam room. Absolute
silence must be maintained during this time and, ideally, until you are outside the Mansion
– remember that other examinations may be continuing as you leave.
You may not take any exam materials (additional paper, answer booklets, question papers
etc.) from any exam room.
Even if you finish your exam early, you cannot leave the exam room in the first hour of
any given exam.
In most exams, you will not be able to leave during the last 15 minutes either so as not to
disturb the students still in the exam room.
During any other times you might be able to leave early. If you want to leave, you need to
raise your hand, wait for the invigilator to collect your script and confirm that you can
leave in silence.
Exam Dates:
Exam dates are set by the exam boards and not by the schools. These
dates can therefore NOT be changed.
YOU ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL EXAM TIMETABLE. THESE WILL ALSO BE
UPLOADED ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE AND DISPLAYED ON THE RELEVANT
NOTICEBOARDS.
Exams Office:
The Exams Office is upstairs in the Mansion, in the Sixth Form area. Please ask in
Reception if you cannot find it. We will be happy to help with any queries that you have.
You can also call the office’s direct line 01342 827922 or email
audrey.reggio@michaelhall.co.uk
Updated: 17/03/2015
Exam Regulations:
It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the exam boards’ “Information for
Candidates” regulations, a copy of which is attached to this booklet as APPENDIX A.
Extra Exam Subjects:
In class 9 and class 10, students are offered a maximum of 7 GCSE subjects; in
class 11 and class 12, most students are offered 4 AS/A2 subjects or 3 AS/A2
subjects plus 1 EPQ.
If you wish to sit exams for any extra subjects, you need to arrange tuition
separately and pay for the exam fees set by the exam board and the school.
If you are to be entered for any extra subjects, you need to let the Exams office
know by the end of September of the academic year you are planning to sit your
exam.
IMPORTANT: MICHAEL HALL IS NOT AN APPROVED EXAM CENTRE FOR ALL EXAM BOARDS SO BEFORE YOU
START A PRIVATE COURSE OF STUDY, CHECK WITH THE EXAMS OFFICE WHETHER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
SIT THE EXAM AT THE SCHOOL.
Food and Drink:
Food is not allowed into an examination room unless special permission has been given in
advance.
You are only allowed to take into the examination room a drink of water. This must be in a
clear plastic bottle and all labels must be removed. Please ensure that you have enough
water to last you the whole exam.
Any other type of drink is not permitted – this is in case you spill your drink over your
exam paper. If only water is spilt there is a greater chance that your exam paper can be
saved.
Remember to have something to eat and drink before taking your exams. For morning
exams in particular, do not forget to have breakfast. A banana eaten half an hour before
the start of an exam can boost your concentration levels!
Updated: 17/03/2015
Grade Boundaries:
Grade boundaries are the minimum marks you need to achieve each grade and are
published on the exam boards’ websites on results day.
http://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/student/results/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.aqa.org.uk/student-support/for-students/results-day
http://www.ocr.org.uk/ocr-for/learners-and-parents/calculating-your-grade/
You can check the grade boundaries after receiving your results. Also as AS units are not
normally cashed-in in class 11, you can check an overall grade for your subject this way if
you wish.
Invigilator:
An invigilator is someone who watches over candidates in an examination room to ensure
that exam conditions are met.
Most invigilators will be Upper School teachers but some exams will be invigilated by
admin staff or non members of Michael Hall staff. You must follow all instructions and
orders given to you by an invigilator.
Invigilators are not allowed to read, explain or otherwise help you with any part of the
exam paper. They can only refer you to the front page of the paper and refer you to the
relevant instructions.
Laptop Use in Exams:
Candidates will only be allowed to use a laptop in exams if this is their normal way of
working in the lessons and the Learning Support department agrees that the use of a
laptop will allow them to show what they know without the extra demands of having to
handwrite their exams.
If you think you might be entitled to the use of a laptop you should contact your subject
teacher or Learning Support.
PLEASE NOTE THAT REQUESTS FOR THE USE OF A LAPTOP WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED.
Late Arrivals:
If you arrive late, you must report to Reception or to the Exams office before entering the
exam room.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Any candidate arriving more than an hour after the start of an exam may be allowed into
the exam room; however you should be warned that the exam board might not accept
your exam script.
Please also note that you will not be automatically entitled to the full amount of time for
the exam you are sitting.
Location of Exams:
All written exams take place in the Mansion. The room allocated for each exam will
appear in your individual timetable.
Last minute room changes might need to be made. As the rooms used for exams are all
very close to each other, just be prepared to listen to directions. Once you are invited to
enter the room, make sure that you sit down at the desk bearing your name and candidate
number on the desk label and not somebody else’s. If you wish to change desks for an
acceptable reason, you can ask the invigilator before the start of the exam.
Malpractice:
Malpractice is any default or practice which is a breach of the JCQ regulations or which;
compromises, attempts to compromise or may compromise the process of assessment, the
integrity of any qualification or the validity of an examination result or certificate.
This malpractice can occur in the course of any exam or assessment, including the
preparation and authentication of any coursework, the presentation of any practical work
and the writing of any exam paper.
Malpractice includes being in possession of or using a mobile phone, pagers, mp3 players,
ipods, unauthorised aids or notes but also copying from or communicating with other
candidates.
PENALTIES FOR MALPRACTICE CAN MEAN DISQUALIFICATION FROM ALL EXAMINATIONS FOR UP TO FIVE
YEARS. SEE THE JCQ “NOTICE TO CANDIDATES” OUTSIDE THE EXAM ROOM.
Mobile Phones, Pagers, etc:
No electronic means of communication or electronic organisers are
allowed into the exam room even if they are turned off. If you realize such
device is with you once you have entered the exam room, put your hand
up and the invigilator will collect it from you. Make sure this is done
before the actual exam starts.
THE EXAM BOARDS NOW OPERATE A NO-TOLERANCE POLICY ON ALL CANDIDATES DISCOVERED TO BE IN
INFRINGEMENT OF THE REGULATIONS AND HAVE ADVISED ALL CENTRES THAT STUDENTS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH THEM DURING AN EXAM FACE DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE SUBJECT CONCERNED.
PLEASE DO NOT RISK DISQUALIFICATION: EITHER LEAVE YOUR MOBILE AT HOME OR OUTSIDE THE EXAM ROOM.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Overnight Supervision:
Overnight supervision will be required if you have a clash of 2 or more exams totalling
more than 6 hours in one day if you are an AS/A2 students or more than 5 ½ hours if you
are a GCSE student.
If overnight supervision is required, the Exams officer will discuss the options with you and
your family, and determine a method of supervision which ensures the candidate’s well
being as well as the security of the examinations throughout.
Overnight supervision can be undertaken by a parent or a member of staff.
Penalties:
The JCQ issues a booklet containing Policies and Procedures on Suspected Malpractice in
Examinations and Assessments which are binding for all Exam Boards and Centres.
Depending on the offence that is committed, penalties for Malpractice range from a
warning to a barring a candidate from entering for examinations for a set period of time.
All instances of Malpractice need to be reported to the exam boards.
Pencil case:
Any pencil case brought into the exam room must be clear so the contents can be easily
seen by the invigilator. A clear small plastic bag is a good alternative.
You should only put in your exam pencil case those items which you are likely to need for
the exams. Please do not bring your whole set of colouring pencils, etc.
Private/ Returning Candidates:
At the discretion of the school, former Michael Hall students can be entered for re-sits of
exams they took in previous sessions. So, if your A2 grades are lower than you hoped for,
you may be able to re-sit one or more of your unit exams as an external candidate.
Contact your teacher in the first instance and also the Exams Office for details on costs,
etc.
Prohibited Material:
The following items must not be brought into any examination room:
 bags, coats, briefcases etc;
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books (where set texts are required for specific examinations, a clean copy will be
provided by the teacher or all books will be checked for notes, post-its or excessive
annotations), notes, letters, diaries or other printed material;
calculator cases or instruction books;
mobile phones, pagers, or other communications device;
non clear pencil cases (you can use a transparent plastic bag as a substitute);
personal stereos of any description.
Re-Marks:
The exam boards offer the option of having a script re-marked, at a fee, if a candidate or
member of teaching staff is unhappy with the marks. There is a choice of three different
types of re-marks; these are:
 Clerical check
 Full re-mark
 Priority re-mark
A clerical check is simply when the relevant awarding body checks that the number of
marks given has been added up correctly.
Whereas with a full re-mark the awarding body sends your examination paper to a senior
examiner and asks them to re-mark it using the same mark scheme.
A priority re-mark is exactly the same as a full re-mark but is only available in the
summer for A Level papers where a candidate’s university place it at stake.
If you’re not satisfied with the grade you have achieved the first thing you may think
about is getting your papers re-marked however re-marking is costly and not often
effective. Therefore it is important to consider the following:

ARE YOU CLOSE TO THE GRADE BOUNDARY?
If you are, a re-mark may be worth considering but if you require a substantial amount of
marks to achieve a higher grade then the likelihood is that your mark will not change.

YOUR GRADE CAN GO UP AS WELL AS DOWN
Re-mark means having your entire paper re-marked therefore your grade can quite easily
go down as well as up. If your grade does get lowered you cannot refuse it and ask for the
original higher grade to stand. Because of this candidates often apply for a photocopy of
their paper before applying for a re-mark.

COST
Re-marks are expensive and the likelihood is that your mark will not change. The school
will only pay for a re-mark if it is requested by the teacher.
If you want to request a re-mark, check the updated post-results information given to you
after the end of the exams for deadlines and other and contact your teacher in the first
instance.
Re-Sits:
You can re-sit some GCSE subjects in November. Contact your teacher in the first week or
second week of September if you would like to take advantage of this possibility.
Please note that there is no guarantee that you will achieve a better grade simply by resitting an examination. There are various things to consider before opting to re-sit an
exam, these include:
 Do you think that you will be able to improve on your performance?
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Will you have enough time to revise for a re-sit unit as well as devote the necessary
time to the new units in which you will be examined?
Remember marks from all of your units are added together to produce your final
grade.
Will re-sitting exams give you too full a timetable in the summer?
There are costs associated with re-sit exams.
PLEASE NOTE: AFTER THE RE-SIT DEADLINE ANY RE-SIT REQUESTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL FEES
IMPOSED BY THE EXAM BOARDS.
Results:
AS and A2 levels results are generally released on the second Thursday in August and GCSE
results on the third Thursday in August.
Details regarding collection on the day from Reception will be sent to you after the exams
have finished.
If you wish a nominated third person to collect your results, you want to phone on the day
or you want your results emailed to you, you will need to let the Exams Office know either
by email or filling in the slip you will receive once the exams have finished.
PLEASE NOTE: YOUR RESULTS WILL BE POSTED TO YOU AUTOMATICALLY ON THE THURSDAY AFTERNOON IF
YOU DO NOT COME IN TO COLLECT THEM IN THE MORNING.
Scripts:
Candidates are able to request access to their examination scripts from the exam boards
for general interest or to help with future learning. There are two types of access to script
services available to candidates; these are:
 Original scripts
 Copy of scripts in view of a possible re-mark – A Level only
A-Level candidates sometimes wish to see their examination script in order to decide
whether or not to have the paper re-marked. If this is the case then you must request a
photocopy of the script. You are unable to choose the original script option because once
a script has been returned to a centre from the exam boards then its security has been
compromised. Secondly original scripts are not sent out until after the re-mark deadline.
If however you are not planning on requesting a re-mark then you can request either the
original script or a photocopy. Please note whilst original scripts are cheaper they can
take a great deal longer to arrive than photocopied scripts.
IF YOU WANT TO REQUEST A SCRIPT YOU MUST LET THE EXAMS OFFICE KNOW BY THE END
OF YOUR FIRST WEEK BACK IN SEPTEMBER AT THE LATEST.
Seating Plans in the Exam Rooms:
Updated: 17/03/2015
You will normally be seated in alphabetical order except if you are using a laptop, have
extra time or any other access arrangements.
If going into the Long Room for a GCSE exam, the invigilator or a teacher will call out your
name in order to help you find your desk. All desks will have a name card so please make
sure you sit in the right place as the invigilator has a seating plan which needs to be
accurate.
In smaller exam rooms, you will be able to find your named desk easily by yourself.
Note that sometimes there is more than one exam taking place in the same exam room so
you need to make sure you are in the right place!
Social Media:
We all like to share our experiences when taking exams. However, it is important to
consider what you say. Your comments may lead to an investigation for malpractice and
result in the application of a penalty. Awarding bodies monitor social media and websites.
Examples of statements or activities that will lead to a malpractice investigation include:
posting written work prior to an examination/assessment; working collaboratively with
other candidates beyond what is permitted; being in possession of confidential material in
advance of the exam; passing on rumours of exam content from another candidate.
This list is not exhaustive. Other instances of candidate malpractice may be considered by
an awarding body.
If you are found guilty of breaching any of these rules you could be given from a warning
to a ban from sitting exams for a set period of time.
Special Consideration:
This is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate’s mark to reflect a temporary injury
or other indisposition at the time of the assessment which is likely to have affected his/
her performance. An allowance on your final script mark will be granted by the exam
board if the special consideration is accepted.
Please contact the Exams Office immediately if you feel that you may have been
affected by such a circumstance.
It is the responsibility of the candidate and/or parent to alert the Exams Office of the
intention to request special consideration. The candidate must support any special
consideration claim with appropriate evidence within seven days of the exam, for example
a letter from the candidate’s doctor.
If you are not feeling well during an exam, raise your hand and talk to the invigilator who
will make a note in the incident log or contact the Exams Office where appropriate. This
can be used as supporting evidence when applying for special consideration.
The normal allowance for special consideration means that your mark will be raised from a
1% to a 3%. Higher percentages are only for very serious reason and the maximum
allowance is 5%.
Schools do not have a say on this and are not informed of the final adjustement which will
be applied.
Statements of Entry – See Candidate Entry Report:
Stationery:
Updated: 17/03/2015
All students must remember to bring their own pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, pencil
sharpener, etc to all exams. Borrowing from other candidates is not allowed. Please do
not bring the full normal pencil case you use in lessons. Only bring the items you are likely
to need and always in a clear case or plastic bag.
General JCQ regulations state that a BLACK pen must be used in all examinations. Some
exam boards might allow the use of blue ink but bring a black pen to be on the safe side.
No felt tips are allowed only ink or ball point pens.
For diagrams, use an HB pencil and a ruler.
Gel pens and highlighters can only be used in the questions never in the answers.
Exam rooms will have spare pens and pencils as well as some rulers, protractors, etc but
these are limited and for emergencies only, they are not to be used instead of your own
stationery supply.
MATHS, SCIENCES, ICT, ETC: IN MANY EXAMS, AS WELL AS A CALCULATOR YOU WILL ALSO NEED A
COMPASS, A PROTRACTOR, A RULER, ETC. IF IN DOUBT, BRING THEM IN OR CHECK WITH YOUR SUBJECT
TEACHER.
Study Leave:
Students are granted study leave the morning before an afternoon exam and the afternoon
before a morning exam.
You are expected to attend school every day during the exam period as revision sessions
will be timetabled for all subjects.
Supervision:
If you have a clash, that is 2 or more exams timetabled for the same day and time, you
will be supervised immediately after the end of your first exam until the beginning of your
next one. While being supervised, you may revise for your next exam or talk with fellow
candidates being supervised. You will not be allowed to collect your mobile phone or use
any other electronic devices while under supervision.
Times:
Unless otherwise stated, all examinations in Michael Hall commence at 9.00 am (morning
papers) and 1.30 pm. (afternoon papers).
YOU SHOULD BE READY TO ENTER THE EXAMINATION ROOM AT LEAST 10 MINUTES
BEFORE THE PUBLISHED STARTING TIME.
Only in very exceptional circumstances will extra time be given to candidates arriving
late. If you arrive one hour after the published start time for examinations, you will be
permitted to sit the examination but the exam board might refuse to accept your paper
once they have been informed.
Updated: 17/03/2015
Timetables:
You have been given your own personal timetable for Summer exams. Please check it
carefully. It includes changes of times/days to accommodate your clashes as well as extra
time allowances. If there are any errors, please notify the Exams Office immediately.
Check carefully to see if the examination is in the morning or the afternoon – extra time
will not be permitted if you misread your timetable.
YOU, AND YOU ALONE, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING YOUR EXAMINATION TIMETABLE. IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES THEN PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
Toilet breaks:
If you leave the exam room unsupervised, you will not be able to come back in. As the
invigilator cannot leave the exam room at any time, if you need a toilet break, raise your
hand, ask the invigilator and wait at your desk until she/he summons help. This can take a
few minutes. To avoid stressful situations when a member of staff is not readily available
to accompany you to the toilet straight away, please be aware of how long the exam is
and act accordingly!
UCI Number:
A UCI (unique candidate identifier) number is given to each candidate at the beginning of
class 9 or class 10 and it is used to link all entries and results across different exam series
and between different exam boards.
If you have taken exams in a different centre before you came to Michael Hall, the Exams
officer needs to have your previous UCI number to make any new entries.
University Tests:
Some universities and colleges require you to take an admissions test as well as standard
qualifications (i.e. A-Levels) if you are applying for certain courses in certain subjects.
If you are unsure if you are required to sit a university test log onto
www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/admissions to find out which universities
and colleges are using the tests.
Valuables:
Updated: 17/03/2015
You can leave your valuables in Reception for the duration of your exam. Please note that
all valuables left either in your bags or in Reception are left at your own risk.
Updated: 17/03/2015
APPENDIX A
AQA
City & Guilds
CCEA
OCR
Pearson
WJEC
Information for candidates
For written examinations – effective from 1 September 2014
This document has been written to help you. Read it carefully and follow the instructions.
If there is anything you do not understand, especially which calculator you may use, ask your teacher.
A Regulations – Make sure you understand the rules
1 Be on time for all your exams. If you are late, your work might not be accepted.
2 Do not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice during the exam.
3 If you try to cheat, or break the rules in any way, you could be disqualified from all your subjects.
4 You must not take into the exam room:
•
notes;
•
potential technological/web enabled sources of information such as an iPod, a mobile phone, a MP3/4 player or
a wrist watch which has a data storage device.
Any pencil cases taken into the exam room must be see-through.
Remember: possession of unauthorised material is breaking the rules, even if you do not intend to use it, and you will be
subject to penalty and possible disqualification.
5 Do not use correcting pens, fluid or tape, erasable pens, highlighters or gel pens in your answers.
6 Do not talk to or try to communicate with, or disturb other candidates once the exam has started.
7 You must not write inappropriate, obscene or offensive material.
8 If you leave the exam room unaccompanied by an invigilator before the exam has finished, you will not be allowed to
return.
9 Do not borrow anything from another candidate during the exam.
B Information – Make sure you attend your exams and bring what you need
1 Know the dates and times of all your exams.
2 Arrive at least ten minutes before the start of each exam.
3 If you arrive late for an exam, report to the invigilator running the exam.
4 If you arrive more than one hour after the published starting time for the exam, you may not be allowed to take it.
5 Only take into the exam room the pens, pencils, erasers and any other equipment which you need for the exam.
6 You must write in black ink. Coloured pencils or inks may only be used for diagrams, maps, charts, etc. unless the
instructions printed on the front of the question paper state otherwise.
C Calculators, Dictionaries and Computer Spell-checkers
1 You may use a calculator unless you are told otherwise.
2 If you use a calculator:
• make sure it works properly; check that the batteries are working properly;
• clear anything stored in it;
• remove any parts such as cases, lids or covers which have printed instructions or formulas;
• do not bring into the exam room any operating instructions or prepared programs.
3 Do not use a dictionary or computer spell checker unless you are told otherwise.
D Instructions during the exam
1 Always listen to the invigilator. Follow their instructions at all times.
2 Tell the invigilator at once:
•
if you think you have not been given the right question paper or all of the materials listed on the front of the
paper;
•
if the question paper is incomplete or badly printed.
3 Read carefully and follow the instructions printed on the question paper and/or on the answer booklet.
4 Fill in all the details required on the front of the question paper and/or the answer booklet before you start the exam.
Make sure you fill these details in on any additional answer sheets that you use.
5 Remember to write your answers within the designated sections of the answer booklet.
6 Do your rough work on the proper exam stationery. Cross it through and hand it in with your answers.
Make sure you add your candidate details to any additional answer sheets that you use.
E Advice and assistance
1 If on the day of the exam you feel that your work may be affected by ill health or any other reason, tell the invigilator.
2 Put up your hand during the exam if:
• you have a problem and are in doubt about what you should do;
• you do not feel well;
• you need more paper.
3 You must not ask for, and will not be given, any explanation of the questions.
F At the end of the exam
1 If you have used more than one answer booklet and/or any loose sheets of paper, place them in the correct order.
Remember to fasten them together with a treasury tag before you leave. Make sure you add your candidate details to any
additional answer sheets that you use.
2 Do not leave the exam room until told to do so by the invigilator.
3 Do not take from the exam room any stationery. This includes the question paper, answer booklets used or unused, rough
workUpdated:
or any other
materials provided for the exam.
17/03/2015