Exams Office

Exams Officer

Mrs J Dale

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External exams FAQs

Q. What do I do if I have an accident or am ill before the examination? 

Inform school at the earliest possible point so we can help or advise you. In the case of an accident that means you are unable to write it may be possible to provide you with a scribe to write your answers, but we will need as much prior notice as possible. You may need to obtain medical evidence (from your GP or hospital) if you wish the school to make an appeal for Special Consideration on your behalf (see below).

Q. What do I do if I feel ill during the examination?

Put your hand up and an invigilator will assist you. You should inform an invigilator if you feel ill before or during an examination and you feel this may have affected your performance.

Q. Why do I need to bring my statement of entry to all my examinations?

Your statement of entry acts as your identification and should be placed on your examination desk with your candidate number and photograph clearly visible. The invigilators will check your candidate number against the seating plan.

Q. What is an Appeal for Special Consideration?

Special Consideration is an adjustment to the marks or grades of a candidate who is eligible for consideration. The allowance for Special Consideration is from 0% (consideration given but addition of marks considered inappropriate) to 5% (reserved for exceptional cases). Parents and candidates should be aware that any adjustment is likely to be small and no feedback is ever provided. Candidates will only be eligible for Special Consideration if they have been fully prepared and covered the whole course, and performance in the examination or in the production of coursework is affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control. Examples of such circumstances may be severe illness, accident or injury, bereavement, domestic crisis. The Examination Officer must be informed immediately, so that the necessary paperwork can be completed (within 7 days of the last examination session for each subject) and the candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence to support such an application.

Q. If I’m late can I still sit the examination?

Provided you are not more than 30 minutes late, it may be possible for you to sit the examination. You should get to school as quickly as possible and report to the exams office. A member of staff will escort you to the examination room. You must not enter an examination room without permission after an examination has begun. It may not be possible to allow you any extra time if you start the examination late. Please ensure that you allow enough time to get to school so that if you are delayed (e.g. through transport problems) you will still arrive on time.

Q. If I miss the examination can I take it on another day?

No. Timetables are regulated by the examination boards and you must attend on the given date and at the advertised time.

Q. Do I have to wear school uniform?

Yes. Normal school regulations apply to uniform, shoes, hair, jewellery, make-up, etc.

Q. What equipment should I bring for my examinations?

For most examinations you should bring at least 2 pens (black ink only).

For science/mathematics modules you need at least 2 pencils.

For some examinations you will need a calculator (mathematics/science), a 30cm ruler (marked with cm and mm), pencil sharpener and rubber, compasses, protractor, coloured pencil crayons (not gel pens), set texts (e.g. for English Literature).

You are responsible for providing your own equipment for examinations. You must not attempt to borrow equipment from another candidate during the examination.

Equipment should be in a clear plastic pencil case or plastic bag.

If you are unsure what equipment you will need for specific subjects, check with your subject teacher before going on study leave.

Q. What items are not allowed into the examination room?

Only material that is listed on question papers (e.g. an anthology) is permitted in the examination room and students who are found to have any material with them that is not allowed will be reported to the appropriate examinations board. In such circumstances, a student would normally be disqualified from the paper or the subject concerned.

Bags and coats and any other items not permitted under examination regulations must be left in the cloakroom. Do not bring any valuables into school with you when you attend for an examination.

No food or drink is allowed in the examination room except a small bottle of still water. This must be in a clear plastic bottle and the labels must be removed.

Q. Why can’t I keep my mobile switched off in my pocket?

During an examination being in possession of a mobile telephone (or any other electronic communication device, e.g. ipod, headphones, MP3) is regarded as cheating and is subject to a severe penalty from the examination boards: Don’t take the risk!

The minimum penalties are as follows:

Device found on you and turned ON - disqualification for the entire subject award.

Device found on you and turned OFF – disqualification from the specific paper you are sitting at the time.

Telephone rings during the examination wherever it is in the room the examination board must be informed and you will be disqualified from all papers for the subject (including any already taken).

If there is an emergency that requires that you bring a mobile telephone to school, you must switch it off and leave it in a named bag in the examinations office or hand it in to the invigilator in the examination room before the examination starts. You are responsible for collecting it at the end of the examination from the examinations office.

Q. Can I leave the examination early?

It is this school’s policy not to allow candidates to leave the examination room early, as this is disruptive to other candidates.

Q. What do I do if I don’t get the grades I need for sixth form?

Staff will be available to advise you on results day. If you feel strongly that it is necessary to make an enquiry about your result you should first consult the relevant Head of Department(s) to obtain their advice as to the advisability of requesting a re-mark. You should be aware that your mark could go down as well as up or even stay the same. Re-mark requests must be submitted to the Examinations Officer as soon as possible following receipt of results. You must complete a remark form and return it with a cheque to cover the cost (n.b. the cost of a re-mark is approximately £35.00).