LEALANDS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS 2016 GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS. Telephone Number:

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1 LEALANDS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS 2016 GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS Telephone Number: admin@lealands.luton.sch.uk

2 INTRODUCTION It is the aim of Lealands High School to make the examination experience as stress-free and successful as possible for all candidates. We have included information in this booklet which should be read carefully by students and parents, so that they are aware of examination regulations and procedures. Examination Boards impose strict criteria which must be followed for the conduct of examinations and Lealands High School is required to follow them precisely. If you or your parents have any queries or need help or advice at any time before, during or after the examinations please contact: Mrs D Morris Examinations Manager Telephone: (Mrs Morris is based behind Student Services in the Atrium) GOOD LUCK!

3 EXAM PREPARATION Preparing for exams can be a daunting task, but it will improve chances of succeeding. Qualifications give students options and are theirs to keep, to use as and when they need. Exam Tips & Guidance Revision is easier done in shorter study sessions rather than one long one. Spread it out over a period of time and try not to cram for last minute revision. Students should try to eat and sleep properly. Now is not the time to diet or stay up all night. Prepare items needed for the exam the evening before. Remember only clear pencil cases are allowed in the exam and all exams are to be completed using black ink or ballpoint. Calculators are permitted in science exams and the calculator maths paper. Water is allowed into the exam but must be in a clear bottle with no labels. On the morning of the exam stay calm and allow plenty of time to get to the exam. If for whatever reason students cannot attend an exam or will be late, the Exam Office should be notified as soon as possible. Similarly, if a student has a medical condition affecting them during the exam period please inform the Exams Office. Questions should be read slowly and then read again. It's easy to misread a question when nervous. Students should not panic if they unable to answer a question. Move on to the next question and come back to the difficult one later. Use any time left at the end to reread questions and check answers. If a student needs anything, feels unwell, or if something is distracting them, they should put up their hand until an invigilator comes. Listen carefully to instructions and notices read out by the invigilators there may be amendments to the exam paper that you need to know about. Talking to fellow candidates after the exam about how they think they did is not always helpful. Even though one student may have found it hard they may have answered the question better. Mobile phones are not permitted in exams. If brought into school they must be turned off and placed in the plastic wallets available on each desk. They will be collected by the invigilators and placed at the front of each row; this ensures that students' property is safe. Anyone found with a mobile or any other unauthorised material is likely to be disqualified from that exam and possibly all other exams with that examination board. DO NOT RUN THE RISK OF BEING DISQUALIFIED!

4 TIMETABLES A timetable of all examinations taking place at the school can be found under the Exams section of the school website. Students are issued with individual timetables showing their specific examinations with details of date, venue, time, and duration of the exam. Check it carefully. If you think something is wrong see Mrs Morris in the exams office immediately. The majority of exams will take place in the sports hall. Seating plans will be displayed prior to each exam outside the exam venue as well as on the exams notice board which is located to the side of Student Services. Please make sure you know your venue and seat number for each of your exams. Candidates must arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time of their examination and wait quietly outside the exam venue in the designated area forming orderly lines against the corresponding letter of the row in which you are seated. Full school uniform must be worn by all students attending school for examinations. EXAMINATION REGULATIONS A copy of the Information for Candidates-written examination, Information for Candidates-social media, Information for Candidates-onscreen test, Information for Candidates-controlled assessments, Warning to Candidates and Mobile Warning posters which are issued jointly by all the examining boards, are posted under the Exams section of the school website. All candidates must read these carefully and note breaking any of the examination rules or regulations could lead to disqualification from all subjects. The school must report any breach of regulations to the awarding body. Do not draw graffiti or write offensive comments on examination papers if you do the examination board may refuse to accept your paper. Candidates must stay in the examination room for the duration of the examination and may not leave early. Absolute silence must be maintained during the exam. Remember you are still under examination conditions until you have left the room. Question papers, answer booklets and additional paper must NOT be taken from the exam room. INVIGILATORS The school employs external invigilators to conduct the examinations. Students are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards all invigilators and follow their instructions at all times. Invigilators are in the examination rooms to supervise the conduct of the examination. They will distribute and collect the examination papers, tell candidates when to start and finish the examination, hand out extra writing paper if required and deal with any problems that occur during the examination, for example, if a candidate is feeling ill.

5 Please note that invigilators cannot discuss the examination paper or explain the questions. Pupils who are disruptive or behave in an unacceptable manner will be removed from the examination room by the examinations manager and/or a member of the senior leadership team. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS RESULTS WILL BE AVAILABLE: WHEN THURS 25th AUGUST WHERE MAIN SCHOOL HALL TIME 10:00 12:00 AM CERTIFICATES Certificates will be available for collection from late November 2016.

6 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. What do I do if there s a clash on my timetable? The school will re-schedule papers internally (on the same day). Candidates will normally sit one paper then have a break during which they will be supervised and then sit the second subject paper. Correct times should be on your individual candidate timetable. It may be necessary for you to bring a packed lunch if you have exams in the morning and afternoon. Q. What do I do if I think I have the wrong paper? Invigilators will ask you to check before the exam starts. If you think something is wrong put your hand up and tell the invigilator immediately. Q. What do I do if I forget my Candidate Number? Each desk will have a card detailing your exam candidate number, photographic identification and Centre Number Invigilators will be able to help you at the end of the exam if you need further assistance. Q. What do I do if I have an accident or am ill before the exam? Inform school at the earliest possible point so we can help or advise you. The earlier we are advised the better to enable us to put procedures in place to accommodate any additional help and assistance. 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 due to being disadvantaged during an exam e.g. illness, accident or injury, bereavement or domestic crisis. The allowance for Special Consideration is up to 5%. Any adjustment by the Board is likely to be small and no feedback is ever provided. The Examination Manager must be informed immediately, so that the necessary paperwork can be completed (within 7 days of the last exam session for each subject) and the candidate will be required to provide evidence to support such an application. Q. What do I do if I feel ill during the exam? Put your hand up and an invigilator will assist you. You should inform an invigilator if you feel ill before or during an exam. Q. If I m late can I still sit the examination? If you are 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 exam room. You must not enter an examination room without permission of the Exams Manager or lead invigilator after an exam has begun. You should also be aware that if you start the exam more than 30 minutes after the published starting time, the school must inform the exam board and it is possible that the board may decide not to accept your work. Please ensure that you allow enough time to get to school.

7 Q. If I miss the examination can I take it on another day? No. Timetables are regulated by the exam boards and you must attend on the given date and time. Q. Can I leave the exam early? All candidates must remain in the exam venue for the duration of the examination. Q. What equipment should I bring for my exams? Black pens are required for all exams. HB pencil. For some exams you will need a calculator, a ruler, pencil sharpener and rubber, compasses, protractor, coloured pencils (not gel pens), set texts (e.g. for English literature and drama). You are responsible for providing your own equipment for examinations. You must not attempt to borrow equipment from another candidate during the examination. Ensure all equipment is in a clear pencil case or clear plastic bag. Q. What items are not allowed into the examination room? Only material that is listed on question papers are permitted in the examination room. Mobile phones, ipods, electronic devices are not permitted. 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. Only still water is allowed in the examination venue, in clear plastic bottle. Permission should be sought from the Exams Manager if you have a medical condition and have additional requirements. Q. Why shouldn t I bring my mobile telephone into the exam room? Being in possession of a mobile phone (or any other electronic communication device, e.g. ipod, headphones) is regarded as cheating and is subject to severe penalty from the awarding bodies: 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. Phone rings during the exam wherever it is in the room the exam board must be informed and you may be disqualified from all papers for the subject (including any already taken). REMEMBER EVEN IF A MOBILE PHONE IS TURNED OFF A PRESET ALARM CAN STILL BE ACTIVATED Don t get caught out, it s not worth it!

8 Q. How do I know how long the exam is? The length of the examination is shown in minutes on your individual timetable under the heading duration. Invigilators will tell you when to start and finish the exam. They will write the finish time of the exam on a board at the front of the exam room. There will be a clock in all examination rooms. Q. What do I do if the fire alarm goes? The examination invigilators will tell you what to do. If you have to evacuate the room leave everything on your desk and leave the room in silence. You must not attempt to communicate with any other candidates during the evacuation. Q. Can I go to the toilet during the exam? Only if it is absolutely necessary. You will be escorted by an invigilator who will record this and you will not be allowed any extra time. Remember to make yourself comfortable prior to the exam. Q. I am entitled to extra time how will this affect the way I take my exams? Some students receive an allowance of up to 25% extra time. Where possible such candidates will be seated together to minimize disturbance from other candidates who finish earlier. The invigilators will place a card on the table of each student entitled to extra time showing their finish time.