Examinations Handbook 1 st September 2017 31 st August 2018 Guidance for Pupils and Parents/Carers Centre Number: 33609 School website: www.altrinchamcollege.com Tel no: 0161 980 7173 CONTENTS
Introduction & Key Dates Privacy Notice Exam Regulations JCQ Information for Candidates Written exams JCQ Warning to Candidates JCQ No mobile phones Before the Examinations Examination Timetable Candidate Number Centre Number Equipment During the Examinations Examination Regulations Attendance at Examinations Invigilators Absence from Examinations Arriving late to an Examination Exam Checklist After the Examinations Notification of Results - August Results Days Post Results Services Certificates Frequently Asked Questions INTRODUCTION
It is the aim of Altrincham College to make the exam experience as stress-free and successful as possible for all students. This booklet is intended to inform you about examination processes and procedures and to answer some of the frequently asked questions. Hopefully, it will prove informative and helpful for you and your parents/carers. Please read it carefully and share with your parents/carers so that they are also aware of the examination regulations and procedures. Each awarding body (Exam Board) set down strict criteria which must be followed for the conduct of examinations and Altrincham College is required to follow them precisely. You should therefore, pay particular attention to the JCQ Information for Candidates ; Warning to Candidates and No Mobile Phones notices which are on the following pages. Some of the questions you may have are answered at the back of this booklet. If there is anything you do not understand or any questions that have not been addressed, please ask. If you or your parents/carers have any queries or need help or advice at any time before, during or after the examinations please contact school we are here to help and support you. Exam information can also be found on the school website www.altrinchamcollege.com. Key Dates Summer exams (practicals/coursework/controlled assessments/orals) - See your subject teacher Summer exams (written) - 14 May 21 June 2018 Results GCE - Thursday 16 August 2018 Results GCSE - Thursday 23 August 2018
Produced on behalf of: AQA, City & Guilds, CCEA, OCR, Pearson and WJEC Information for candidates Privacy Notice General and Vocational qualifications Effective from 1 September 2017 The JCQ awarding bodies will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Code of Practice issued by the qualification regulators of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Correspondence on any aspect of a candidate s examination or assessment will only be conducted between the awarding body and the head of the centre, a member of the senior leadership team or the examinations officer. Awarding bodies will undertake the following administrative activities in relation to the processing and exchange of candidates personal data: 1. Personal data relating to the name(s), date of birth, gender, unique candidate identifier (UCI) and unique learner number (ULN) of an individual candidate will always be collected by an awarding body for the purposes of examining and awarding qualifications. In some cases additional information, which may include sensitive personal data relating to health, will also be collected to support requests for access arrangements and reasonable adjustments and/or special consideration. Such personal data will be supplemented by the results of examinations and assessments undertaken by the respective candidate. 2. A candidate s personal data will only be collected from registered examination centres in the context of examination entries and/or certification claims. 3. Such data collected will not be used by an awarding body other than for the administration of the examinations process, conducting assessments and the certification of results claims. 4. Personal data within candidates work will be collected and processed by an awarding body for the purposes of marking, issuing of examination results and providing candidates with access to post-results services. Examination results will be retained for a minimum of forty years. In order for an awarding body to achieve this, some personal information may be transferred to third parties such as examiners, who may in some instances, reside outside the European Economic Area.
5. Awarding bodies may be required to provide a candidate s personal data to educational agencies such as DfE, WG, DENI, The Skills Funding Agency, Ofqual, HESA, UCAS, Local Authorities, EFA and Learning Records Service (LRS). Additionally, candidates personal data may be provided to a central record of qualifications approved by the awarding bodies for statistical and policy development purposes. 6. Some of the information candidates supply will be used by the Skills Funding Agency to fulfil its statutory functions, issue/verify a candidate s Unique Learner Number (ULN) and update/check a candidate s Personal Learning Record. The Skills Funding Agency may share a candidate s ULN and Personal Learning Record with other education related organisations, such as a careers service, a candidate s school or college, Government Departments and public bodies responsible for education. Further details of how information is processed and shared can be found at: http://www.learningrecordsservice.org.uk/ 7. Awarding bodies are obliged to confirm what personal data is held, what it is held for, to whom the data is to/may be disclosed to, and disclose the information that they hold about data subjects, (e.g. the candidates) within 40 days of receiving a formal request for disclosure, subject to the application of any relevant exemptions under the Data Protection Act 1998. Candidates should make an application to the appropriate awarding body s data protection officer. Awarding bodies may charge a fee for this service. 8. If you have not reached the age of 16, you may first wish to discuss this Privacy Notice with your parent or legal guardian. Awarding bodies, schools, Department for Education (DfE), Welsh Government (WG), Department of Education Northern Ireland (DENI), Local Authorities, the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), Ofsted, and Skills Funding Agency (SFA) are all data controllers under the Data Protection Act 1998, in that they determine the purpose(s) for which personal data (information about living individuals from which they can be identified) is processed and the way in which that processing is undertaken. It is a requirement for data controllers to provide data subjects (individuals who are the subject of personal data) with details of who they are, the purposes for which they process the personal data, and any other information that is necessary to make the processing of the personal data secure and accurate, including any third parties to whom it may be passed to.
AQA City & Guilds CCEA OCR Pearson WJEC Information for candidates For written examinations effective from 1 September 2017 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, a smartwatch 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 clearly and 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; 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 supplementary answer sheets, place them in the correct order. Place any loose additional answer sheets inside your answer booklet. 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 work or any other materials provided for the exam. AQA City & Guilds CCEA OCR Pearson WJEC Warning to Candidates 1. You must be on time for all your examinations 2. You must not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice in any part of the examination. 3. You must not: sit an examination in the name of another candidate; have in your possession any unauthorised material or equipment which might give you an unfair advantage. 4. Possession of a mobile phone or other 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. You must not talk to, attempt to communicate with or disturb other candidates once you have entered the examination room. 6. You must follow the instructions of the invigilator. 7. If you are in any doubt speak to the invigilator. The W arni ng t o Cand ida tes must be displayed in a prominent place outside each examination room. This may be a hard copy A3 paper version or an image of the poster projected onto a wall or screen for all candidates to see.
Effective from 1 September 2014 2014 AQA City & Guilds CCEA OCR Pearson WJEC NO ipods, MOBILE PHONES MP3/4 PLAYERS SMARTWATCHES NO POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL/WEB ENABLED SOURCES OF INFORMATION Possession of unauthorised items, such as a mobile phone, is a serious offence and could result in DISQUALIFICATION from your examination and your overall qualification. This poster must be displayed in a prominent place outside each
2016 Effective from 1 September 2016 examination room. Before the Examinations Examinations Boards The school uses the following Examination boards: AQA, Pearson (Edexcel), OCR and WJEC. Timetables You will be given an individual timetable showing your specific examinations with details of the date, time and duration. Once you receive it, check it very carefully. Where there is more than one tier in an exam (Higher and Foundation) check that you have been entered for the tier you were expecting. You should also check that you have been entered for all subjects that you are expecting to get a qualification in. If you think something is wrong see your form tutor or subject teacher as soon as possible. You must also check that all your personal details (date of birth, spelling of names) are accurate as these will appear on your qualification certificates and it may be difficult to change them once certificates are awarded. Your name will be your legal name as shown on your birth certificate (If the name and date of birth on your Exam Certificates does not match your birth certificate it may cause you problems if you are asked to prove your qualification to an employer or college/university in the future). If any of these details are not correct please see the Examinations Officer. Some candidates may have an exam clash where two or more exams are timetabled on the same day and at the same time. The school will make special timetable arrangements in these cases, which will normally involve sitting one exam after the other. These arrangements will be discussed individually with those candidates impacted. A timetable showing all the examinations and exam rooms will be displayed outside the Hall, in Form Rooms, and in the Sixth Form. A copy will also be posted on the school website. You will be notified if there are any changes to the timetable. Candidate Number Each candidate has a four-digit candidate number. This is the number you will enter on your examination papers. It is shown on the top of your timetable and it will help if you can remember it, as in the exam room it will enable you find your desk more quickly. (You will be seated in candidate number order to comply with JCQ regulations). Centre Number The examination Centre number for Altrincham College is 33609. This is the number you will enter on your examination papers. It is shown on your candidate card which will be on your desk in the examination room. Equipment
You are responsible for ensuring you have all the equipment required before your examination. For some Science, Business and Maths exams you will need a calculator. For all exams you should have a black pen (and a spare!) During the examinations Examination Regulations A copy of the Information for Candidates, which is issued by JCQ on behalf of the Awarded bodies, is printed at the front of this booklet. All candidates must read this carefully and note that to break 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. Attendance at Examinations: At Altrincham College, morning examinations generally start at 09:00am and afternoon examinations start at 1:30pm. Candidates are responsible for checking their own timetables regularly and getting to the examination room on the correct date and on time. Candidates should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of their examination. Full school uniform must be worn by all students with the exception of Sixth Form students where normal dress code applies. If you bring your own equipment it must be visible to the invigilators at all times. You must either use a transparent pencil case or clear plastic bag. Pens must be black and correction pens are not allowed. If you bring your own calculator to exams you should make sure it conforms to the examinations regulations. Remove any cover or instructions and make sure if you have batteries that they are new. You must also clear anything stored in the calculator memory. Examination regulations are very strict regarding items that may be taken into the examination room (please see Information for Candidates at the front of this booklet). If you break these rules it could result in disqualification. Mobile phones/smart watches MUST BE SWITCHED OFF AND STORED IN YOUR BAG AT THE BACK OF THE EXAM ROOM. If a mobile (or any other type of electronic communication or storage device) is found in your possession during an examination
(even if it is turned off) it will be taken from you and a report made to the appropriate Awarding body. Do not attempt to communicate with or distract other candidates. No food is allowed in the examination room. Water will be provided by school, however if you bring your own water it must be clear without any labels. Do not write on the examination desk or your candidate card. Do not draw graffiti or write any offensive comments on the examination paper if you do the exam board may refuse to accept your paper. Listen carefully to instructions and notices read out by the invigilator there may be amendments to the exam paper that you need to know about. Check that you have the correct exam paper check the subject, unit and tier. Read all instructions on the front of the exam paper carefully and number your answers clearly. Candidates must stay in the examination room for the whole duration of the examination. If you have finished the exam use any time remaining to check over your answers and ensure you have filled in your details correctly. At the end of the examination all work must be handed in remember to cross out any rough work. If you have more than one answer book ensure any additional answer books are placed in order inside the main answer book. Also make sure your name and candidate number is written on each additional answer book. Invigilators will collect your exam paper before you leave the room. Absolute silence must be maintained during this time. Remain seated in silence until told to leave the examination room. Please leave the room in silence and show consideration for other candidates who may still be working.
In the unlikely event of the fire alarm sounding during the examination the invigilator will tell you what to do. Please do not panic. If you have to evacuate the room you will be asked to leave in silence and in the order in which you are sitting. Leave everything on the desk. Do not take your bags. You must not attempt to communicate with anyone else during the evacuation as examination regulations still apply. You will be escorted to a designated area. Once you return to the exam room do not start writing until the invigilator tells you to do so. You will be allowed the full working time for the examination and a report will be sent to the exam board. Invigilators The school employs external invigilators for public 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, may tell candidates when to start and finish the examination, hand out extra answer books if required and deal with any problems that occur, for example if a candidate feels ill. Please note that invigilators cannot discuss the examination paper with you or explain the questions. Absence from examinations If you are ill on the day of an exam, please get a message to the school as soon as possible (0161 980 7173). You must also make every effort to get a doctor s note. If you miss an examination for any other reason or fail to complete coursework/portfolios you may be liable for the cost of the examination. If you experience difficulties during the examinations (e.g. illness, injury) please inform the school at the earliest point so we can help or advise you. In exceptional circumstances candidates are allowed special consideration for absence from all or part of an examination. It is essential that medical or other appropriate evidence is obtained and given to the Examinations Officer as soon as possible. Parents/carers are reminded not to arrange family holidays when examinations are taking place. Controlled Assessments and coursework are carried out throughout the two year course in some subjects for GCSE and A Level. Arriving late to an examination
Candidates who arrive late may still be allowed to sit the examination, at the discretion of the Exams Officer/Deputy Headteacher, depending on the time of arrival and the reason. If you know you are going to arrive late you must make contact with the school immediately. We make every effort to contact home if a student does not arrive for an exam, and for this reason it is extremely important that the school has up to date contact numbers. Exam Checklist Get to the exam room 15 minutes before the start of an exam - (unless you have been instructed otherwise). It is much better to give yourself time to settle before the start of the exam. When taking exams, bags and coats must be left in the at the back of the exam room. Phones/smart watches - students must not have mobile phones or smart watches in their possession (either on or off). They must be switched off (including any alarms) and in your bags, They can be handed in for safe keeping during the exam if necessary. This is very important if a phone/smart watch is found, there is a chance you will be disqualified. You should not have notes, papers, MP3 players (including ear phones) etc. in your possession. Only clear pencil cases are allowed on your desk, any others should be left in your bag. You must use a BLACK pen. Do not use gel pens this is because the exam papers are scanned and sent electronically for marking gel pens do not scan well. Highlighters may be used to mark sections in the questions but must not be used in answers. In an exam where you have the use of a calculator, you should not have a calculator cover on your desk. You must also clear anything stored in the memory. There is absolutely no talking or communication between students once you are told that you are under exam conditions. If you have any questions, you should raise your hand once seated and an invigilator will
come and see you. No food allowed in the exams rooms. Water bottles are allowed in the exam rooms (water is provided by school). These should be clear bottles with a spill-proof cap. There should be no label on the bottle. After the Examinations Notification of Results We strongly advise that results are collected by students as there will be school staff available on the day to support you and answer any questions. GCSE results will be available for collection on Thursday 23 August 2018. A Level Results will be available for collection on Thursday 16 August 2018. If you wish for any other person (including family members) to collect your results on your behalf, you must confirm this in writing to the Exams Officer before the end of the summer term, and the person collecting the results will need to bring a form of identification with them. If you are unable to collect your results they will be posted to you if you leave a stamped self-addressed envelope with the Examinations Officer before the end of the summer term. No results can be given out by telephone. Post Results If you need any post results advice school staff will be available to answer your questions on results day. -Enquiries about Results (review of marking) If you feel that your external examination results do not reflect your performance and are significantly different from what you were expecting, you may request an enquiry requesting the mark to be reviewed for which a fee is payable. Any enquiry about a result can only be made by the school on your behalf as candidates are not permitted to contact the exam boards directly. As a result of re-marking there are 3 possible outcomes - your grade may be improved, remain the same, or be lowered. Careful thought and discussion with the subject teacher should take
place before requesting a review of marking. If you decide to proceed you will be required to sign a form acknowledging these possible outcomes before any request can be made. Only if your grade is improved will the Examination Board waive the fee. Enquiries must be made to the Examination Boards by 20 th examinations. September for the summer -Access to Scripts You have the opportunity to have a copy of your script (exam paper) returned to you. Any request has to be made by the school on your behalf and a fee will be payable. Certificates Collection Exam Certificates arrive in school late October/early November. For Year 11 students Certificates will be presented at a celebratory Presentation Evening in November 2017. For Y11 students unable to attend the Presentation Evening and for Year 13 students, Certificates will be available for collection from school* after Presentation Evening during school hours. *Students will need to collect and sign for their certificates in person or provide written permission for a member of their family to collect their certificates. The school is obliged to keep certificates for a period of one year after students have left. If you have not collected your certificates within this time and school no longer has them you will need to contact the Exam Boards and request replacements. This will require proof of identity and a fee of approximately 40 per certificate. You are therefore urgent to collect and keep your certificates safe!
Frequently Asked Questions Q. What do I do if there s a clash on my timetable? The school will reschedule exams internally (on the same day) where there is a clash of exam papers. If the exams do not exceed three hours in duration then candidates will sit one paper after the other. If they exceed three hours then candidates will sit one paper in the morning and the other in the afternoon. In these circumstances, candidates will be supervised and must not have any communication with other candidates. If you have any queries please ask the Exam Officer. Q. What time do exams start? Morning exams usually start at 09:00 and afternoon exams usually start at 13:30. There may be alterations to exam times so always check the copy timetable outside the hall or in your form room. Students who are entitled to extra time may have earlier start times. 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. Invigilator will tell you when to start and finish the exam. They will write the finish time of the exam on a flip chart or board at the front of the exam room. There will be a clock in all exam rooms. Q. If I arrive late can I still sit the Examination? You should get to school as quickly as possible and report to Reception. If it is still possible for you to sit the examination a member of staff will escort you to the exam room. You must not enter an examination room without permission after an examination has begun. If you arrive very late the school must inform the Exam Board, giving the reason and evidence for your lateness. The Board may decide not to accept your work. If
you arrive after the published end time for the exam you will not be allowed to sit the exam. Q. If I miss the examination can I take it another day? No. Timetables are regulated by the Examination Boards and you must attend on the given date and time. If you miss an exam without good reason you will be charged the entry fee. You also risk not gaining your final GCSE or GCE grade. Q. How will I know where to sit in the exam room? Every student has an exam candidate number and exam desks are labelled with these numbers. Students MUST make sure they know this number. There are always plenty of staff and exam invigilators in the room to help students find their seats. Students can go to the exams office and find out their candidate number at any time leading up to or during the exams period, and it is also on their personalised timetable. Students must sit at the desk allocated to them and not sit where they wish or move desks during the exam. Q. What do I do if think I have the wrong paper? Invigilator will ask you to check before the exam starts. If you think something is wrong put your hand up and tell an invigilator immediately. Q. What do I do if I have an accident or I am ill before the exam? Inform the 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 for you but we will need as much prior notice as possible. You will 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 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/carers 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 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. Example of such circumstances may be illness, accident or injury, bereavement, domestic crisis. The school must be informed immediately, so that necessary paperwork
can be completed and the candidate will be required to provide evidence to support such application. Q. What do I do if I fall 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 and if you feel this may have affected your performance. Q. Do I have to wear school uniform? Yes. Normal school regulations apply to uniform. Normal sixth form dress code also applies. Q. What equipment must I NOT take into the exam room? Food, notes, books, papers, calculator instruction leaflets, correction fluid or pen, reading pens, instruments which can capture a digital image, electronic devices (ipods, MP3/4 players, wrist watches which have a data storage device or digital facilities). Mobile phones must be switched off and left in your bag. Q. Why can t I bring my mobile into the exam room? Being in possession of a mobile phone (or any other electronic communication device, e.g. ipod, headphones, MP3 players) is regarded as cheating and is subject to severe penalty from the awarding bodies. Q. When will I get my personal timetable for the summer exams? You will be given your timetable around Easter time How will I know of my original timetable has changed? If there is any change whatsoever to your original exam timetable you will be issued with a new one. Good luck!