Centre Name: ERITH SCHOOL GCE EXAMINATIONS 2018 GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS Candidate Name: Candidate No: UCI: Reg Group: Centre Number: 14121 School Telephone No: 01322 348231
INTRODUCTION It is the aim of Erith School to make the examination experience as stress-free and successful as possible for all candidates. Hopefully, this booklet will prove informative and helpful for you. Please read it carefully and show it to your parents so that they are also aware of the examination regulations and the procedures to follow in the event of any problems occurring. The awarding bodies (or examination boards) set down strict criteria which must be followed for the conduct of examinations and Erith School is required to follow them precisely. You should therefore pay particular attention to the Information for Candidates that is printed on page 4. If you or your parents have any queries or need help or advice at any time before, during or after the examinations please contact: The Examinations Officer Ms Elisabeth Radbon The school telephone number is: 01322 348231 Remember we are here to help. GOOD LUCK! 2
CONTENTS Introduction Page 2 Notice to Candidates Page 4 Absence from Examinations Page 5 Regulations and Other Information Mobile Phones, Pagers, Electronic Organisers, Music Players Timetables Contact Numbers Equipment Page 6 Calculators Access Arrangements General Information Appeals Procedure Notification of Results Page 7 Certificates Page 8 Reminders Page 9 Timetable Page 10 3
2017 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 If you wear a wrist watch the invigilator will ask you to remove it and place it on your desk. 6 Do not use correcting pens, fluid or tape, erasable pens, highlighters or gel pens in your answers. 7 Do not talk to or try to communicate with, or disturb other candidates once the exam has started. 8 You must not write inappropriate, obscene or offensive material. 9 If you leave the exam room unaccompanied by an invigilator before the exam has finished, you will not be allowed to return. 10 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. Arrive at least ten minutes before the start of each exam. 2 If you arrive late for an exam, report to the invigilator running the exam. 3 If you arrive more than one hour after the published starting time for the exam, you may not be allowed to take it. 4 Only take into the exam room the pens, pencils, erasers and any other equipment which you need for the exam. 5 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. 4
Absence from Examinations Only in exceptional circumstances are candidates allowed special consideration for absence from any part of an examination. Regarding special consideration, please note that medical or other appropriate evidence is required in all cases of absence. Evidence must be given to Ms Radbon within three days of the missed exam. Make sure that you leave home with plenty of time to arrive at your examination in time even if you experience transport delays. If you are late for an examination, please do your best to let the school know that you are on your way. When you arrive, you will be escorted to the exam. Do not enter the exam room without permission if the exam has started. It may not be possible to give you all of the allocated time for the exam. If you arrive after the examination is over you will not be allowed to sit the exam. If you think you may be more than an hour late, the only way your work might be accepted is if you have been under your parents or carers supervision without access to a mobile phone or the internet from the official start time of the exam. Parents or carers will be asked to sign a form to confirm this. Regulations and Other Information 6 th Form dress is to be worn by all students attending school for their examinations. Haircuts/styles must be in line with school Policy. Identity badges must be worn by all students, including consortium students. Mobile Phones, Smart Watches, MP3 players Mobile phones, smart watches, MP3 players, headphones and any type of electronic communication or storage device are not allowed in the exam room. You are strongly advised not to bring any such devices with you to school when you have an exam, as Erith School cannot take responsibility if they are lost or damaged. If a mobile phone, smart watch or other electronic communication device is found in your possession during an exam or supervision, EVEN IF IT IS TURNED OFF, the device will be taken from you and a report made to the appropriate exam board. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE. NB If you find you have a mobile phone, ipod or smart watch on your person and wish to hand it in at the beginning of the examination, you will be given a plastic wallet containing a numbered card. Put your device into the plastic wallet and hand this in to the invigilator, keeping the card. Use the card at the end of the examination to claim your phone. Mobile phones will be kept in sight of the invigilators during the examination. It is better however not to bring a phone into the examination room. Standard (not smart) watches must be removed and placed on the desk during examinations. If you prefer not to do this, take your watch off outside the exam room and put it in your bag. Timetables A copy of the school s timetable 2018 is included at the back of this booklet. You will also receive an individual timetable in April showing your own specific examinations with details of date, time, and duration of exam, venue and seat number. Check it carefully and look for any clashes (more than one exam timetabled at the same time). This is particularly important if you are not a student at Erith School. If you think you have a clash or something is wrong see Ms Radbon immediately in the Examinations Office. Contact Numbers Please check that school has at least one up-to-date contact number and address for you. 5
Equipment You must provide all your own equipment. Borrowing from other candidates is NOT allowed under any circumstances. You should bring your equipment in a clear plastic bag or transparent pencil case. Only transparent pencil cases will be allowed on the examination table. BLACK PENS ONLY. If you make a mistake cross out anything that you do not wish to be marked. Highlighter pens must not be used in answer booklets but you are allowed to highlight parts of the printed questions. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE CORRECTING FLUID, ERASABLE INK OR GEL PENS IN EXAMINATIONS. This is to protect you and your exam. Calculators Calculators may be used in most exams; your subject teachers will tell you if they are not allowed for a particular paper. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN CALCULATOR IF YOU NEED ONE. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE A MOBILE PHONE AS A CALCULATOR. Your calculator should be no larger than the regular handheld size and no printed instructions or cases are allowed. Exam boards do not make any allowances for calculator failure or operational mistakes YOU are responsible for making sure your calculator works properly. If you are going to buy a new calculator please check with your Maths teacher to see what they recommend. You are responsible for clearing the memory of the calculator before the start of any examination. Access Arrangements Students with Access Arrangements are to meet in the Dining Hall. A member of Curriculum Support will accompany or direct them to their examination venue. It is important to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the examination. General Information Only water is allowed in the examination room - labels must be removed All information in this booklet is issued in accordance with the school s Examinations Policy. Any queries concerning any aspect of external Examination arrangements should be addressed to Ms Radbon at the school. APPEALS PROCEDURE If a student has any concerns about the procedures followed or the accuracy of marks awarded for internally assessed work for public exams ie coursework/controlled assessment, s/he should discuss the matter with the Head of Subject immediately. Following that, if the matter remains unresolved, the formal appeals procedure may be used by the student concerned. Formal Appeals Procedure If you believe that the correct procedures where not followed in relation to the marking of your work, or that the mark scheme has not been properly applied, you should follow the internal appeals procedure which is on the school website. This is summarised below. You must have met any deadlines set by teachers for the submission of work in order to appeal. You should inform your subject teacher without delay, who will provide copies of materials to enable you, together with your parent or carer, to make a decision on whether to appeal. An appeal can only be made if there are suitable grounds to believe that an error may have occurred. If you decide that you want to appeal after having reviewed the information, you need to complete an internal appeal form, available on the school website or from the Exams Officer. 6
You must hand in the completed appeal form to the Head of Department within 2 working days of receiving the materials mentioned above. The school will arrange for the marking or procedures to be reviewed within 5 working days. The outcome of the review will be given to you in writing. After the marks have been submitted to the Awarding Body, they will be moderated and could go up or down as a result. The school has no control over this. It is not possible to request a remoderation of an individual student s work. If a re-moderation is requested by the school then the marks of every student who has submitted coursework could be subject to change. POLICY ON EXTERNAL QUALIFICATIONS (ENQUIRIES ABOUT RESULTS) If you wish to query any marks you receive for any of your exams you should contact your subject teacher in the first instance for advice. If an enquiry is recommended by the subject department and approved by Senior Management, it will be funded by the school. This will only be done if there is reason to believe that a mistake has been made in the marking, and there is a low risk of your grade dropping. If you wish to apply for an enquiry which is not approved, you may do so on payment of the fee. The cost of an enquiry varies between 25 and 38 per paper depending on the Awarding Body. Please check with the Exams Office for the correct fee. Post Result Consent Form If you would like to make an enquiry about your result there are three possible outcomes: o o o Your original mark will be confirmed as correct and there will be no change to your grade Your original mark may be raised and this may or may not result in a change of grade Your original mark may be lowered and this may or may not result in a change of grade In order to proceed with the enquiry you must fill in the consent form which can be downloaded from the school website and pay the fee (if applicable) as soon as possible. We cannot process enquiries without written consent from the student. This tells the Exam Officer that you have understood that your grade could go up or down and that you are happy to proceed. The deadline for all consent forms (and fees if applicable) to reach the Exams Office is Friday 14 September. No applications will be accepted after this date. Notification of Results The AS & A Level results will be available on Thursday 16 August 2017. Candidates may collect their results from school between 10.00 am and 12 noon on that day. Results can only be collected by another person with the candidate s written authorisation. Text messages are not acceptable. After results day you can collect your results from the School Reception during term time. GCSE and other level 2 results are available for post 16 students from 11 am 12 noon on Thursday 23 August. Candidates who would prefer their results to be posted must give a stamped addressed envelope to Ms Radbon, Examinations Officer before the end of the summer term. Please mark the envelope with your candidate number. Welling and Trinity students should collect their results and certificates from their home school. Book Returns Please return your books during the examination period. A box will be available for collection in Reception. 7
CERTIFICATES Certificates will be available to collect from mid-november. Details of the precise dates and times will be published on the school website. Certificates will not be given to anyone other than the student concerned without the student s written authorisation. The certificates will not be posted. Erith School is obliged to keep certificates for a period of only one year after issue. Erith School cannot take responsibility for certificates not collected after the period of one year. If candidates do not collect their certificates (or if they lose their certificates) they will need to apply directly to the appropriate examination boards. Not all boards supply replacements; some will only supply a Certifying Statement. This will require proof of identity and a substantial fee per examination board. You are therefore urged to collect your certificates and to keep them safe. 8
REMEMBER Examinations start at 8.45 am and 1.30 pm No mobile phones Correct dress code Bring your own equipment Check your timetable Make sure Examination Officer knows about any clashes Collect Certificates 9