Guidance, Rules and Regulation

Guidance, Rules & Regulation
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Access arrangements 

Guidance for parents


Special Consideration booklet

Special Consideration


Ofqual Guidance to students 

Student guide 

Coping with exam pressure


Top tips to help students with their exams 
Timetables

You will be issued with a timetable listing the dates and times for each of your exams.  Read your timetable carefully and report any errors or omissions to the Examinations Officer as soon as possible.


Seating plans

Seating plans will be displayed on the Examination Notice Board. You must check the seating plan before entering the exam room, and sit in the correct place which has been allocated to you. Being in the correct place at the right time is your responsibility.


Punctuality

You must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your exam start time. If you are late the exam will have started without you and the Exam Board may refuse to accept the work that you do.


Tier changes

Your individual entry timetable confirms which tiers you have been entered for.  If you have any concerns then see the exams officer well in advance of the exam.  You will not be allowed to change tier on the day of the exam.


Lateness, illness and other circumstances

If you are too ill to attend, or unavoidably late, then you must ring school on 0161 338 2374 as soon as possible.

If you are taken ill at school, have any significant health concerns or other genuine problems affecting your performance you must see the examination officer as soon as possible.

If you feel unwell during an examination let an invigilator know immediately.

The Examination Board may take your circumstances into account, but only if you follow the guidance above.  Under no circumstances can we deal with any issues that are brought to our attention after the end of your exams.


Authorised materials

You are only allowed to bring the following equipment into any exam:

  • Normal writing equipment either loose or in a completely see-through pencil case.

  • A calculator (although not permitted  in all exams)

  • Subject –specific  materials such as preparation sheets or set texts only if specifically instructed

  • A drink of water in a see through re-sealable bottle with the label removed no bigger than 250ml

  • Single tissues

Anything other than these items is regarded as 'unauthorised material' by the Exam Boards and must not be in your possession in either a written exam or speaking test.  This includes but is not limited to:

  • Mobile phone (must be in your bag and switched off)

  • Watches of any kind

  • MP3 or 4 players/ipods/any other electronic equipment

  • Earphones

  • Notes of any description

  • Dictionaries

  • Calculator lids, cases and/or instruction leaflets

  • Coats or any other outdoor clothing

  • Blotting paper

  • Tissues in packets

You can face disqualification by the Exam Boards if you do not follow this rule, even if you have not attempted to use the items for dishonest reasons.


Conduct

Once you have entered the exam room you must not communicate with candidates in any way. You may only speak to the invigilators by raising your hand and waiting for them to come to your desk, please be mindful of other candidates when speaking to the invigilator by keeping the noise level to a minimum.
Once seated you should face the front at all times and ensure you only look at your own work. To avoid any misunderstanding, do not look towards candidates in the rows on either side of you or behind you.

Your conduct in the exam room must not disturb or distract any other candidates.  Remain silent until you have left the room at the end of the exam and respect the fact that there may still be candidates working.


Basics

  • Never write in you answer booklet until you have been instructed to do so, not even to fill in your candidates details.

  • Always check that you have been given the correct question paper for your subject and unit and that you have everything listed.  Note the time allowed and read all instructions carefully.

  • Ensure you fill in answer books and any supplementary sheets according to instructions.

  • If you need to attract an invigilator's attention at any point in the exam, raise your hand.

  • Acceptable writing equipment

  • Black ink or ballpoint pen only (blue is not allowed)

  • Coloured pencils/inks only for maps, charts etc. (unless instructed otherwise)

  • Pencil – only for graphs and diagrams

  • Highlighters – only on the question paper not in your answers

  • Completely see-through pencil case.

Any other type of writing equipment is not allowed.


Fire alarm

If the fire alarm sounds, remain silent and listen to the instructions given to you by the Invigilator/Exams Officer. Exam conditions continue to apply even if there is an evacuation. You must not communicate with other candidates at all and if you do so it is likely that the Exam Board will disqualify you from that exam.


At the end of an exam

You are not allowed to leave an exam before that stated finish time even if you have finished working.

When the invigilator tells you to stop writing you must do so straight away. You must not attempt to finish a question or a sentence and should immediately close your answer book.

If you are unsure about any of these rules then please see the Examinations Officer.