Exams

Candidate Exams Handbook

Candidate Exams Handbook 2024/2025

Guidance for Candidates

Only authorised material can be brought into the exam room.

Pupils can bring all their own equipment to every exam, however there will be equipment provided.

Remember that pupils need to write in black ink. The exam papers are scanned to be marked so they must be able to read what has been wrote.

Do not use any of the following:

Correcting pens, fluid or tape
Erasable pens / friction pens or highlighters (can be used in printed questions)
Gel pens

Any pencil cases must be see through / clear

Water bottles must be see through and have no label, writing or measurements on it – only water is permitted.

Pupils may use coloured pens or inks for diagrams, maps, charts etc. only if the exam allows them. The instructions at the front of the paper will indicate if these are/not allowed.

As a minimum, the clear pencil case will include:

Black pens
Pencil
Eraser
Highlighter
Ruler

If permitted in exams, the academy will also ensure you have access to:

Protractor
Compass
Calculator (if permitted for your exam)
Tracing paper

We cannot stress enough the importance of not bringing into an exam room any unauthorised material or equipment.

These include:

Mobile phones.
MP3/4 players.
Any watch (Smart or not!).
Smart glasses or any other smart device.
iPods.
Any other similar electronic devices.
Electronic earphones/earbuds or Air pods.
Notes and study guides.
Own blank paper.
Dictionaries, unless allowed for the exam.
Miscellaneous items such as make-up, lip gloss/balm, bus passes, money and keys, student reports and exam timetables. (these items should be left in your bag)

We strongly advise that pupils do not bring as many of these items into school with them at all. This will ensure that pupils do not accidently bring unauthorised items into an examination room.

A copy of the JCQ ‘Warning to Candidates’ and ‘Information for Candidates’ will be located outside each examination room and copies are enclosed in the candidate handbook. Please read this guidance thoroughly. Please note any candidate that attempts to break any of the examination rules or regulations may be disqualified from some or maybe all subjects. The school must report any breach of regulations to the Awarding Body.

Contingency Days 2025

Contingency days for the summer 2025 season are: Wednesday 11th June (afternoon) and all day Wednesday 25th June 2025.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) requires all pupils to be available, up to and including Wednesday 25th June 2025, in case any exams need to be rescheduled due to unforeseeable circumstances that may have occurred.

Exam Room Conditions

Pupils are under formal exam conditions from the moment they enter the exam room until they are given permission to leave. Pupils must not talk to, attempt to communicate with or disturb other candidates once they have entered the examination room. If this happens, this must be reported to the relevant awarding body.

Looking around and smiling at other candidates is classed as communication, so please always sit and face the front.

Pupils should find their seat quickly and silently. There will be letters and numbers on the walls to help pupils find the row they will be sitting in. Invigilators will help pupils find their seat. Do not ask another candidate.

Candidates must listen to and follow the instructions of the invigilator at all times in the exam room.

Unauthorised Absence

If a pupil does not attend any part of an external exam for which they have been entered, they will receive a mark of zero for that paper and there is not another opportunity to sit the exam.

Please note that misreading the timetable will not be accepted as a satisfactory explanation of absence

Illness & Late Arrival

Illness

It is really important that pupils attend school for all exams unless they are seriously ill.

In the event a pupil is extremely unwell and cannot attend the exam, a parent/carer must contact Student Absence immediately. Medical evidence to confirm the illness must be provided.

If a pupil feels unwell during an exam, they are advised to put their hands up and an invigilator will assist.

If pupils feel unwell before the exam starts, they are advised to tell the Exams Officer so that they are aware of the situation and invigilators can be advised.

The date and time of the exam is set by the exam board so that all pupils are sitting the exam at the same time. We cannot change the date of the exam. However, we may be able to put an alternative arrangement in place to enable them to still sit their exam – so pupils must try to come in!

Only in exceptional circumstances are candidates allowed special consideration for absence from any part of an examination. It is essential that medical, or other appropriate evidence, is obtained on the day by the candidate/parent and given to the Examinations Officer without delay, in all cases where an application is to be made for Special Consideration.

Arriving late

It is the pupils' responsibility to be on time for every exam.

Should a pupil arrive late for an exam, they should report straight to reception and sign in.

Very late arrivals (after 1hr) have to be reported to the exam board with the reason for the late arrival. The pupil will be asked for specific information as to why they were late. The decision of whether the paper is marked is then up to the awarding bodies.