Examinations

We hope this information will prove helpful for students and parents as you prepare to take your examinations. It includes details of the examination regulations and procedures to follow in the event of any problems occurring.

The awarding bodies (or examination boards) set down strict rules which must be followed for the conduct of examinations and Judgemeadow Community College is required to follow them precisely.  You should, therefore, please pay particular attention to the Notice to Candidates. 

Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page if you are taking any of your GCSE Exams in summer this year.

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 Office at: [email protected]
The school telephone number is: 0116 241 1920

Before the Examinations

Examination Boards

The College uses the following Examination Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC.

Statements of Entry

All Candidates receive a statement of entry from school indicating the subjects they are being entered for and the levels of entry, where applicable. This happens every year in early March. Please check that these are correct. Some subjects only have one tier of entry, some have Foundation or Higher tiers. If you think something is wrong, speak to your subject teacher in the first instance and ask them to inform the exams office of the change in writing. 

Particularly check that all personal details (date of birth, spelling of names) are accurate. Your statement of entry will show the name that will appear on certificate. Please check it against your name on legal documents. School advises that your legal forename and legal surname should appear on certificates for future university admissions and potential employers.

Candidate Name 

Candidates are entered under the name format of a (Legal) First Name + One middle initial + (Legal) Surname, e.g. Adam J. Smith.

Candidate Number

Each candidate has a four-digit candidate number. This is the number that should be entered on all examination papers.  It will appear next to your name on seating plans, examination registers and the card on your allocated desk in the exam room. Please remember it.

Timetables 

If you have a clash of examinations please see the Exams Office as soon as possible to clarify your arrangements.  You will normally take one exam, have a short supervised break and then take your 2nd exam.  If your break is over lunchtime you will need to bring a packed lunch.  You will not be allowed to use a mobile phone during this time and if you need to go to the toilet you will be escorted by staff.

Contact Numbers

Please check that college an up-to-date contact number for you.

Equipment

Make sure you have all the correct equipment before your examinations. 

 

During the Examinations

Examination Regulations

All the rules and regulations for candidates set out by the joint council for Qualifications (JCQ)  and are available on their website.  All candidates must read this carefully and note that breach of any of the examination rules or regulations could lead to disqualification from all subjects.  The school must report any breaking of regulations to the examination board.

Attendance at Examinations

Candidates are responsible for checking their own timetable and arriving at school on the correct day and time, properly dressed in school uniform and equipped.  Candidates must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of their examination. 

Candidates who arrive late for an examination may still be admitted but a report will be sent to awarding body and it will be up to them to accept script or not. 

School uniform must be worn for all examinations. Coats, jackets, scarves etc will not be allowed in the examination rooms.

All items of equipment, pens, pencils, mathematical instruments, etc. should be visible to the invigilators at all times. You must either use a transparent pencil case or clear plastic bag. 

Pens must be black ink or ballpoint only. No erasable, correction pens or fluid are allowed. For Mathematics, and Science exams students should make sure their calculators conform to the examination regulations and please check that the batteries are new. If in doubt, check with your teacher. Covers must be removed and placed inside your bags before you enter examination room.  

We do not guarantee to have spare equipment for you and cannot supply calculators unless yours stops working during the exam.  They cannot be shared between students.

Examination regulations are very strict regarding items that may be taken into the examination room.  If you break these rules you may be disqualified from the examination.

Mobile telephones, watches (analogue or digital) and other electronic devices must be switched off and placed inside your bags before you enter examination room. If a mobile phone (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 exam board. No exceptions can be made. Please be advised that school will not accept any responsibility for damage and loss to mobile phones/watches.

No food or drink is allowed in the examination rooms, except for water in a clear bottle with the label removed.

Please do not write on examination desks.  This is regarded as vandalism and appropriate action will be taken.

Do not draw graffiti or write offensive comments on examination papers – if you do the examination board may refuse to accept your paper.

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.

Check you have the correct question paper – check the subject, paper and tier of entry at the start of the examination.

Do not attempt to communicate with or distract other candidates.

Read all instructions carefully and number your answers clearly.

Candidates will not be allowed to leave an examination room early.  If you have finished the paper use any time remaining to check over your answers and that you have completed 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 used more than one answer book or loose sheets of paper, ask for a treasury tag to fasten them together in the correct order. Ensure that you have written your name, candidate number and centre number on all additional sheets.

Invigilators will collect your exam papers before you leave the room. Absolute silence must be maintained during this time. 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.

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.

If the fire alarm sounds during an examination the examination invigilators will tell you what to do.  Don’t 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.  You will be escorted to a designated assembly point.  Leave everything on your desk.  You must not attempt to communicate with anyone else during the evacuation.  When you return to the exam room do not start writing until the invigilator tells you to.  You will be allowed the full working time for the examination and a report will be sent to the awarding body detailing the incident.

Invigilators

The school employs invigilators to conduct the examinations.  Students are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards all invigilators and follow their instructions at all times.

Subject specialist teachers will normally be present outside the examination hall only.

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.

Please note that invigilators cannot discuss the examination paper with you or explain the questions.

Pupils who are disruptive or behave in an unacceptable manner will be reported to Exams Office and a malpractice report will be sent as per exam board guidelines.

 

Absence from Examinations 

If you experience difficulties during the examination period (e.g. illness, injury, bereavement and personal problems etc.) please inform school at the earliest possible point so we can help or advise you.

All exceptional circumstances must be reported to exams office immediately. It is essential that medical or other appropriate evidence is obtained on the day by the candidate/parent and given to the Examination Officer without delay. A self-certification form (JCQ/ME Form 14) is available on the JCQ website which can be sent to school.

If an unfortunate or exceptional circumstance had a significant impact on student’s performance or results in student missing an exam altogether, school will assess the situation and apply for special consideration.

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

It is advised to make your own calendar of revision and actual exams.  You can take copies and save pictures of your timetable on your phone. Set appropriate reminders and seek caregiver’s support in getting to exam on time.

 

After the Examinations

Notification of Results

Results will be available for collection on the fourth Thursday in August.

If you wish any other person (including family members) to collect your results on your behalf, you must give your written authorisation from your school email address and they must bring photo identification.

Candidates who do not collect their results on results day will be able to collect them from the school between 9am & 3pm during the new academic year. 

No results will be given out by telephone under any circumstances.

After Your Results

The details about different post-result services can be obtained from the JCQ Website. If you need post-results advice, staff will be available on Results Day.  

Presentation of Certificates

You will be informed of the certificate collection date in January.  After this date you will be able to collect certificates from college between 9am & 3pm during the academic year.  Again, if you wish any other person (including family members) to collect your certificates on your behalf, you must give your written authorisation from your school email address and they must bring photo identification. Certificates are only retained in school for 1 year. Please look after your certificates carefully they are the only proof of your grades accepted by employers, colleges & universities. If you lose them, you can apply for replacement certificates on awarding body’s website.

non examination assessments (NEA's)

Some of the Level 2 courses and subjects offered at Judgemeadow include either controlled assessments, coursework, non-examination assessments or portfolios of evidence that are internally assessed and standardised and which then contribute to the final grade of the qualification. Final marks are then submitted to the awarding body which conducts an external moderation of candidates work. These internal assessments are conducted and marked in accordance with awarding body’s specifications and as per JCQ guidelines for conducting non-examination assessments. Learners are made aware of ‘Information to Candidates’ regarding coursework and NEAs. Candidates are informed of their internally assessed marks and given sufficient time to enquire about any possible review from their subject teacher. A written Internal Appeals Policy is in place if any candidate has any concerns about their coursework/NEA marks which can be obtained via email from [email protected]. 

Frequently Asked Questions