Exams - Instructions for Candidates

This leaflet is produced in conjunction with the official Notice to Candidates, which is posted on the Exams Notice Board on the Red Route. Please read it carefully as any breach of Exam Board regulations may result in disqualification from all subjects.

Getting Organised Now

You should have an 'in-house' statement of entry/timetable showing all your papers for the exam session. It is your responsibility to ensure all the details are correct and that you know where and when your exams are. If you have any queries regarding entries, come to the Exams Office immediately. Dates for other exams (eg Orals/Key Skills) may be published separately. Check notice boards, posters, Moodle, e-mails and attend all tutor meetings for information.
If you have two (or more) unit papers for the same subject scheduled to start at the same time, you will take the papers consecutively. In cases where the college database has identified 'Clashes' between subjects and they will still fit into one session, you will take the papers consecutively. If papers run into the next session your timetable will be changed accordingly. In this case, please read the special 'Clash' instructions attached to your timetable.
Special arrangements should have been agreed with the Learning Support department or the Exams Office well in advance. (Look for special 'rooming' instructions before each session).
You must have a college ID card and take it to every exam. If you do not have your ID card for any reason, come to the Exams Office before your exam. Invigilators will refuse entry to exam rooms and ask you to come to the Exams Office to obtain valid ID for the exam

Timing, Lateness, Illness and Travel

Normally, morning written papers start at 9.00am. Afternoon written papers start at 1.30pm.
Please arrive at your examination room 15 minutes before the exam is due to start.
If you are delayed because of transport or bad weather, please telephone 01420 592200 to advise us of the circumstances. On arrival report to the Examinations Office.
If you are ill and unable to attend an exam please advise the Examinations Office as soon as possible. (See also 'Absence').
No special transport exists for the examination session; therefore you may need to make alternative travel arrangements (particularly at the end of the day).

Location and Rooming

Written exams will take place in the Sports Hall, Forum Hall and other classrooms.
Practical/oral/aural examinations will take place in subject specialist rooms.
Before each session 'rooming instructions' will be posted on the Examinations Notice Board on the 'red route'. Also check electronically on Moodle.

Outside the Exam Room

Do not enter the exam room until asked to do so by the invigilator.
Do not bring bags, mobile phones or other unauthorised materials into the exam room.
Anything other than equipment for the exam should be stored in a locker*, in your car or left at home. If your examination has been 'roomed' in the Sports Hall you may leave coats etc in the respective changing rooms (at your own risk).
*Access to lockers in the Sports Hall may be restricted during the exam season
The college requests that no hats, hoods etc are worn in the exam rooms except in cases of a proven medical condition or religious reasons. If you believe you have grounds for wearing a hat in the exam room please arrange this with the Examinations Office beforehand.

Essential Equipment/Mobile Phones Policy

It is now a requirement of the examining boards that invigilators check equipment brought into the exam room. Only clear plastic bags (supplied) should be used for essential items like pens, pencils, rubbers, statements of entry, calculators, ID cards etc.
Exam Board regulations state:- 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.
Mobile phones or electronic equipment brought into the exam room will be collected by the invigilator and taken to the Exams Office at the end of the session. It must be collected from there by the student. College will not be held responsible for the loss or damage of these items. TO AVOID THIS - DO NOT BRING THEM INTO THE ROOM.

Inside the Exam Room

As soon as you enter the exam room you are subject the regulations of the examining boards. Any breach of the rules may result in your disqualification.
Remember your candidate number (shown on your statement of entry). Sit at the desk with the card showing your candidate number or an answer sheet with your name.
Place your Student ID in the right-hand corner of the desk. It will be checked during the exam. Photographic identification, e.g. a passport, for external candidates is essential.
Remember pens, pencils, spare pens, rulers, compasses, calculators etc that you may require as they are not supplied by the college under any circumstances. The only stationery that will be provided is a replacement for a pen which runs out during the exam, or a calculator that is broken.
Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by the invigilator.
Check you have the correct question paper - subject and tier. Read all the instructions on the front of the question paper carefully.
If you finish your exam early, check your script for mistakes. Remain silent - others will still be working. College policy states that you will not be allowed to leave the room before the end of the exam.
Do not set alarms on your watches. Do not use gel pens, highlighters, Tippex or any 'erasing' fluids on any answer scripts. Highlighters may be used on separate question papers.
Do not use scrap paper unless you are instructed otherwise. Put rough notes or workings on to your actual exam script and put a neat line through them to indicate that they are rough notes.
Do not bring food or drink into the exam room other than a bottle of water, which is acceptable. LABELS MUST BE REMOVED.
You may normally use approved models of calculators unless specifically informed otherwise. It is the candidates' responsibility to ensure that your calculator meets the regulations. You must not have the cover of the calculator with you.
Invigilators are required to make random checks of calculators and equipment brought into the room.
If the fire alarm sounds during an exam, do not panic. Remain seated and listen to the instructions from the invigilator.

Leaving the Exam Room

When you are told to leave - remain silent and be considerate when moving chairs. It is likely there will still be candidates working.
Where you have a clash of examinations you will have received separate instructions about the re-scheduling of your papers. This will mean that you will be supervised between exams. Please remain in the exam room until you are collected (failure to do so could result in non-acceptance of your script).

Absence Through Illness of Other Causes/Special Consideration

Without a satisfactory explanation, full time students who miss a paper may be invoiced for the cost of entry. If you miss a paper through illness contact the Exams Office immediately for advice. If you feel unwell during an exam, please inform the invigilator immediately and they will assist you. Special consideration can be applied in certain circumstances that affect a candidate's performance on the day of an exam. Please contact the exams officer in this case.

Results

Exam results for the January series are available in March. Results for the Summer series are available in August. Full details concerning results will be published later.

Post Results Services

Students may request one of the post result services, if required, by completing a request form and paying the appropriate fee. Details of the services available, deadlines and costs may be obtained by contacting the Examinations Office and will be displayed on the Exams Notice Board.

Examination Certificates

Certificates may be kept in college for collection at the Presentation Evening held in December. Alternatively they will be posted, to the last known address, via Recorded Delivery. Please advise Student Services or the Exams Office of any change of address. Ensure you do not lose your certificates as you will undoubtedly need them at some time in the future. The exam boards charge a hefty administration fee to replace them.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Examinations Office.

Instructions for the use of Calculators

Extracted from the Joint Council of Awarding Bodies 'Instructions for the Conduct of Examinations'

Where the use of electronic calculators is allowed in examinations, candidates are responsible for ensuring that their calculators meet the regulations.

Calculators must be of a size suitable for use on the desk and must be either battery or solar powered.

The candidate is responsible for the calculator's power supply and working condition.

Calculators must not be designed or adapted to offer any of the following facilities:

Language translators
Symbolic algebra manipulation
Symbolic differentiation or integration
Communication with other machines or the internet

Calculators must not be borrowed from another candidate during an exam, for any reason, although the invigilator may provide a candidate with a replacement calculator (if available).

Calculators must not have any retrievable data stored in them. This includes:-

Data banks
Dictionaries
Mathematical formulae
Text

Calculator cases, instruction leaflets or instructions and formulae printed on the lid or cover of a calculator or similar materials must not be in the possession of candidates during the examination (where instructions cannot be removed they should be securely covered).

If in doubt as to the suitability of your calculator please check with subject staff.

Random checks of calculators do take place inside, or outside, the examination rooms.

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Page last updated 14th January 2010

Alton College