Guidance, Rules & Regulations
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 outside the hall on the day of each exam. You must check the plan before entering the exam room and sit in the place allocated to you. Being in the right place at the right time is your responsibility.
Punctuality
You must arrive at the exam room on time. If you are late the exam will start without you, and the Exam Board may refuse to accept the work that you do. You will not be allowed any extra time to finish.
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 01663 423123 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 Exams Officer or your Year Manager 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 or bag
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 but only in a re-sealable container and with any labels/writing removed
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.
Unauthorised materials
You are not allowed to bring the following equipment into any exam:
Mobile Phones unless for a medical reason – this must be pre authorised.
MP3 or 4 players/iPods/any other electronic equipment
Earphones
Wrist Watch
Notes of any description
Dictionaries
Calculator lids, cases and/or instruction leaflets
Coats or any other outdoor clothing
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.
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 or plastic bag
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 Senior Invigilator. 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 Exams Officer.
Please direct any queries about exams to: exams@newmillsschool.co.uk.