Exams

At Bank View school we offer a range of external accreditation from entry level to GCSE and Level 1 and 2 qualifications. We use a number of different exams boards to complete these.

Information for students

Here is some guidance from Ofqual with tips for coping with exam pressure:

Coping with exam pressure – a guide for students – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Some of your courses may have a written exams under formal exam conditions, others may be solely completed by coursework. The coursework is marked by the teachers in line with the course guidance. We moderate it internally and the exam boards moderate a sample to check. You will need to sign declaration sheets to say the coursework is all your own work. For some courses an external moderator may visit school.

There is more information from the JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications – a membership organisation comprising the eight largest providers of qualifications in the UK) here:

https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/information-for-candidates-documents/

Written exams

Punctuality

You must attend school at least 15 minutes before the start of the examination. If you are late, the examination will start without you and the Examination Board may refuse to accept the work that you do.

Lateness, illness and other circumstances

If you are too ill to attend or unavoidably late then you must call school on 01513305101 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 Ms Pattison, Mr Wrigg or Mr Davey 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 have followed the guidance above.

Authorised Materials

You are only allowed to bring the following equipment into the examination room:

Normal writing equipment either loose or in a clear see-through pencil case or bag.
Water but only in a small, re-sealable container with any label removed.

Anything other than the items listed above will be regarded as ‘unauthorised materials’ by the Examination Boards and must not be in your possession for any examination or speaking test.

Unauthorised Materials

Mobile phone, must be switched off and handed in at the start of each examination.
MP3 or 4 players/ iPods / smart watches or any other electronic equipment.
Earphones
Notes of any description
Coats or any other outdoor clothing

You can face disqualification by the Examination Board if you do not follow the rules, even if you have not attempted to use any items for dishonest reasons.

Conduct

Once you have entered the examination room, you must not communicate with other candidates in any way. You may only speak with the invigilators.

Once seated you must face the front at all times and only look at your own work. To avoid any misunderstanding, do not look at other candidates in the rows either side of you or behind you.

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

Things to remember

Never write in your answer booklet until you are instructed to do so, not even to fill in your candidate details.
Always check that 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 booklets and any supplementary sheets according to the instructions.
If you need to attract an invigilator’s attention at any point in the examination, please raise your hand. Do not call out.
Do your best!

Fire Alarm

If the fire alarm sounds, remain in silence and listen carefully to the instructions given to you by the Invigilator/s or member of staff. Examination 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 Examination Board will disqualify you for that examination.