External Examinations
Introduction
The external examination series can be difficult, especially with the multitude of components and tiers to consider. Knowing your timetable and planning ahead is essential. This page outlines some of the key dates, examination procedures and how to apply for special consideration. There are also the re-mark and re-sit application forms available to download.
Re-sit Applications
Please note, the deadline for most Summer Series re-sits is usually at the start of February.
If you intend to repeat any modules or papers, the appropriate GCSE or A Level application form should be returned as soon as possible to the finance office. The appropriate fee will be added to your Parent Pay account.
Any entry submitted after this date will incur the late fees imposed by the examination boards.
If you would like to re-sit an examination, please download the relevant form:
Re-Marks
The deadline for enquiries about results is Monday, 7th March. We will not accept requests after this date.
For each examination series, the examination boards are obligated to offer a post-results service. Pupils are able to request clerical re-checks of their papers, reviews of marking, reviews of moderation and access their scripts. The boards charge for these services.
If you feel there has been an error in the way your examination papers have been process, you can enquire about your result. It should also be noted that examination marks may go down as well as up.
The School’s re-mark forms are available from the finance office or by clicking the following link:
Enquiry about Results Application Form
There are detailed instructions and a list of fees on the reverse of the form.
The examination boards will only accept a review of result request if it is submitted by the school. If you would like a review of your examination papers, please complete the form and return it to the Finance Office. The appropriate fee will be allocated to your Parent Pay account.
The procedure is outlined in the following diagram:
Please be aware that the examination boards have to process thousands of applications across a huge range of subject areas. Therefore, your enquiry may take several weeks, especially if you request an original script to be returned.
Special Consideration
Special consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate’s mark or grade to reflect temporary illness, temporary injury or some other event outside of the your control at the time of the assessment, which has had, or is reasonably likely to have had, a material effect on your ability to take an assessment or demonstrate your normal level of attainment in an assessment.
The examinations regulator has produced a guide to the special consideration process.
If you feel your performance in the examination series has been hindered by temporary illness, injury or some other event, please inform the examinations officer. You will need to provide proof, such as a doctor or solicitor’s note, to support your application.
Examination Timetables
CCEA GCSE Examination Summer Timetable 2022
Information for Candidates
Instructions for candidates – non-examination assessments
JCQ’s guide to the Special Consideration Process
Information for candidates – social media
Information for Candidates – Privacy Notice
Statement of Entry
A Statement of Entry is a document that confirms your examination registration. It will include a list of your chosen subjects and the exam dates for each module, as well as your name, date of birth and school.
Before examinations are formally entered and finalised, you will receive a copy of your timetable. It is your responsibility to check the information carefully. Check your personal details, including what name you would like on your certificates, as well as your exam information. Contact the Exams Officer if you have any questions.
Once this information is verified, you will then be registered for your examinations.
Invariably, clashes do occur but please consult with the Examinations Officer because these issues can be resolved.
These timetables are normally issued three months before the examination season begins. For example, if you are sitting tests in the May and June series, you will receive your statement in January or February.
Your timetable will look similar to this example:
Resolving Clashes
An exam clash occurs when you have two or more examinations timetabled in the same session or multiple examinations timetabled for the same day.
If you have “two or more examinations in a session and the total time is three hours or less”, then you will be expected to sit the papers in one session. You will be given a supervised break of no more than twenty minutes between papers within a session. The order in which papers are sat is decided by factors such as the number of candidates and the length of the papers. If there is a listening or speaking component for an examination (e.g. Languages or Music), that examination should be sat with the rest of the candidates in its timetabled session and the other examination completed later in the same session.
However, if you are “are taking two or more papers timetabled in a session and the total time is more than three hours including extra time and/or supervised rest breaks”, you may take an “examination in a later or earlier session within the same day”.
If you need to sit an examination earlier or later than the published time, you will have to follow the School’s “quarantine” procedures.
Examination Timetable
When your entries are confirmed, you will then be issued with an examination timetable.
This print-out will detail the dates, times and duration of your exams.
Please double-check that you have been entered for the correct subject, unit and tier. If you are not sure, please ask your subject teacher.
Some of the timetable’s other terminology can be a little confusing, but some of the key ideas are described below.
Your Exam Number
Every examination candidate has been allocated by the school a unique number which, together with the centre number, must be written on every exam paper submitted for marking. This identifies the paper as yours so that you will receive the mark for the work you complete in each exam. Remember, there are thousands of students taking the same exam at the same time all over the country, and you are responsible for making sure the paper can be identified as yours.
The exam hall will have designated seating. Therefore, you must learn your exam number to find your allocated seat quickly before the test begins.
Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI)
Every pupil has a 13-character code that’s unique to them. Its purpose is to enable all of your examination results which you have taken through any awarding body to be accumulated together, accurately and fully, under your name. For example, this number will your identifier for both your GCSE and A Level examinations.
| Character position | Meaning | Example UCI |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Your school or college centre number. Bloomfield is 71213 | 712130170001X |
| 6 | 0 (zero) for CCEA and AQA exams | 712130170001X |
| 7–8 | The last two digits of the academic year when the UCI is allocated. For example 17 is used for the 2017/18 academic year | 712130170001X |
| 9–12 | Your candidate number | 712130170001X |
| 13 | A ‘check’ character used to verify the other digits and a letter is assigned to your UCI. | 712130170001X |
Uniques Learning Number (ULN)
The Unique Learner Number (ULN) is a 10-digit reference number which is used alongside and to access the Personal Learning Record of anyone over the age of 13 involved in UK education or training.
You will retain the same number for accessing your Personal Learning Record throughout your life, whatever your level of learning and wherever you choose to participate in education, training and learning. This includes examinations and certificates you might enter outside of school, such as a sporting qualification or speech and drama certifications.
The ULN can also help pupils throughout their lifelong learning, particularly when accessing careers advice CCEA have produced a useful information poster that outlines the Unique Learner Number and you can access the file by clicking the following link: ULN for Learners.
Preventing Malpractice
CCEA offer guidance and support in preventing malpractice in examinations and assessments. You can download the document by clicking this link. It explains what malpractice is to help you stay within the rules for examinations, controlled assessment and coursework.
Privacy Notice
In order to be able to provide examinations and assessments, the examination boards need to collect and use information about you. This includes obvious identification details such as your name, address, date of birth and your school or your school. It also includes information about your gender, race and health, where appropriate.
Bloomfield Collegiate School provides this information to the examination boards.
Also, each awarding body will create certain information about you such as a candidate number, examination results and certificates.
The law gives you a number of rights in relation to the information about you that the awarding bodies holds.
CCEA have created a summary of this privacy information and you can access the file by clicking the following link: Privacy Notice.
