Students are examined in a variety of ways including formal exams, controlled assessment, practical exams, coursework, and oral exams. Please choose from the links on the right to browse information about exams at Bradley Stoke Community School.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.  What do I do if there’s a clash on my timetable?

• The school will re-schedule exams internally where there is a clash of subjects.  Candidates will normally sit papers consecutively one after the other.  It may be necessary for you to bring a packed lunch if you have exams in the morning and afternoon as you will have to remain under supervision until both examinations are completed.  If in doubt consult Mrs Stevens or Mrs Bolshaw in F77

Q.  What do I do if I think I have the wrong paper?

• Invigilators will ask you to check before the exam starts.  If you think something is wrong put your hand up and tell the invigilator immediately

Q.  What do I do if I forget my Candidate Number?

• Candidate numbers are printed on your timetables, desk labels, seating plans… Please learn your candidate number before your exams – you will also need it for coursework

Q.  What do I do if I forget the school Centre Number?

• The Centre number is 50508.  It will be clearly displayed in the examination rooms

Q.  What do I do if I have an accident or am ill before the exam??

• First, inform school at the earliest possible point so we can help or advise you.  In the case of an accident that means you are unable to write, it may be possible to provide you with a scribe or a laptop to write your answers but we will need as much prior notice as possible
• You may need to obtain medical evidence (from your GP or hospital) if you wish the school to make an appeal for Special Consideration on your behalf (see below)

Q.  What is an Appeal for Special Consideration?

• Special Consideration is a discretionary adjustment to the marks or grades of a candidate who is eligible for consideration.  The exams boards have a matrix for the allowance for Special Consideration.  This ranges from 0% (consideration given but addition of marks considered inappropriate) to 5% (reserved for exceptional cases).  Parents should be aware that any adjustment is likely to be small and no feedback is ever provided.  Exam certificates show no indication of special consideration
• Candidates will only be eligible for Special Consideration if they have been fully prepared and covered the whole course but performance in the examination or in the production of coursework is affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control.  Examples or such circumstances may be illness, accident or injury, bereavement or domestic crisis.  The Examination Officer must be informed immediately, so that the necessary paperwork can be completed (within 7 days of the exam) and the candidate will be required to provide evidence to support such an application

Q.  What do I do if I feel ill during the exam?

• Put your hand up and an invigilator will assist you.  You should inform the exams officer if you feel ill before or during an exam and you feel this may have affected your performance

Q.  If I’m late can I still sit the examination?

• Provided you are not more than 1 hour late, it may still be possible for you to sit the examination.  You should contact the school to let us know you are on your way here.  Get to school as quickly as possible and report to Reception.  A member of staff will escort you to the exam room.  You must not enter an examination room without permission.  It may not be possible to allow you any extra time if you start the examination late
• You should also be aware that if you start the exam more than 30 minutes after the published starting time, the school must inform the exam board and it is possible that the exam board may decide not to accept your work.  Please ensure that you allow enough time to get to school so that if you are delayed (e.g. through transport problems) you will still arrive on time

Q.  If I miss the examination can I take it on another day?

• No.  Timetables are regulated by the exam boards and you must attend on the given date and time.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you are in attendance for all of your timetabled exams.  You will be charged the cost of the exam if you fail to sit it (and this is not due to illness etc)

Q.  Do I have to wear school uniform?

• Yes.  Normal school regulations apply to uniform, hair, jewellery, make-up, etc.

Q.  What equipment should I bring for my exams?

• At least 2 pens (black ink only)
• At least 2 HB pencils
• Calculator
• 30cm ruler (marked with cm and mm)
• Pencil sharpener
• Eraser
• Pair of compasses
• Protractor
• Coloured pencil crayons (not gel pens)
• Set texts (e.g. for English Literature)
• You are responsible for providing your own equipment for examinations.  You must not attempt to borrow equipment from another candidate during the examination.  If you are missing a piece of equipment you should raise your hand and inform an invigilator, who may be able to provide the equipment you are missing.  Supplies of replacement equipment are limited

Q.  What items are not allowed into the examination room?

• Only material that is listed on the front of the question paper is permitted in the examination room and students who are found to have any material with them that is not allowed will be reported to the appropriate examinations board
• Bags and coats and any other items not permitted under examination regulations must be left in lockers.   Do not bring any valuables into school with you when you attend for an examination
• No food is allowed in the exam room
• Mobile telephones, IPods, MP3 Players, electronic data transmission or storage devices must not be brought into the exam room even if they are turned off

Q.  Why can’t I bring my mobile telephone into the exam room??

• Being in possession of a mobile ‘phone (or any other electronic or data communication device, e.g. iPod, headphones) is regarded as cheating and is subject to severe penalty from the awarding bodies: 

• Repeated warnings for poor conduct during public examinations may result in you being barred from taking examinations for a set period of time.  Details of penalties are available from the exams office on request
• If there is an emergency that requires that you bring a mobile telephone to school, you must switch it off and leave it in a named envelope in the school office before entering the examination room.  You are responsible for collecting it at the end of the examination

Q.  How do I know how long the exam is?

• The length of the examination is shown in minutes on your individual timetable under the heading ‘duration’.  Invigilators will tell you when to start and finish the exam.  They will write the finish time of the exam on a flip chart or board at the front of the exam room.  There will be a clock in all examination rooms

Q.  Can I leave the exam early?

• It is a requirement of the exam boards that you must stay in the examination room for at least one hour after the published start time of the exam (or for the duration of the exam if it is less than one hour).  It is against school policy to allow candidates to leave the exam room early, as this is disruptive to other candidates.  A candidate may not leave the examination room without the permission of the invigilators

Q.  What do I do if the fire alarm goes?

• The examination invigilators will tell you what to do.  If you have to evacuate the room leave everything on your desk and leave the room in silence.  You must not attempt to communicate with any other candidates during the evacuation.  A full report requesting special consideration where necessary will be submitted to the exam board

Q.  Can I go to the toilet during the exam?

• If it is absolutely necessary. You will be escorted by an invigilator and will not be allowed any extra time to compensate for the time you have missed.  The time you leave and return will be recorded on the event log, and you may be given the time at the end of the exam to make up for what you missed

Q.  I think I’m going to be sick / my nose suddenly started bleeding?

• Raise your hand to attract the attention of the invigilator.  We supply vomit bags and plenty of tissues in each exam box.  You will be permitted extra time to complete your exam if a medical emergency occurs which does not prevent you from having to leave the exam for the remainder of the session

Q.  If I have more than one exam on a day can I get lunch at school?

• Students who have examinations in both morning and afternoon sessions may obtain lunch from the dining hall in the usual way or bring a packed lunch

Q.  Why do I need to check the details on the Statement of Entry?

• The details on your timetable will be used when certificates are printed.  If the name or date of birth on your certificates does not match your birth certificate it could cause you problems if you are asked to show your certificates to a potential employer for college/university at some time in the future.  You should also check that the subjects and tiers of entry you are entered for are correct and that no subjects are missing

Q. I think something is wrong with my exam

• If you think there is something wrong during your exam, however trivial it might seem to you, please make sure that you advise an invigilator.  If you have spoken to an invigilator but you are still concerned, ask to speak to the lead invigilator.  If you have done this, yet are still not satisfied with the outcome, ask to speak to the Examinations Officer.  We are here to help you get the best from your exams experience

Q.  I am entitled to extra time – how will this affect the way I take my exams

• Some students receive an allowance of up to 25% or more extra time.  Where possible such candidates will be seated together to minimise disturbance from other candidates who finish earlier.  The invigilators will include the additional time when they display the finishing time of your exam on the board

Q.  What do I do if I don’t get the grades I need for college?

• Teaching and connexions staff will be available to advise you on main results day in year 11.  If you feel strongly that it is necessary to make an enquiry about your result you should first consult the Head of Subject to obtain their advice as to the advisability of requesting a re-mark or other enquiry about results.  You should be aware that your mark could go down, up,  or stay the same.  You must complete a candidate consent form and return it with the correct payment before the deadline given on the booking form

Q. What will happen if the school is closed due to snow or adverse weather?

• Even if the school is closed for lessons, it will almost certainly be open for exams to take place at the scheduled time. The school website will be updated regularly with further information.

Q. What should I do if it’s snowing and I can’t get to school?

• You should make every effort to get to the school. If it is absolutely not possible, you will either be eligible for ‘special consideration’ or you will need to sit the exam at the next sitting.