EXCELLENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

The Student Guide to GCSE Exams

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This booklet is available in PDF format from our school website. The Contents page contains links to each section. To go back to

the Contents page, click or tap the image at the top of each section. If you don’t have a PDF reader on your device, click or

tap the Adobe Reader link below to get one.

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Contents

A message to you from our Exams Officer 3

Before Your Exams: Things You Need to Know 4

Exam Timetable 6

During Your Exams: Things You Need to Know 8

What to do if you are ill on the day of the exam 11

Special Consideration Explained 12

Exam Checklist 15

Frequently Asked Questions 17

GCSE Results Day 18

School Mission Statement

“We pledge, through respectful relationships, to ensure all members of our community are supported in taking responsibility for their own learning, to

become ‘well-rounded’ and caring individuals, with skills, attributes, qualifications and experiences to prepare them for their and our futures.”

“Excellence through Partnership”

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A message to you from Tottington High School’s

Exams Officer

Your GCSE Exams are rapidly approaching. This booklet is designed to offer you help and advice in preparation for these exams. This booklet also states the rules and regulations of the exam boards that you must adhere to.

Please read through this booklet to ensure that you are familiar with what is expected of you.

May I take this opportunity to wish you well in your forthcoming examinations. Do your best, and good luck!

Mrs C Standring Examinations Officer

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Before Your Exams: Things You Need to Know

1. You must be on time for your exams.

Morning exams begin at 8.50 am

Afternoon exams begin at 1.30 pm (unless otherwise stated)

If you are late, your work might not be accepted by the exam boards.

2. You must attend all exams in school uniform.

As part of our identification policy, pupils who do not wear uniform risk

being sent home and, therefore, will miss an exam. This will affect your

final grade.

3. You must clear the memory of any calculator that you use, before going

into an exam and remove the calculator case.

4. No smart/digital/data storage or wrist watches are allowed on your

person in the exam room.

5. Mobile phones are prohibited from exams. Please DO NOT bring them to

school. Leave them at home!

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6. It is your responsibility to ensure that you bring ALL the correct equipment

e.g. black pens, pencils, ruler, protractor, compass, calculator etc. DO NOT

expect to borrow any stationery from the school.

7. Equipment:

i. Get together ALL the equipment you may need the night before: a

pen – black ink only - and a spare pen, a pencil, ruler, eraser,

compass, protractor, etc. Coloured pencils are required for some

exams. No correction fluid (e.g. Tippex) is to be used in the exam.

ii. All this equipment must be stored in a clear, plastic bag or case.

iii. For certain exams you may require a calculator. Check which exams

you can use them with - ask your teacher.

iv. No other material must be taken into the hall and must be left in

your bag.

8. Remember to go to the toilet before the exam starts.

9. Arrive at your assembly point 10 minutes before the start of the exam.

Your final examination timetable is on the next page and

gives you all the details you will need for your exams -

dates, starting and finishing times etc. You will also be

given your own copy. It is your timetable.

You are responsible for looking after it.

So, make sure you keep it somewhere safe!

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DATE Time From To SUBJECT EXAM CODE

13/05/2019 1 hr 40 9.00am 10.40am Computer Science Paper 1 Principles of Computer Science

1CP1 01

13/05/2019 1 hr 40 1.15pm 2.55pm Religious Studies Paper 1 Religion & Ethics 1RB0 1B 14/05/2019 35mins

45mins 9.00am 9.00am

9.35am 9.45am

French Listening Paper French Reading Paper

8658 L F/H 8658 R F/H

14/05/2019 1 hr 45 1.15pm 3.00pm Triple Science Paper 1 Biology 1B10 1 F/H 14/05/2019 1 hr 10 1.15pm 2.25pm Combined Science Paper 1 Biology 1SC0 1B F/H 15/05/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am Physical Education Paper 1 Fitness & Body System 1PE0 01 15/05/2019 1 hr 45 1.15pm 3.00pm English Literature Paper 1 Shakespeare & the 19th

Century Novel 8702/1

15/05/2019 1 hr 9.00am 10.00am Sport Studies Contemporary Issues in Sport Paper R051 16/05/2019 1 hr 10 9.00am 10.10am Combined Science Paper 1 Chemistry 1SC0 1C F/H 16/05/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am Triple Science Paper 1 Chemistry 1CHO 1F/H 16/05/2019 2 hr 1.15pm 3.15pm Computer Science Paper 2 1CP1 02 17/05/2019 1 hr

1 hr 15 9.00am 9.00am

10.00am 10.15am

French Writing Paper Foundation French Writing Paper Higher

8658 W F 8658 W H

17/05/2019 1 hr 15 1.15pm 2.30pm Physical Education Paper 2 Health & Performance 1PE0 02 20/05/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am Religious Studies Paper 2 Religion, Peace &

Conflict 1RB0 2C

21/05/2019 1 hr 30 9.00am 10.30am Maths Paper 1 Non-Calc 1MA0 01 21/05/2019 1 hr 30 1.15pm 2.45pm Geography Paper 1 Living with the Physical

Environment 8035/1

22/05/2019 35/45m 45/1hr

9.00am 9.00am

9.35/45am 9.45/10.00am

Spanish Listening Paper F/H Spanish Reading Paper F/H

8698L F/H 8698R F/H

22/05/2019 45mins 9.00am 9.45am Chinese Paper 1: Listening and understanding in Chinese

1CNO 1M/H

22/05/2019 1hr 5 9.00am 10.05am Chinese Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Chinese

1CNO 3M/H

22/05/2019 1 hr 10 1.15pm 2.25pm Combined Science Paper 1 Physics 1SCO 1P F/H 22/05/2019 1 hr 45 1.15pm 3.00pm Triple Science Paper 1 Physics 1PHO 1F/H 23/05/2019 2 hr 15 9.00am 11.15am English Literature Paper 2 Modern Texts & Poetry 8702/2 24/05/2019 2 hrs 1.15pm 3.15pm Design & Technology Res Mats Written Paper 8552 24/05/2019 2 hrs 1.15pm 3.15pm Design & Technology Textiles Written Paper 8552 03/06/2019 1 hr 15 9.00am 10.15am History Paper 1 Thematic study and historic

environment 1H10 11

03/06/2019 1hr 25 1.15pm 2.40pm Chinese Paper 4: Writing in Chinese 1CNO 4M/H 04/06/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am English Language Paper 1 C700U10-1

Eng 04/06/2019 1 hr 30 1.15pm 2.45pm Music Written Paper Understanding Music 8271/W 05/06/2019 1hr

1hr 15 9.00am 9.00am

10.00am 10.15am

Spanish Writing Paper Foundation Spanish Writing Paper Higher

8698W F 8698W H

05/06/2019 1 hr 30 1.15pm 2.45pm Geography Paper 2 Challenges in the Human Environment

8035/2

06/06/2019 1 hr 30 9.00am 10.30am Maths Paper 2 Calc 1MA0 02 06/06/2019 1 hr 45 1.15pm 3.00pm History Paper 2 Period study and British depth

study 1H10 27

07/06/2019 2 hrs 9.00am 11.00am English Language Paper 2 C700U20 - 1 07/06/2019 1 hr 10 1.15pm 2.25pm Combined Science Paper 2 Biology 1SC0 2B F/H 07/06/2019 1 hr 45 1.15pm 3.00pm Triple Science Paper 2 Biology 1B10 2F/H 10/06/2019 45mins 9.00am 9.45am Arabic Paper 1: Listening and understanding in

Arabic 1AA0 1H

10/06/2019 1 hr 5 10.00am 11.05am Arabic Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Arabic

1AA0 3H

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DATE Time From To SUBJECT EXAM CODE

10/06/2019 2hr 45 1.00pm 3.45pm GCE Arabic Unit 1 6AR01

10/06/2019 1 hr 15 1.15pm 2.30pm Child Development Health & Well-Being Paper R018 11/06/2019 1 hr 30 9.00am 10.30am Maths Paper 3 Calc 1MA1 3F/H 11/06/2019 1 hr 20 1.15pm 2.35pm History Paper 3 Modern depth study 1H10 31 12/06/2019 1 hr 10 9.00am 10.10am Combined Science Paper 2 Chemistry 1SC0 2P F/H 12/06/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am Triple Science Paper 2 Chemistry 1CH0 2 F/H 12/06/2019 35mins

45mins 1.15pm 1.15pm

1.50pm 2.00pm

German Listening Paper German Reading Paper

8668 L F/H 8668 R F/H

13/06/2019 1 hr 15 9.00am 10.15am Geography Paper 3 Geographical Applications 8035/3 13/06/2019 1 hr 30 1.15pm 2.45pm Statistics Unit 1 F/H (YEAR 10) 1STO F/H 13/06/2019 1 hr 20 1.15pm 2.35pm Arabic Paper 4: Writing in Arabic 1AA0 4H 13/06/2019 3 hrs 10.30am 1.30pm GCE Written Arabic Paper 1 6AR0201 14/06/2019 1 hr 10 9.00am 10.10am Combined Science Paper 2 Physics 1SC0 2PF/H 14/06/2019 1 hr 45 9.00am 10.45am Triple Science Paper 2 Physics 1PH0 2F/H 14/06/2019 45mins 1.15pm 2.00pm Greek Paper 1: Listening and understanding in

Greek 1GK0 1H

14/06/2019 1 hr 5 1.15pm 2.20pm Greek Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Greek

1GK0 3H

17/06/2019 1 hr 1hr 15

9.00am 9.00am

10.00am 10.15am

German Writing Paper Foundation German Writing Paper Higher

8668 W F 8668 W H

18/06/2019 1 hr 30 9.00am 10.30am Statistics Unit 2 F/H (YEAR 10) 1STO 2F/H 18/06/2019 1hr 25 9.00am 10.25am Greek Paper 4: Writing in Greek 1GK0 4H

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During Your Exams: Things You Need to Know

Read the instructions on the front of the exam paper carefully so you

understand what you need to do.

Fill in all information required on the front of your exam paper when told

to do so. You must use your full legal name - not nicknames or other

names.

Tell the invigilators AT ONCE if:

you think you have not been given the correct exam paper – it is your

responsibility to check you have the correct tier and notify the invigilator

if you think you have been given the wrong tier

any of the materials (listed in a box on the front of the paper) are

missing

the paper is incomplete or badly printed

If a page is meant to be blank, it will say so!

Work carefully and write clearly – the person who is marking your exam

paper must be able to read your writing or you could get zero marks!

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Don’t rush. Pace yourself – if you have two hours to answer four

questions, for example, make sure you spend half an hour on each. Exam

questions are carefully designed and tested – they should take the

estimated length of time to complete.

Show all your working/rough work. Cross it through when you’ve finished

with it. Hand it in with the rest of your answers. Do not doodle or write any

inappropriate comments on your exam paper as this may lead to

disqualification.

Leave yourself 5-10 minutes at the end to read through and check all your

answers. Boring though this may seem, it is vitally important. You can

often find mistakes/omissions and put them right. It could mean the

difference between a grade 9 and a grade 7.

During the exam, put your hand up if:

you need more paper

you feel ill

you have a particular problem and don’t know what to do. You must not

ask for (and you will not be given) any explanation of the questions –

this is part of the exam.

At the end of the exam stop writing when you are told to.

Make sure your legal name and exam number are on all separate pieces of

paper you hand in.

If you have used more than one answer booklet and/or loose sheets of

paper you must place them inside the answer booklet in the correct place.

Exam conditions DO NOT end until you have left the room.

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Don’t be tempted to talk/turn around/communicate in any way with other

people. Your paper could still be cancelled!

You must not leave the exam room until you are told to do so.

Once you have been dismissed, collect your belongings and leave the room

quickly in silence. REMEMBER – other exams may still be continuing. It is

not fair to others if you make a noise outside the room.

YOU MUST NOT:

Become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice in any part of the

exam. If you are caught doing so, this will be reported to the exam

board. It may mean being disqualified from all your exams – not just the

one you were caught in.

Talk to or disturb other people in any way once the exam has begun. If

you are caught doing so, this will be reported to the exam board. It may

mean being disqualified from all your exams – not just the one you were

caught in.

Take into the exam room any unauthorised equipment – for example:

o Bags / Coats etc

o Ordinary pencil case / Notes etc

o Calculator case / instruction leaflet

o Mobile phone / MP3 Player / IPod / any other Electronic Device i.e. Watch

Impersonate another candidate. This is a criminal offence and is dealt

with by the police. You may be prosecuted in a court of law.

Candidates have been disqualified from their exams in previous

years due to their behaviour and having mobile phones on them

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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What to do if you are ill on the day of the exam

If you are ill and are unable to attend an exam it is vital you phone the school

first thing in the morning (01204 882327) to inform us.

You must also obtain a note from your doctor detailing the reason for non-

attendance. There is the possibility of submitting this note to the

Examinations Board to ask for special consideration. The Exam Board looks at

this in conjunction with other exam marks from the student in that particular

subject, coursework marks and mock exam marks. This will then sometimes

enable them to adjust the mark and grade accordingly.

If you are feeling unwell, but still able to travel, we suggest you come to the

exam and we can assess the situation then. In most cases it is better to take

the exam if you can.

If in doubt – PHONE THE SCHOOL

If you do not attend an exam without a valid reason, it is possible

that you will be charged for that exam.

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Special Consideration Explained

Each year we have many requests from parents asking if their child is

entitled to Special Consideration due to; illness, a domestic situation or

extreme anxiety that their child has experienced leading up to or during

their exams.

The Special Consideration marks that the exam boards apply are

deliberately low. The average percentage of marks that an exam board will

add to the marks of an exam paper is 2%. Only in exceptional circumstances

(e.g. terminal illness) will an exam board award the maximum allowance of

5%. Please note that unless it is causing a flare up of an existing illness,

exam-related stress will not be considered by the Exam Boards, as this is

part of the exam testing.

If you have any concerns about your child before or during the exams,

please contact the Head of Year 11 or the Exams Officer in the first instance.

We will then be able to put procedures in place (in accordance with the JCQ

regulations) within school to try and alleviate the problem and apply for the

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minor Special Consideration adjustment. Medical evidence will be required

for a request relating to an illness.

We can only apply for Special Consideration if we are aware of the

circumstances at the time of the exams.

Below are extracts taken from the JCQ Special Consideration Guidance for

Exam Officers:

• 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 candidate’s control at the time of the

assessment, which has had, or is reasonably likely to have had, a material

effect on a candidate’s ability to take an assessment or demonstrate his

or her normal level of attainment in an assessment. Special Consideration

can only seek to go some way to assist a candidate affected by a

potentially wide range of difficulties, emotional or physical, which may

influence performance in examinations. It cannot remove the difficulty

faced by the candidate. There will be situations where candidates should

not be entered for an examination. Only minor adjustments can be made

to the mark awarded because to do more than this would jeopardize the

standard of the examination.

• Special Consideration can only seek to go some way to assist a candidate

affected by a potentially wide range of difficulties, emotional or physical,

which may influence performance in examinations. It cannot remove the

difficulty faced by the candidate. There will be situations where

candidates should not be entered for an examination. Only minor

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adjustments can be made to the mark awarded because to do more than

this would jeopardize the standard of the examination.

• All examinations are measuring what a candidate knows and can do.

The overall grades awarded must reflect the level of attainment

demonstrated in the examination. The grades awarded do not

necessarily reflect the candidate’s true level of ability if attainment

has been considerably affected over a long period of time.

• It is not necessarily the case that the grade issued will match the

estimated/forecast grade. Where long term circumstances have

prevented the candidate from reaching the competence standards it

may not be possible to make an adjustment.

• Special Consideration cannot be applied in a cumulative fashion, e.g.

on the basis of a domestic crisis at the time of the examination and

the candidate suffering from a viral illness.

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Exam Checklist Aim to arrive at school 15 minutes prior to the start of an exam AT THE

LATEST. It is much better to leave yourself plenty of time in case of problems

with the journey.

When taking exams, bags, coats and mobile phones should be left in the

designated areas in a different room. Because of this, it is recommended

that you do not bring valuables with you to the exam.

Phones – you must not have mobile phones in your possession (either on or

off). The minimum penalties are as follows:

o Devices found on you and turned ON will lead to disqualification for the

entire subject award and possibly all of your examination subjects.

o Devices found on you and turned OFF will lead to disqualification from

the specific paper you are sitting at the time and possibly disqualification

for the entire subject award.

o Phone rings during the exam wherever it is in the room - the exam board

must be informed and you will be disqualified for the entire subject

award (including any already taken) and possibly all of your examination

subjects.

Make sure all ALARMS are switched off!

You should not have written notes, digital or smart watches, MP3 players,

headphones, etc in your possession – leave them in your bag or hand them

in to the invigilator.

You should bring with you the correct equipment needed to do your exams

as these will not be provided in the venue. Only clear pencil cases are

allowed on your desk, any others should be left in your bag. Do not use gel

pens or erasable pens.

In an exam where you have the use of a calculator, you should not have a

calculator cover on your desk.

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In certain exams you will need coloured pencils, so it is very important that

you bring them to the exam. Ask your teacher if you are not sure which exam

requires coloured pencils.

There Is absolutely no talking or communication between students once

you enter the exam hall. If you have any questions, you should raise your

hand once seated and an invigilator will come to you.

You should wear your full uniform for all your exams.

No food is allowed in the exam hall. If you have a special requirement –

please see the Exams Officer before the exams.

Water bottles only are allowed in the exam hall. These should be clear

bottles with a spill-proof cap. There should be no label on the bottle.

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Frequently Asked Questions Q. What do I do if there is a clash on my timetable?

A. It will be indicated on the timetable if there is a clash of exams, with details of which exam to sit first and the start time of the following exam. If you have any questions, then consult the Exams Office immediately.

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

A. Invigilators will ask you to check before the exam starts. If you think something is wrong put your hand up and tell an invigilator immediately, as mistakes cannot be rectified after the exam.

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

A. Provided you are not more than 1 hour late, for an exam that lasts 1 hour or more it may be possible for you to still sit the exam. You should 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 the exam room without permission once an exam has started. It may not be possible to allow you extra time if you start the exam late. You should also be aware that for exams lasting less than 1 hour, if you start an exam 30 minutes after the published starting time, the school must inform the exam board and it is possible that they may not accept your work.

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

A. No. Timetables are regulated by the exam boards and you must attend on the given dates and times.

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GCSE Results Day Thursday 22nd August 2019

You (or your representative) may come into school on Thursday 22nd August

between 10.00am and 3.00pm to collect your results. If someone is collecting

on your behalf, they must bring a letter signed by you, giving them permission

to obtain your results along with proof of ID.

If you cannot collect them on the day we can post them to you, but you must

leave a stamped self-addressed envelope with the Exams Office before you

leave school after your last exam in June.