Examinations at OLSC
Summer 2023 contingency days
The awarding bodies have collectively agreed a contingency day for several years now which is always scheduled at the end of the GCSE, GCE AS and A-level exam timetables.
The contingency day is in the event of national or significant local disruption to exams in the United Kingdom, being part of the awarding bodies’ standard contingency planning for exams.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, further resilience was needed within the exam timetables. A single contingency day was not felt to be sufficient if a national event or incident had a significant effect on the exam timetable. For example, summer exams could be affected by extremely high temperatures.
For the June 2023 exams, the awarding bodies have therefore introduced two additional half-day contingency sessions. These are on Thursday 8 June 2023 and Thursday 15 June 2023. The standard contingency day remains at the end of the timetable being scheduled on Wednesday 28 June 2023.
Schools and colleges should ensure candidates and parents are aware of the contingency arrangements on these three days. They should consider the contingency day of Wednesday 28 June 2023 when making their plans for the summer. Candidates must remain available until Wednesday 28 June 2023 should examinations need to be rescheduled.
Current Subjects and Relevant Exam Boards
Guidance Documents
- Instructions for conducting external assessments ICEA BTec 2023.pdf pdf1.3 MbJan 30th, 2023
- Social-Media-Information-for-Candidates_Final.pdf pdf394.8 KbJan 25th, 2023
- Information-for-candidates-Privacy-Notice_21-22.pdf pdf342.2 KbJan 25th, 2023
- JCQ-Preparing-to-sit-your-exams.pdf pdf196.7 KbJan 25th, 2023
- IFC-Written_Examinations_2022_FINAL.pdf pdf143.4 KbJan 25th, 2023
- IFC-On-Screen_Examinations_2022_FINAL.pdf pdf142.5 KbJan 25th, 2023
- IFC-NE_Assessments_2022_FINAL.pdf pdf124.3 KbJan 25th, 2023
- IFC-Coursework_Assessments_2022_FINAL.pdf pdf139.3 KbJan 25th, 2023
- JCQ Appeals Guidance Summer 2021 Appendix-B pdf191.5 KbAug 31st, 2021
- JCQ Appeals Guidance Summer 2021 pdf732.4 KbAug 31st, 2021
- Student guide to awarding in summer 2021 pdf1.9 MbJul 12th, 2021
- JCQ Guidance for Students and Parents on Summer 2021 pdf974.3 KbJul 12th, 2021
- How GCSEs, AS and A levels will be awarded in summer 2021 pdf639.9 KbJul 12th, 2021
- Beat Exam Stress.pdf pdf1.5 MbJun 30th, 2020
- Written Examinations - Information for candidates.pdf pdf41.0 KbJun 30th, 2020
- BTEC Exam Policy 2018-19.pdf pdf464.4 KbJun 30th, 2020
Wellbeing and support
- Unhelpful thinking and recognising negative thoughts
- Mental Health Awareness Week – breathing in nature
- Maintaining your resilience
- How to be kind to yourself and stay positive
- Doing the things we know – wellbeing and learning during lockdown
Mental health support
Young minds – youngminds.org.uk
Phone number: Text YM to 85258
Childline – childline.org.uk
Phone number: 0800 1111
There are several organisations who can help and support you.
The Exam Results Helpline – nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Information on appeals, complaints and what your next steps might be once you’ve received your results.
Tel: 0800 100 900 (8am-10pm, 7 days a week)
Ofqual – gov.uk/ofqual
Student support phone line if you want to find out more about how you will be graded, the autumn exams series, how to make an appeal or raise a concern about bias/discrimination.
Tel: 0300 303 3344 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)
UCAS – ucas.com
Information on university applications.
Tel: 0371 4680 468
Be Exam Smart – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/be-exam-smart
Guidance for students, parents and schools to help students avoid making mistakes which could lose them marks or lead to disqualification from an exam.
