Access Arrangements: Alternative Site Arrangements

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Information

Title	Access Arrangements: Alternative Site Arrangements

URL Name	Access-Arrangements-Alternative-Site-Arrangements

Issue

How do I apply for alternative site arrangements?
Where can I find regulation information about alternative site arrangements?

FAQ

Please select from the options below:

Regulatory Guidance

Centre Admin Portal (CAP) Applications

Regulatory Guidance

The following information has been taken from the JCQ - Instructions for Conducting Examinations 2024-2025 (ICE), Section 11.3 page 24:

Alternative sites for the conduct of examinations
11.3 Where it is intended that an examination for any candidate(s) will be conducted at an address other than the centre’s registered address,

e.g.

a) a hospital which is a non-registered centre;
b) the candidate’s home;
c) a local church hall;
d) a local community hall;
e) a local sports hall;
f) another building owned by the centre which is situated at a different location from the centre’s registered address;
g) the centre operates as part of a consortium at Borough/County level or through a Multi-Academy Trust and can transport question papers and other examination material in a secure manner to another local centre within 90 minutes of the awarding body’s published starting time for the examination;

the centre must notify the JCQ Centre Inspection Service by submitting the JCQ Alternative Site form online, using the Centre Admin Portal (CAP), no later than six weeks before the start of the examination series. The Centre Admin Portal (CAP) can be accessed via any of the awarding bodies’ secure extranet sites.

The address of the alternative examination venue, the dates it is to be used and the maximum number of candidates likely to be involved must be given.

The accompanying guidance notes must be read before completing the online form:

https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/online-forms/

Question papers must:

a) be kept in the centre’s secure storage facility at the centre’s registered address, approved by the JCQ Centre Inspection Service, until 90 minutes before the awarding body’s published starting time for the examination;
b) be taken to the alternative examination venue by a member of centre staff;
c) be transported to the alternative examination venue, securely packaged and always kept under secure conditions, within 90 minutes of the awarding body’s published starting time for the examination.

The head of centre remains accountable for ensuring that the examination will be conducted at the alternative site in accordance with this document.

Centre Admin Portal (CAP) Applications

Please follow the steps below to find and access the Alternative Site Arrangements application form, located on the Centre Admin Portal (CAP) via Edexcel Online. Access to CAP is controlled by your centre's Examination Officer:

1. To sign in, please go to https://edexcelonline.pearson.com; you will be asked to enter your usual Edexcel Online credentials, and once you click sign in, a verification code will be sent to the Pearson Authenticator app.
For further information, including downloading the app to your mobile device and using it to complete the sign-in process. Please see Pearson Portal Authenticator for details.

2. You will then be directed to the EOL home page:
EOL MFA 5.png

3. Select 'Access Arrangements Online':
User-added image

4. Select the option appropriate to the qualification being assessed. Access Arrangements Online is used for General Qualifications such as GCSE and A Level, whilst Pearson Access Arrangements Online is used for Vocational Qualifications such as BTEC:

5. Select the 'Alternative site form' option:

6. Complete and submit the online form:

The notification of intent to conduct examinations at an alternative site must be submitted online no later than six weeks before the start of the examination series.

However, if the notification is for a candidate to sit examinations at home or in hospital due to a medical condition, it may not be possible to submit the information six weeks in advance. In these circumstances, a late submission should be made as soon as the details are known.

Medical evidence is not required to allow a candidate to sit their examinations at home or in hospital.

If the centre subsequently identifies that the alternative site arrangement is no longer required, then it should be withdrawn online using the Centre Admin Portal.

Back to Special Requirements: Access Arrangements & Special Considerations article index.

Detailed Instructions

Not Applicable.