Invigilation & Exam Room Setup
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Q: Is there any additional training that the invigilator(s) need to undertake because this is an onscreen test?
A: No - but it is recommended that all invigilators read and are aware of the Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) and role checklist ahead of exam day so that they are informed about their role and responsibilities for the assessment. JCQ recommend that a specialist invigilator is appointed. The specialist invigilator should have proven IT skills and experience in conducting onscreen tests and be assisted by at least one other invigilator.
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| Q: What are the invigilation requirements for this exam?
A: There must be at least one invigilator for each group of 20 or fewer candidates taking onscreen tests. If these requirements cannot be met it is important that you inform Pearson of this by email on uk.special.requirements@pearson.com and Pearson will make a decision whether the scripts can be accepted.
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Q: Should the room(s) where the exam is taking place be booked out for the whole day to allow checks on computers in the morning ahead of the exam?
A: This is not a requirement but would be a good preparation activity if your centre can facilitate this.
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| Q: This is our first time running an onscreen exam, is there any further guidance on how the exam room should be set up?
A: Within the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) (Appendix 1, Section 6), it is stated that:
Each workstation must be isolated by a minimum space of 1.25 metres measured from the nearest outer edge of one screen to the next, unless the monitors are positioned back-to-back or separated by dividers or protected by privacy screens.
Under certain circumstances 1.25 metres may prove to be an insufficient distance to prevent candidates seeing, intentionally or otherwise, the work of others. The principal objective is to ensure that no candidate’s work can be overseen by others. Appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that this can be achieved.
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Q: Where can I get the Attendance Register (AR5 Form) from?
A: As candidate work will be submitted using Learner Work Transfer (LWT), you will not receive an Attendance Register for this exam. It is important that the candidate status on LWT is updated to reflect whether each candidate was present or absent from the exam.
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Exam Materials
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Q: What materials does each candidate need on the day of the exam?
A:
- A hard copy of the question paper.
- The Programming Language Subset (PLS) which will be provided with the question paper as well as having an electronic version.
- Digital versions of the required coding files for the examination.
- Secure user area login details if required.
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Q: We do not have any hard copies of the question paper – what do we do?
A: The digital version of the question paper will be released on the Secure Download Service, before the exam, around 12pm.
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Q: When will the hard copies of the question paper arrive at the centre and can the question paper also be downloaded from the Secure Download Service or via the gold-padlock credentials on exam day?
A: The hard copies of the question paper should arrive no later than one week before the exam. You can track the delivery of your centre's exam papers through Edexcel Online (EOL) by:
- selecting the qualification from the drop-down, e.g. GCSE
- then selecting 'Question Paper Despatch'
- then selecting the series required and clicking 'Go'
This will then show you all the question paper packages that are pending/sent to your centre.
You can also set up exam paper despatch email notifications by signing up through Edexcel Online under your centre account details.
On the day of the exam, you can download a digital version of the question paper that will be released around midday.
With regards modified papers not all papers will be despatched at the same time; they will be sent as soon as they are ready. If it is a late order, then they may not arrive until the day of the exam, or they will be sent electronically on the day of the exam.
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Q: Can you please explain why there were changes and updates to the Programming Language Subset (PLS) document?
A: The intention of the Programming Language Subset (PLS) from the outset was to 'scope' the vast Python language set into a manageable subset, reasonable for teachers to cover and sufficient for the assessment to capture the requirements. We have made some clarifications but not expanded the scope.
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Q: Where can I find the Programming Language Subset (PLS)?
A: This can be found on the qualification website under Course Materials and then Exam Materials. On the day of the exam, a hard copy will be included within the question paper.
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Q: When will the coding files be released for the exam and how can I access them?
A: These will be released at 8am on the day of the exam and can be accessed either by using the Secure Download Service (SDS) via Edexcel Online (EOL) or using the gold-padlock credentials on the qualification website under Course Materials and then Exam Materials.
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Q: I cannot download the secure coding files - what do I do?
A: If you are unable to download the secure coding files on the day of the exam, please contact us (Tel: 0344 463 2535) so that we can arrange for our Secure Print Team to SFT over the files.
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Q: Can we provide our own printed instructions to candidates on how to save their work in the exam itself or only ahead of time?
A: It is fine in the exam room(s) to have this reminder given (printed with the candidate login details) and it would also be appropriate to remind candidates verbally at the start of the exam session too. (For example, we say take Q01.py and save as Q01FINISHED.py)
All four copies of our practice papers can be used as exemplar materials for the instructions, and we do not expect these instructions to change.
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Q: How can centres request modified papers?
A: The online system for requesting modified papers will accept orders all the way up to an exam date. If the deadline has been missed for requesting modified papers, the most important thing initially is to get your order submitted using Edexcel Online. Without this order we won’t be able to begin work on any materials you require. Where at all possible we will attempt to fulfil your order. If you make a late order, please email the modified formats team on additional_requirements@pearson.com to advise them of the modified paper order number. We will advise you if the paper is not available.
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This is the third of five FAQ articles for GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02). Please use the link below to navigate to the next article in the series:
Next Article: GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): During The Examination - Secure User Areas & Exam Materials/Invigilation/Special Requirements & Access Arrangements
Previous Article: GCSE Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): Preparing For The Examination - System Setup & Requirements
Back to GCSE (9-1) Computer Science: Application of Computational Thinking (1CP2/02): FAQ Index
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