special consideration for private GCSE & A level candidates

Which candidates will be eligible for special consideration for private GCSE & A level candidates:

Since the pandemic there has been a lot of uncertainty. So we have reproduced the guidance from JCQ here.

Special consideration must be applied for at the time of the assessment.

2.1 Candidates will be eligible for special consideration if they have been fully prepared and have covered the whole course but performance in the examination, or in the production of coursework or non-examination assessment, is materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control. These include: 2.1.1 temporary illness or accident/injury at the time of the assessment;

2.1.2 bereavement at the time of the assessment (where whole groups are affected, normally only those most closely involved will be eligible); 2.1.3 domestic crisis arising at the time of the assessment;

2.1.4 serious disturbance during an examination, particularly where recorded material is being used; 2.1.5 accidental events at the time of the assessment such as being given the wrong examination paper, being given a defective examination paper or CD, failure of practical equipment, failure of materials to arrive on time; 2.1.6 participation in sporting events, training camps or other events at an international level at the time of the assessment, e.g. representing their country at an international level in chess or football; 2.1.7 failure by the centre to implement previously approved access arrangements for that specific examination series.

2.2 When candidates have been fully prepared for the specification but the wrongtexts have been chosen, special consideration may be given at the discretion of the awarding body. It is the centre’s responsibility to ensure that the correct texts are taught. Where this has not happened there can be no guarantee that a candidate will receive special consideration. Such instances will be investigated by the awarding body on a case-by-case basis. Where the wrong texts have been taught, it is essential that the texts studied must have been examined in the current specification in a previous examination series.

2.3 Candidates will NOT be eligible for special consideration if preparation for, or performance in the examination is affected by: 2.3.1 long term illness or other difficulties during the course affecting revision time, unless the illness or circumstances manifest themselves at the time of the assessment; 2.3.2 bereavement occurring more than six months before the assessment, unless an anniversary has been reached at the time of the assessment or there are on-going implications such as an inquest or court case; 2.3.3 domestic inconvenience, such as moving house, lack of facilities, taking holidays (including school/exchange visits and field trips) at the time of the assessment; 2.3.4 minor disturbance in the examination room caused by another candidate, such as momentary bad behaviour or a mobile phone ringing; 2.3.5 the consequences of committing a crime, where formally charged or found guilty; (However, a retrospective application for special consideration may be considered where the charge is later dropped or the candidate is found not guilty.) 2.3.6 the consequences of taking alcohol or recreational drugs;

2.3.7 the consequences of disobeying the centre’s internal regulations;

2.3.8 the failure of the centre to prepare candidates properly for the examination for whatever reason; 2.3.9 quality of teaching, staff shortages, building work or lack of facilities;

2.3.10 misreading the timetable and/or failing to attend at the right time and in the right place; 2.3.11 misreading the instructions of the question paper and answering the wrong questions; 2.3.12 making personal arrangements such as a wedding or holiday arrangements which conflict with the examination timetable; 2.3.13 submitting no coursework or non-examination assessment at all, unless coursework or non examination assessment is scheduled for a restricted period of time, rather than during the course; 2.3.14 missing all examinations and internally assessed components/units;

2.3.15 failure to cover the course because of joining the class part way through;

2.3.16 a disability or learning difficulties (diagnosed or undiagnosed) unless illness affects the candidate at the time of the assessment or where the disability exacerbates what would otherwise be a minor issue – (difficulties over and above those that previously approved access arrangements would have alleviated); 2.3.17 failure by the centre to process access arrangements by the published deadline