The exam boards have strict criteria which must be followed for the conduct of external examinations and assessments which the College is required to follow precisely. Listed below are the information for candidate’s documents that you must read and take notice of. Please note that if you break any of the exam rules or regulations it could lead to disqualification from all subjects, the College must report any breaches of regulations to the exam boards.

GCSE, GCE, BTEC, Cambridge National, ELC, FSMQ exams – JCQ documents

• Information for candidates – written exams
• Information for candidates – non examination assessments
• Information for candidates – Coursework
• Information for candidates – social media
• Information for candidates – no mobile phones poster
• Information for candidates – privacy notice
• Information for candidates – warning to candidates

• Information for candidates – written exams
• Information for candidates – listening exams

You will be issued with your own individual timetable for all internal and external exams. These will be sent to your College email account via SIMS InTouch and can also be viewed on Edulink. These will show the subject that you have been entered for along with your room and seat number. Your four digit candidate number will also be shown on the timetable. This is the number that you will need to write on all of your external exam answer booklets and will be the same for all exams sat at IVC.

Internal exams

Internal examinations generally follow the timings of the College day. You should go along to the exam venue and line up at least 10 minutes before the start of the exam where you will be registered.

External exams

Students taking external examinations will receive a provisional statement of entry and exam timetable in the January of the year that they are due to sit their examinations. A further more detailed copy of their timetable showing venue and seat number etc will be issued at the end of April/beginning of May along with a copy of the College exams guidance booklet containing additional information and FAQs.

If you have a clash between exams the College will re-schedule the papers. You will normally sit one paper then have a break during which time you will be supervised and must not have any communication with other candidates. You will then sit the second paper. It may be necessary for you to bring a packed lunch if you have exams in both the morning and afternoon as you will have to remain in isolation until both exams are completed.

You must ensure that you read your exam timetable carefully during the exam period, if you arrive in the afternoon for a morning exam you would not be allowed to sit that exam.

All external examinations start at 09:30 & 13:30 promptly. You should also be aware that if you start the exam more than 30 minutes after the published starting time, the College must inform the examination board and it is possible that they may decide not to accept your work. Please ensure that you allow enough time to get to College so that if you are delayed (e.g. through transport problems) you will still arrive on time. Please be aware that examination dates and times are set by the awarding bodies, you will not be able to sit an exam on a different day to the one that is timetabled.

If anything is not clear or you have any questions please come to the Exams office to ask or email us at

Further Information

• Exam guidance (be exam smart)

Each year the awarding bodies designate a contingency day for external examinations in case of any emergency changes to the examination schedule.

Please note that you will not be expected in College that day unless you have a scheduled examination.

Please ensure that you are fully equipped with the correct stationery needed for all exams. These should be in a transparent pencil case or a clear plastic bag and visible to the invigilators at all times. Listed below is the suggested key stationery that students will need for each exam:

• Clear pencil case
• Black pens x 2
• Pencil x 2
• Eraser
• Ruler
• Calculator (if permitted)
• Protractors
• Compass

No food is allowed in the exam room unless required for medical reasons. A small bottle of water in a clear container and with all labels removed is the only drink allowed in the exam room.

Candidates are required to stay for the full length of the exam. You will not be allowed to leave an exam room early or without the invigilators permission.
If you require assistance during the exam you should put up your hand to attract the invigilators attention.

You must not communicate in any way, ask for help from or give help to another student whilst in the exam.

We run both internal and external examinations according to examination board guidelines

 Mobile phones and other electronic items are strictly forbidden in the exam rooms. If you are found to have an item on you that is not allowed this will be reported to the awarding body and they may disqualify you from that paper.
For exams held in the sports hall or gym mobile phones etc. should be left in your bags which are locked in the changing room.

For exams that are in the smaller venues and where bags are taken into the room you will be required to place your phone and any other devices into the small plastic wallets that will be provided on each desk. These will be collected in by the invigilators and returned to you at the end of the exam.

If you experiencing any illness or difficulty before your exam you must inform a member of the exams office staff or an invigilator so that they can assist you at the time.

Only in exceptional circumstance are candidates allowed special consideration for absence from any part of an exam. It is essential that medical or other appropriate evidence is obtained on the day by the candidate and given to the Exams officer if an application is to be made for special consideration.

Some students are entitled to exam access arrangements such as extra time, reader etc.

A card giving details of your approved access arrangement will be placed on your desk. Invigilators will have been made aware of these arrangements and will include any additional time when they display the finishing time of the exam on the board.

Please click here for our guide to assessment and progress.