Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>

Special Consideration - How it works (and how it doesn't.)

Look here for the specific regulations regarding Special Consideration. These are taken directly from the exam boards' official instructions and are not my own words.

Special Consideration
Special consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate’s mark or grade to reflect temporary illness, temporary injury or other indisposition at the time of the assessment. All examinations are measuring what a candidate knows and can do. The grades awarded do not necessarily reflect the candidate’s true level of ability if attainment has been considerably affected over a long period of time. Where long term circumstances have prevented the candidate from reaching the competence standards it may not be possible to make an adjustment. Special consideration can increase the marks you are awarded for a unit you attempted or award you marks for a unit you for which you were absent.

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 controlled assessment/coursework, is materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control.

These include:
• temporary illness or accident/injury at the time of the assessment;
• bereavement at the time of the assessment (where whole groups are affected, normally only those most closely involved will be eligible)
• domestic crisis arising at the time of the assessment
• serious disturbance during an examination, particularly where recorded material is being used.

Candidates will NOT be eligible for special consideration if preparation for or performance in the examination is affected by (amongst other things):
• 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;
• domestic inconvenience, such as moving house, lack of facilities, taking holidays (including school/exchange visits and field trips) at the time of the assessment;
• minor disturbance in the examination caused by another candidate, such as momentary bad behaviour or a mobile phone ringing;
• the consequences of committing a crime or being charged with an offence;
• the consequences of taking alcohol or any other non-prescribed drugs;
• the failure of the centre to prepare candidates properly for the examination for whatever reason;
• misreading the timetable and/or failing to attend at the right time and in the right place;
• misreading the instructions of the question paper and answering the wrong questions;
• making personal arrangements such as a wedding or holiday arrangements which conflict with the examination timetable;
• submitting no controlled assessment/coursework at all, unless controlled assessment/ coursework is scheduled for a restricted period of time, rather than during the course;
• permanent 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)
• failure by the centre to process access arrangements on time.

Applications have to be made by the centre where you were entered for the exam. Exam boards will not enter into discussion with candidates as to how much special consideration should be applied. The maximum that will be awarded is 5% and this is reserved for the most exceptional cases (e.g. terminal illness of a parent). 2% is the most common allocation.

Absence from a unit
If a candidate misses a unit for an acceptable reason supported by the centre (e.g. illness, very recent death of parent) then marks may be awarded for a missed unit if the following minimum requirements have been met:
GCE: normally at least 50% of the total assessment must be completed.
• AS three unit award: two units out of three must have been completed. (Partially completed units are not acceptable).
• AS two unit award: one unit worth at least 50% or one externally assessed unit worth 40% must have been completed.
• A Level six unit award: 50% of the total assessment must have been completed with at least one A2 unit completed.
GCSE: normally at least 50% of the total assessment must be completed.

More details are available here: http://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/regulations-and-guidance/a-guide-to-the-special-consideration-process-2015-2016

How they calculate your marks for a missed unit is explained here:http://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/other-documents/estimating-the-mark-when-a-candidate-is-absent

Special Consideration - How it works (and how it doesn't.)

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you