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Edexcel GCSE exams - Do examiners mark the blank page at the end of the test?

Hi guys, please can you help me out on this?

I just did my biology paper 2 gcse exam (Edexcel) and there was a 6 marker about blood glucose levels. I felt that not much space was given for that 6 marker because I had a lot to say. So, I wrote the rest of my answer on the blank page at the back of the test because the invigilators said we were allowed to.

However, now I am a bit worried because some people have told me that if you write on a blank page in the edexcel exam, the page will not be scanned. If that is the case, I am worried they won't see the rest of my answer for the six marker. Can you guys tell me if this is true or not because I am scared my answer won't be marked properly?


Edit: Thanks for all of your help! After the GCSE results, I managed to get the 9 in Biology like I wanted to. I contacted the exams officer and they notified Edexcel to check every page of my test.
(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 1

Original post
by Ellie'
Hi guys, please can you help me out on this?
I just did my biology paper 2 gcse exam (Edexcel) and there was a 6 marker about blood glucose levels. I felt that not much space was given for that 6 marker because I had a lot to say. So, I wrote the rest of my answer on the blank page at the back of the test because the invigilators said we were allowed to.
However, now I am a bit worried because some people have told me that if you write on a blank page in the edexcel exam, the page will not be scanned. If that is the case, I am worried they won't see the rest of my answer for the six marker. Can you guys tell me if this is true or not because I am scared my answer won't be marked properly?

I think if the page you wrote on is lined, you should be fine. If it said "do not write on this page" or something, its not going to be marked.
Blank pages with nothing on them, tbh i don't think its being marked. Unless there wasn't a lined page in the paper?

Reply 2

Original post
by anxious&paranoid
I think if the page you wrote on is lined, you should be fine. If it said "do not write on this page" or something, its not going to be marked.
Blank pages with nothing on them, tbh i don't think its being marked. Unless there wasn't a lined page in the paper?

I'm dead then because it wasn't lined ☹️ It didn't say to not write on the page though, it just said it was a blank page. Man, goodbye to my grade 9.

Reply 3

Original post
by Ellie'
I'm dead then because it wasn't lined ☹️ It didn't say to not write on the page though, it just said it was a blank page. Man, goodbye to my grade 9.

nah dw a grade 8s a BRILLIANT grade as well (im assuming that's what ur getting)
But maybe, a very slight chance that they'll mark the paper by hand? and they'll probably see it (?) Idk I'm not familiar with GCSE marking

Reply 4

Original post
by anxious&paranoid
nah dw a grade 8s a BRILLIANT grade as well (im assuming that's what ur getting)
But maybe, a very slight chance that they'll mark the paper by hand? and they'll probably see it (?) Idk I'm not familiar with GCSE marking

It's alright, thanks for responding anyway! I did refer in my answer to refer to the blank page by referencing the page number. So, maybe they'll know where I continued the rest of my answer, so hopefully it'll be ok 🙂 Thanks for the help!

Reply 5

Original post
by Ellie'
Hi guys, please can you help me out on this?
I just did my biology paper 2 gcse exam (Edexcel) and there was a 6 marker about blood glucose levels. I felt that not much space was given for that 6 marker because I had a lot to say. So, I wrote the rest of my answer on the blank page at the back of the test because the invigilators said we were allowed to.
However, now I am a bit worried because some people have told me that if you write on a blank page in the edexcel exam, the page will not be scanned. If that is the case, I am worried they won't see the rest of my answer for the six marker. Can you guys tell me if this is true or not because I am scared my answer won't be marked properly?

Have you told your school you did this?

Next time, ask for a continuation sheet.

Reply 6

Original post
by Muttley79
Have you told your school you did this?
Next time, ask for a continuation sheet.

No, I have not. Wouldn't it be ok if I wrote "continued in blank page 22" where the rest of my answer was. The examiner would see it, right?

Reply 7

Original post
by Ellie'
No, I have not. Wouldn't it be ok if I wrote "continued in blank page 22" where the rest of my answer was. The examiner would see it, right?

The examiner does not see your original paper at all - it is scanned - where did you write the comment?

Reply 8

Original post
by Ellie'
No, I have not. Wouldn't it be ok if I wrote "continued in blank page 22" where the rest of my answer was. The examiner would see it, right?


You really need to speak to your school’s exam officer. There is a chance (as someone already said) that the exam board will mark it by hand. Otherwise it will not be scanned at all, unless it clearly states that it was an additional answer page - AQA does this, I don’t think Edexcel does.

Reply 9

Original post
by Muttley79
The examiner does not see your original paper at all - it is scanned - where did you write the comment?

I wrote the comment in the answer line of the actual question. After I ran out of space for my answer, I wrote a small comment underneath that said, "continued on page 22" (which was a blank page.) Then, I flipped the page and wrote the rest of my answer on page 22.

Reply 10

Original post
by Ellie'
I wrote the comment in the answer line of the actual question. After I ran out of space for my answer, I wrote a small comment underneath that said, "continued on page 22" (which was a blank page.) Then, I flipped the page and wrote the rest of my answer on page 22.

All you can do is report this to your exams officer so it is flagged up when they scan. It might be picked up when they mark the scanned paper - just move on now as I expect you have other exams :smile:

Please, in future, ask for additional paper.

Reply 11

Original post
by Muttley79
All you can do is report this to your exams officer so it is flagged up when they scan. It might be picked up when they mark the scanned paper - just move on now as I expect you have other exams :smile:
Please, in future, ask for additional paper.

Thanks a lot for your response haha, and no worries, I definitely will in the future. (I'm never trusting my invigilators' instructions again lol) . I just emailed them, hopefully I get a response. 🙂

Reply 12

Original post
by MarcinShields
You really need to speak to your school’s exam officer. There is a chance (as someone already said) that the exam board will mark it by hand. Otherwise it will not be scanned at all, unless it clearly states that it was an additional answer page - AQA does this, I don’t think Edexcel does.

I just emailed them. Let's see what happens 🙂 Thanks for your response.

Reply 13

Original post
by Ellie'
I just emailed them. Let's see what happens 🙂 Thanks for your response.

Good luck!

Reply 14

Original post
by Ellie'
I'm dead then because it wasn't lined ☹️ It didn't say to not write on the page though, it just said it was a blank page. Man, goodbye to my grade 9.

i nvr understood why they tell every1 to write on blank pages 🤦*♀️idk tho maybe they mark it but if it didnt have a boundary around the page (like a curved rectangle boundary thats on all other pages) then it wont be marked fs

but even if it doesnt get marked its only a few marks lost, ik its really annoying and worrying and i feel u too bc i also messed up the last 6marker in some way (answered the qu properly then crossed it all out and started talking abt when ur dehydrated instead smh) and that def wont stop u from getting a 9 if u did decent on the rest of ur paper! lets manifest it 🙏

Reply 15

Original post
by Ellie'
Hi guys, please can you help me out on this?
I just did my biology paper 2 gcse exam (Edexcel) and there was a 6 marker about blood glucose levels. I felt that not much space was given for that 6 marker because I had a lot to say. So, I wrote the rest of my answer on the blank page at the back of the test because the invigilators said we were allowed to.
However, now I am a bit worried because some people have told me that if you write on a blank page in the edexcel exam, the page will not be scanned. If that is the case, I am worried they won't see the rest of my answer for the six marker. Can you guys tell me if this is true or not because I am scared my answer won't be marked properly?

SAME thing happened to me and bio - but I asked for extra paper from ivegilator it wasn't enough space - idk did u right an arrow and say on next page or not idk if that page will get scanned maybe tell ur skl to send email to edexcel

Reply 16

Original post
by MarcinShields
You really need to speak to your school’s exam officer. There is a chance (as someone already said) that the exam board will mark it by hand. Otherwise it will not be scanned at all, unless it clearly states that it was an additional answer page - AQA does this, I don’t think Edexcel does.

I thinkedexcel scans it I do edexcel

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