Any exam officers here? Or people with equivalent knowledge of exam board processes re special requirements?

[ncme]

If an A Level student has an unavoidable clash between an exam date and something Very Important, and an official letter to prove it, is it ever possible to sit the exam earlier or later in the same day? The relevant exam board in this case is AQA.

I haven't given details of what the Very Important thing is because I'm not seeking judgement on the strength of the case, I just want to know if its possible in principle and what the process would be.

No knowledge. Feel free to ignore.

Except
If they had an exam clash then this would be possible and the student would be supervised between the exams to make sure they didn't get any info about the exam.

I guess an issue might be how could integrity of the exam be maintained whilst this other Very Important thing was happening.

I can't see them allowing it lightly, but equally I could imagine a few limited situations (eg regular essential medical treatment) where maybe it would be allowed.

Exam clashes are dealt with by supervision by staff, overnight even, before taking the paper to avoid risk of finding out exam content. I would think there are limited other circumstances in which delays in sitting a paper are permissible.

Look at 7.1 in this guide- the basic answer is no. Schools are only allowed to vary the timetable for exam clashes.

Forgot to include the link:
www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ICE_20-21_FINAL.pdf
This is the official published guidance.

I had. exams clash 40 odd years ago , I did one in the morning one in the afternoon, and had to spend lunchtime on my own in a room ,

No - they'd need to ensure said student didn't come into contact with any others sitting the exam/going on social media etc so it wouldn't work if they were offsite (assuming they would be?)

Hi OP I used to be an exams officer and the answer is no,

Exams are never moved to suit the student, the only time a student is allowed to sit an exam at a later session is in the event of an exam clash, there are no other circumstances that students may sit the exam at a different session.

If this event is so important then you could no show for the exam and resit it in November. (The school may well charge you for the cost of the resit though )

I know that it's possible in theory, because I have sometimes supervised students who have taken an exam earlier (or later) than their peers.
If the Very important thing involves leaving the school premises, then the exam would need to take place earlier because school staff wouldn't be able to supervise the pupils outside the school.
You would need to contact the school exams officer with this information so that the school can agree and find staff to supervise your child while she is sitting the exam early.
The exams officer would also need permission from the exam board (AQA) to change the time for this exam for your daughter. Information about the reason for the change would also go to the exam board.
It's not a guarantee that the exam board/school would agree to a change though.

No.

Exams are only moved if they clash with exams and the student is supervised in between. Other "Very important" matters won't be allowed.

@Exibstudent

Forgot to include the link: www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ICE_20-21_FINAL.pdf This is the official published guidance.

Thankyou! That is perfect, and has answered my question. In short, it is possible in exceptional circumstances, but the bar is high, and the candidate must be closely supervised by an invigilator to prevent any breach of exam integrity.

Absolutely not.

Exams Officer here.

Only acceptable thing is a clash and pupil would remain in supervised solitary confinement until both exams complete.

Clash students are looked after, phones removed etc. You can be a certain amount of time late for an exam like 30 mins so would that work?
The whole country has to start within a certain window to ensure no sharing of questions.
Unfortunately I think the very very important thing at exam times are the exams!

Clash students are looked after, phones removed etc. You can be a certain amount of time late for an exam like 30 mins so would that work?
The whole country has to start within a certain window to ensure no sharing of questions.
Unfortunately I think the very very important thing at exam times are the exams!

@ncme

If an A Level student has an unavoidable clash between an exam date and something Very Important, and an official letter to prove it, is it ever possible to sit the exam earlier or later in the same day? The relevant exam board in this case is AQA.

I haven't given details of what the Very Important thing is because I'm not seeking judgement on the strength of the case, I just want to know if its possible in principle and what the process would be.

Any special arrangements would require the student to be supervised continually by an invigilator, from half an hour before the published start of the exam until the exam is sat. The rules around it are very strict.

"7.1 Centres must not vary the timetable if a timetabled examination clashes with any of the following:
a) work experience;
b) a school function or closure;
c) a field trip;
d) sporting events below international level;
e) holidays and weddings;
f) a candidate’s personal arrangements;
g) a clash between papers of different awarding bodies or specifications in the same
subject at the same qualification level."

So could happen in exceptionally exceptional circumstances.

If you are talking about a clash between an exam and something VERY important
If the VERY important thing means they will not be able to sit at their normal centre, a request can be made to transfer to an alternative one near where they are doing their VERY important thing at the same time, via JCQ.
Alternatively, If JCQ agree that it is VERY important and they have sat other components of that exam, they MAY be able to claim an award under the special consideration process. If they are sitting this year, you will need to be very quick in arranging this.

@TeenPlusCat

So could happen in exceptionally exceptional circumstances.

Exactly. For example participation in an international sporting event, or perhaps a close family funeral (though if it was very close family, it might be ruled out by clause f). And they would have to be closely supervised by an invigilator for the relevant time period - so the invigilator might have to go off site with them to attend the sporting event, funeral etc.

I don’t think participation in any sporting event would be enough even if it’s international. You would need to just take the exam in the November sitting.

There aren't November sittings except for maths and English GCSE.

@User76745333

I don’t think participation in any sporting event would be enough even if it’s international. You would need to just take the exam in the November sitting.

See clause d. But it would need a very supportive school to facilitate it.

Given they have said not below international level, that would read to me as if an international level competition would be possible at least in some circumstances.

I doubt (with zero expertise) a funeral would be enough. I'd take the view that the funeral date could be moved if the person was close enough, plus not everyone can always make funerals anyway.

The school if they choose to facilitate, may also ask the parent to contribute towards the costs of supervision & hosting the exam elsewhere.

Depending on what the circumstances are this may be quite a lot of money.

But I am sure the school would at least be willing to investigate the possibility of this happening & get a yes/no answer in writing from the relevant exam board for you.

What are your circumstances OP? I know you initially said you don't wish to say but there are exam officers on the thread who will be able to assist you with an opinion of whether you have a chance.

@User76745333

I don’t think participation in any sporting event would be enough even if it’s international. You would need to just take the exam in the November sitting.

That is not true - they may consider this under special consideration - better to try and find a centre near where whatever it is and ask to transfer.

I’ve seen it where the exam has been sat at a centre near to where the very important event was.