This module is annually updated on an academic year basis and access to the module is included within your centre membership to The Exams Office
The purpose of the module –Â The 3 Rs approach: Read, Research and Review
This module has been devised to encourage newly appointed exams officers to:
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- (Section 1) Starting the role – The exam cycle – The ‘language’ of exams and assessments
- (Section 2) Exam Planning
- (Section 3) Exam Entries
- (Section 4) Exam Preparation (Pre-exams)
- (Section 5) Exam Time
- (Section 6) Results and Post-Results
Research…areas which you are signposted to in each section. These may be specific to your centre (e.g identifying key staff or processes which are particular to your centre), or require you to acquire additional knowledge from awarding body websites or your management information system provider.
Review…your knowledge via an online certificated assessment which confirms your knowledge and understanding of key areas associated with the management, administration and conducting of examinations and assessments.
What the module offers
The module is designed to support a new exams officer’s induction to their centre and to the role. It can also be used to support other members of centre staff (such as an exams assistant or a person who, as a contingency measure, may be required to cover the role in the absence of their exams officer) in understanding and identifying key tasks within the exam cycle.
What the module provides
- Information to help a new exams officer self-manage their induction to the exams process in their centre
- Signposts to information and support provided in the wider exams community
- Signposts to JCQ regulations and key tasks that are undertaken by an exams officer in the management and administration of exams in their centre
Assessment
The assessments are ‘open-book’ where exams officers are permitted to refer to the regulations where relevant. Questions are selected randomly from a bank of questions.
The module can only be certificated when a Pass (full marks) has been achieved across all sections.
Certification
Upon successful completion, new exams officers will be awarded their Certificate and Assessment Details, which lists the assessment sections and associated marks.
Note, this module is designed for new to role exams officers who start in September (although it can be taken by new exams officers who start at a later point) however, completion and certification of the annually updated module must take place by the end of July each year as it will be de-activated from then until it is re-activated early in the new academic year (subject to the issue of all relevant updated JCQ publications) after review and update.
When and how the module should be completed
Section 1 should be completed immediately on your appointment to the role.
Sections 2-6 should be completed1 during the academic year before each stage of the exam cycle is undertaken in your centre.
Below is an indicative timeline (based on the November and Summer series exam cycle) of when each unit could be be completed:
- PLANNING – September, November
- ENTRIES – September, November
- PRE-EXAMS – October, January
- EXAM TIME – October, March
- RESULTS and POST-RESULTS – November, April
1If you start the role later in the academic year, and are unable to complete the current module before the end of July, you are advised to wait until the updated module is available from the start of the new academic year, otherwise your progress will be lost. In the interim, please refer to the NEW EXAMS OFFICER: Â INDUCTION SUPPORT GUIDE
The Exams Office takes no responsibility for any outcomes in centres as a result of the information provided on our website, The Exams Office Hub or within our documentation. It is the responsibility of centres to apply this information as they deem necessary within their own centre. You should always contact/refer to the relevant awarding body for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their qualifications.
