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9.1 - Prior to the test
Staffing requirements
All staff involved in the administration of the tests should
have:
Invigilation arrangements
There must be at least one invigilator present for every
30 candidates at each paper or computer-based component
session. The invigilator is responsible for the conduct
of the test session and should not perform any other duty
during the test session.
If only one invigilator is present, they should be able
to summon assistance easily via an appropriate method. It
is highly recommended that technical support is available
for the computer-based components.
The Head of school or centre has discretion to decide who
is suitably qualified and experienced to act as invigilator,
but any relative of a student in the test room is not specifically
eligible to serve as the sole invigilator.
Accommodation and equipment
Schools and centres should ensure that students will be
able to work undisturbed, individually and without access
to materials such as notes, textbooks or classroom displays
that could give them unfair advantage.
The seating arrangements must be such as to prevent students
from overlooking, intentionally or otherwise, the work of
others; in particular, the minimum distance in all directions
from centre to centre of students' chairs must be 1.25m.
For the computer-based components, the invigilator should
ensure that the layout and workstations conform to the recommendations
on ergonomic design of BS EN ISO 9241-5. Design considerations
include:
- Seating position and possibility for adjustment;
- Height of workstation surface and screen;
- Freedom from glare;
- Depth of workstation to allow for optimum positioning
of keyboard, mouse and screen;
- Space for working with test materials;
- Ventilation;
- Lighting.
To minimise the likelihood of failure during the test,
all hardware should be maintained adequately throughout
the year. In addition, up-to-date virus protection software
should be in place.
Before students enter the test room, the invigilator should
switch on all necessary computers and peripherals to check
that they are working. It is strongly recommended that a
spare workstation is available should technical difficulties
arise. In addition, it is advised that spares of easily
replaced items, such as the mouse and screen, are available.
If the invigilator is aware that there may be system delays,
the invigilator should contact the helpline for further
guidance.
The arrangement of the workstations and the position of
the invigilator's desk should facilitate detection of any
unauthorised activity by candidates, for example communication
with others or use of unauthorised reference material. However,
the invigilator will also normally need to observe students'
screens by patrolling the room.
9.2 - At the beginning of the test
Identification of students
The invigilator must be satisfied as to the identity of
every student attending each test. The invigilator must
ensure that adequate checks on the identity of all candidates
are carried out.
Starting the test
There are limited instructions on World Class Test papers.
However, it is a prerequisite that the invigilator takes
a short period of time to talk through the requirements,
layout and completion of the paper, as given in Appendix
G.
Students should be reminded that the work that they are
producing in the tests must be their own and that they should
not discuss questions or copy answers.
Schools and centres will receive a set of pre-printed labels
for their students along with the test materials. The sheets
contain students' details on the left-hand side and an anonymised
label for each student on the right. The label includes
an anonymous ID, the component code and the school or centre
number. The invigilator should ensure that students stick
their labels to the front of their answer booklets over
the lighter-shaded box on the bottom right. AQA will be
able to trace students' details through these anonymous
IDs.
9.3 - During the test
Supervision of the students
The invigilator should ensure that there is no unauthorised
communication between students and no access to unauthorised
information during the test session.
Specific instructions for computer-based components
Invigilators should either be proficient enough to be able
to cope with minor technical problems that may arise, or
have technical support readily available.
It is recommended that the invigilator makes a record of
each workstation ID against each student ID. This may help
to resolve problems if technical difficulties arise.
The invigilator should ensure that all students are seated
comfortably and that they are aware of how to request technical
or emergency assistance.
Students who leave the examination room temporarily must
be accompanied by a member of staff. Such students may be
allowed extra time to compensate for their temporary absence.
If any students experience an irrevocable technical fault
during a test, such as a computer crashing, contact the
Helpline. In most instances, the advice given will be to
try the test again on another machine (preferably one on
which a test has been taken successfully). The student should
be given the whole of the working time allowed for the test.
If this has to be timetabled outside the specified session
time, please contact the Helpline for approval.
If the student still experiences difficulties and is unable
to complete the test, please complete form WCT/SC in Appendix
K and apply for special consideration, giving full details
of the problems encountered.
For information on uploading the students' response files
for the computer-based components, please see uploading.
Emergencies
The invigilator must take the following action in the event
of an emergency such as a fire alarm or bomb alert:
- evacuate the examination room in accordance with the
instructions given by the appropriate authority;
- lock the room if software has not been closed down;
- ensure that all test materials are left in the test
room;
- minimise opportunities for collusion between students
or communication with others during interruptions to an
assessment;
- note the time and duration of the interruption;
- allow the candidates the full working time prescribed
for the test;
- make a full report of the incident and of the action
taken for direct submission to AQA.
9.4 - At the end of the test
Students should be told when they have five minutes left
to complete the test, as per Teacher guidance to students
before the test (Appendix G).
Students may leave a test session early after completing
the questions if schools or centres feel this is appropriate
and will not disrupt other students.
The invigilator should ensure that students do not take
any materials out of the room at the end of the test session.
9.5 - Packing and despatch of scripts
The remaining label with the centre details on should be
stuck on the return envelope prior to despatch, indicating
the number of papers being returned for that component.
Students' completed test booklets must be collected by
the invigilator at the end of the test session and placed
in candidate ID number order. These booklets (used and unused)
should be sealed in the World Class Test envelopes provided
and stored in a secure place until return to AQA. There
is no requirement to return any mathematics computer-based
booklets to AQA, these are for rough work only and will
not be marked.
Separate return envelopes are provided for each component;
the component code can be found on the top left of the envelope
underneath the AQA logo.
All used and unused test booklets (apart from the mathematics
computer-based booklets) must be despatched to AQA no later
than the day after the test is taken. AQA will then
arrange for the completed test papers to be forwarded on
to the appropriate examiner for marking.
Completing the attendance register
After each test, complete the online attendance register
by going into your World Class Test administration centre,
following the link to [test day utilities] and then selecting
the relevant component. Please note that the register defaults
to present; click on the grey box to indicate any students
who were absent.
Irregular conduct
If invigilators find instances where a student's answers
do not represent his or her individual work, for example
where one student has copied from another, AQA must be informed.
The test booklet should be sent to AQA in the World Class
Test return envelope with a note explaining what has happened,
giving a clear indication of which questions and responses
might have been affected. AQA will consider the advice offered
in these instances in deciding on the level to be awarded.
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