Click on a question below to find the answer:
1. Under what circumstances can a centre apply for special consideration?
2. Does an awarding body need medical notes in each case?
3. How do awarding bodies deal with special consideration for a shortfall in coursework?
4. What do awarding bodies do about lost or damaged controlled assessment or coursework?
5. When do awarding bodies ask for evidence of attainment?
6. What happens if a unit is missed?
7. Does a missed AS unit have to be re-taken for A2?
8. Do you accept late applications for Special Consideration?
10. Why might an application for special consideration be rejected?
1. Under what circumstances can a centre apply for special consideration?
You must check the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’ which contains information on the range of circumstances including:
- candidates who are present for an examination but disadvantaged;
- candidates who are absent from a time-tabled component/unit for acceptable reasons (Please note the minimum requirements for enhanced grading in cases of acceptable absence);
- shortfall in controlled assessment/coursework;
- lost or damaged controlled assessments or coursework;
- other problems.
Please refer to the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’ for all the necessary steps that need to be taken to apply for special consideration. This is available on the website.
2. Does an awarding body need medical notes in each case?
No: only for circumstances which the centre cannot verify. If a medical note is not forthcoming, is there a label from the prescription which can be used or part of a computer prescription sheet? It needs the candidate’s name and the date.
Please also see the self-certification form and notes for its use (Form 14 on the JCQ website). If a candidate misses a unit which can be taken at a later date, please do not submit an application for special consideration. Simply re-enter the candidate at the next available opportunity. Remember to check that the correct preparation has been given for the next series’ unit.
Please refer to the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’. This is available on the website.
3. How do awarding bodies deal with special consideration for a shortfall in controlled assessments or coursework?
You should submit a special consideration form (Form 10 – JCQ/SC) to the awarding body concerned. You should attach a breakdown of the marks across the assessment criteria to show whether the candidate has covered the assessment objectives at least once and indicate what percentage of the total has been done.
Please refer to the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’. This is available on the website.
4. What do awarding bodies do about lost or damaged controlled assessments or coursework?
The awarding body will need to know:
- whether the work was marked or unmarked;
- that the work was actually done by the candidate, monitored whilst in progress;
- that the teacher can give some information about the work being prepared.
Awarding bodies require estimated marks for unmarked work. Awarding bodies will not accept estimated marks for lost or damaged work after the issue of results. Please use Form JCQ/LCW (Form 15), available on the website.
5. When do awarding bodies ask for evidence of attainment?
Only when 35% of the total assessment has not been completed in GCSE legacy examinations.
6. What happens if a unit is missed?
It should be re-taken at the next series. If it is missed in the series in which certification is requested, enhancement is given for the certification award. Remember to check that the correct preparation has been given for the next series’unit.
7. Does a missed AS unit have to be re-taken for A2?At GCE, normally at least 50% of the total assessment must be completed.
AS three unit award: two AS units out of three must have been completed. (Partially completed units are not acceptable).
AS two unit award: one AS unit worth at least 50% or one externally assessed unit worth 40%. Enhancement given at AS level will be carried forward to A-level.
A-level six unit award: 50% of the total assessment completed, with at least one A2 unit completed.
A-level four unit award: 50% of the total assessment completed, with at least one A2 unit completed. Please refer to the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’. This is available on the website.
8. Do awarding bodies accept late applications for special consideration?
9. Where can I obtain extra copies of the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’?
The document can be downloaded, free of charge, from the JCQ website or from the memory stick which is sent to centres each autumn: www.jcq.org.uk. The whole document is available as a pdf file. Forms are available in Word format and can be downloaded from the JCQ website and saved onto your computer. The text on the forms is fixed but you can fill it in electronically and just print off to sign.
10. Why might an application for Special Consideration be rejected?
Not all circumstances are automatically acceptable (please see the JCQ booklet ‘Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration’). Special consideration is designed for those candidates who have reached a level of attainment which they are unable to demonstrate. A candidate must have followed the course and been fully prepared for the examination.