General InformationExam Access ArrangementsExam DatesExam Results and CertificatesReceiving Your Exam ResultsGCSE November Exam InformationInformation for Parents and Carers
Preparing for exams 2022
We recognise that for many students, 2022 will be their first experience of sitting a formal exam, which is likely to add to normal levels of stress and anxiety leading up to the summer exam period.
In addition, many students will be unfamiliar with the rules and regulations around sitting exams and what it looks and feels like to walk into an exam room, so we will be taking steps to help prepare students in advance.
The 2022 summer term will focus on “Destresstival” with support and information for students to be ready for the exam and assessment season including:
• Familiarisation with exam rules and processes • Strategies to cope with exam stress • Support and drop-in sessions/workshops for students with severe anxiety. • Wellbeing activities to promote good mental and physical health
Exam Stress and Anxiety
Fear of the unknown
Stress is normal. It is often a result of feeling under pressure or having multiple demands on us. When we have a lot to do and lots to think about, we can feel we have lost control. Stress can be helpful at times – it can give us drive and motivation, and encourage us to be productive. However, if we are feeling too stressed for long periods of time, it can then have an impact on our general wellbeing and mental health.
When people are revising for and preparing for exams it is very normal to feel stress and also high levels of anxiety, so you shouldn’t think you’re unusual – not many people actually enjoy exams! The trick is to find strategies that work for you to help you cope with how you are feeling, and hopefully turn this into a positive thing.
We think this video sums it up well and shows how you can feel overloaded by stress at times – well worth a watch!
Anxiety and stress often go hand in hand, and anxiety is a normal response to any situation we may see as threatening or frightening. The problem comes when the level of anxiety is no longer rational in comparison to the event. Unfortunately, anxiety can very quickly, manifest into a problem for someone, and at times, can lead to panic attacks.
Many people experience anxiety at some point in their lives, often in response to triggers, and exams can quite often be a cause.
Helpful free resources for reducing stress
We understand that preparing for exams can be very difficult and sometimes overwhelming so we have provided some links to other organisations in case you may need some extra support.
Also, the following are free resources that you might find helpful.
Headspace – Headspace is a comprehensive meditation app, with guided and unguided meditations to help you through all phases of your life. The free app offers ten sessions, however, there is an optional ‘in-app’ subscription allowing you to access many more hours of extra content. CALM – This is an app designed to help you to be calm; with stunning backgrounds that you can stare at for ages, and a range of meditations, CALM provides a space to get away from it all, without having to go anywhere. SAM – This is a self-help app for the mind – providing a range of self-help techniques organised into several wellbeing themes, together with tools for recording and monitoring changes in your wellbeing.
Exam Access Arrangements (EAAs) are adaptions made to allow students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) fair and equal access to examinations and formal assessments. Students who are entitled to EAAs will usually have already had these at school. All students must declare their need for EAAs within the first six weeks of their college course to allow for the correct referrals and assessments to be made, and for requests to be submitted to the relevant exam board to meet their deadlines.
To declare a need for Exam Access Arrangements you must complete this online form by Friday 21st October 2022, even if you have previously studied at Colchester Institute or another school / college.
EAAs which can be put in place will vary according to individual requirements but could include: a reader, scribe, computer reader, extra time, prompt, separate or smaller room and exam papers in suitable formats (such as large print or coloured paper). Arrangements put in place must be based on evidenced need, and on the student’s normal way of working whilst at College. If a student does not make use of EAAs in examinations these may be removed for subsequent examinations, in consultation with the student.
In most cases students will need to meet with a member of our Specialist Support Team to review their normal way of working and / or carry out an assessment of need to identify whether arrangements put in place at school are still relevant, or to carry out a formal Exam Access Arrangement assessment. Students will be notified of appointments for these assessments through their college emails; the responsibility to attend lies with the student and if they do not attend more than two booked appointments their EAA request will be declined.
Deadlines
For the 2022/23 academic year the deadline for notifying the need for Exam Access Arrangements to Colchester Institute is Friday 21st October 2022. *
Where additional information is required to assess or process an application for Exam Access Arrangements, for example evidence from a medical professional or specialist, this must be provided to Colchester Institute by Friday 4th November 2022.*
Failure to meet these deadlines, or a student not attending their booked assessment appointments, will result in EAAs being declined.
*In cases of a newly identified specific learning difficulty or where a student has a temporary illness or injury at the time of the examination, the College can review cases on an individual basis.
Please read the Colchester Institute Exam Access Arrangement Policy for more information:
The assessment methods for Further Education courses will vary from course to course, not all of these will have formal exams, but many will. Course tutors will advise how students are assessed, and will support them to prepare for and be ready to sit exams where these take place.
In many cases, exam and assessment dates will be organised by the College to suit the needs of the course and the readiness of students, but some courses undertake national public exams which are on the same date and times for everyone and these cannot be changed, these include GCSEs and BTEC qualifications.
GCSE exams Summer 2022
All GCSE exams start at 9.30am and students should aim to arrive by 8.45am at the latest.
Exam
Date
Start Time
Duration
GCSE English
GCSE English Paper 1
Wednesday 18th May 2022
9.30am
1 hour 45 minutes
GCSE English Paper 2
Friday 10th June 2022
9.30am
1 hour 45 minutes
GCSE Maths
GCSE Maths Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
Friday 20th May 2022
9.30am
1 hour 30 minutes
GCSE Maths Paper 2 (Calculator)
Tuesday 7th June 2022
9.30am
1 hour 30 minutes
GCSE Maths Paper 3 (Calculator)
Monday 13th June 2022
9.30am
1 hour 30 minutes
Exam Contingency Day 29th June
It is important that you are available for all of your exam dates including the exam contingency day – 29th June 2022. In the event that an exam cannot take place due to significant disruption, it will be rescheduled to 29th June 2022 so please avoid taking any holidays until after this date.
Non-GCSE Summer Exam Series 2022
All other exams, including BTEC Nationals, take place across the Summer term (mainly in May and June 2022). Your tutor will confirm which exams you have been entered for, when and where these exams will take place and what equipment you will need to bring.
These are national exams which means that the dates and times cannot be changed.
Learners studying GCSEs and other level 2 qualification, such as BTECs, will receive their results on Thursday 25th August 2022.
The provisional results day for most level 3 programmes will be Thursday 18th August 2022.
All results will be available to view on the CI Connect App so it is worth downloading this now in preparation for results day. https://www.colchester.ac.uk/ci-connect/
We recommend downloading the CI Connect App, or logging into your account using the link above in advance to avoid any problems on results day. If you are unable to log in, please contact iltservicedesk@colchester.ac.uk who can help you. We are anticipating that phone lines will be extremely busy on results days so it’s best to check that you can log in now and contact us in advance if you have any problems.
Please do not attend campus on results days, unfortunately we are not able to provide results in person.
Please choose your qualification from the drop-downs on the ‘Receiving your exam results’ tab for additional information regarding results, and certificates.
If you don’t see your awarding body listed here, don’t worry – details with regards to all other awarding bodies/qualifications will follow shortly. Please visit this page regularly for new and updated information.
Please contact iltservicedesk@colchester.ac.uk if you are having problems accessing your Colchester Institute account or have forgotten your password.
All results will be available to view on the CI Connect App so it is worth downloading this now in preparation for results day. https://www.colchester.ac.uk/ci-connect/
We recommend downloading the CI Connect App, or logging into your account using the link above in advance to avoid any problems on results day. If you are unable to log in, please contact iltservicedesk@colchester.ac.uk who can help you. We are anticipating that phone lines will be extremely busy on results days so it’s best to check that you can log in now and contact us in advance if you have any problems.
GCSE English and Maths
Results: – Thursday 25th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates
Certificates for your GCSE English and/or Maths qualifications are usually received from the awarding body by the end of November. When the certificates are received by the Exams team, we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
For information on re-sitting your GCSE exam(s), please see the ‘November GCSE Resits’ tab below.
For information on Post Result Services and Appeals, please see the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab below.
BTEC Level 3 Qualifications
Results Day: Thursday 18th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
If you require a breakdown of your unit grade achievement before receiving your certificates, please email examsofficecolchester@colchester.ac.uk to request a transcript from Pearson Edexcel. Please be aware that we will action requests as quickly as possible, however there may be a delay in receiving a response depending upon the level of demand we receive for this service.
For information on Post Result Services and Appeals, please see the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab below.
BTEC Level 1 and 2 Qualifications
Results Day: Thursday 25th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
If you require a breakdown of your unit grade achievement before receiving your certificates, please email examsofficecolchester@colchester.ac.uk to request a transcript from Pearson Edexcel. Please be aware that we will action requests as quickly as possible, however there may be a delay in receiving a response depending upon the level of demand we receive for this service.
For information on Post Result Services and Appeals, please see the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab below.
UAL Level 3 Qualifications
Results Day: Thursday 18th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Please note that students who have reached the mid-point of a two-year course, such as a Level 3 Extended Diploma, will not be awarded a qualification this year and will therefore not have a result to view on the 18th August. Their mid-point grades will be confirmed with centres and banked to support progression for those students.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
If you require a breakdown of your unit grade achievement before receiving your certificates, please email examsofficecolchester@colchester.ac.uk to request a transcript from UAL. Please be aware that we will action requests as quickly as possible, however there may be a delay in receiving a response depending upon the level of demand we receive for this service.
UAL have created a handy information page for students which you can view here. If you would like to appeal your grade, please go to the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab at the bottom of the page.
UAL Level 2 Qualifications
Results Day:Thursday 25th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
If you require a breakdown of your unit grade achievement before receiving your certificates, please email examsofficecolchester@colchester.ac.uk to request a transcript from UAL. Please be aware that we will action requests as quickly as possible, however there may be a delay in receiving a response depending upon the level of demand we receive for this service.
UAL have created a handy information page for students which you can view here. If you would like to appeal your grade, please go to the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab at the bottom of the page.
City & Guilds Technical Qualifications
Level 2 Technical Qualifications ONLY
Level 2 Plumbing (8202)
Results Day: Thursday 25th August 2022
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
For information on Post Result Services and Appeals, please see the ‘Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals’ tab below.
City & Guilds (All Other) Qualifications
ALL OTHER CITY AND GUILDS VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Results: Will be received during the period July to September
We will process results and certificates when we receive them from the awarding body. These results are not released on set results days like other qualifications.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
OCR Cambridge Technical Qualifications
Results Day:Thursday 18th August 2022
Provisional results will be available by 12 noon at the latest on the above date.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
NCFE-CACHE Qualifications
Results: Will be received during the period July to September
We will process results and certificates when we receive them from the awarding body. These results are not released on set results days like other qualifications.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
IMI Motor Vehicle Qualifications
Results: Will be received during the period July to September
We will process results and certificates when we receive them from the awarding body. These results are not released on set results days like other qualifications.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
GATEWAY Qualifications
Results: Will be received during the period July to September
We will process results and certificates when we receive them from the awarding body. These results are not released on set results days like other qualifications.
You can view your provisional results via the CI Connect App or the Online Learner Hub. Information on how to access these can be found above.
Please DO NOT attend your college campus on results day to collect in person.
Certificates – When the certificates are received by the exams team we will send further communication to students regarding collection/distribution.
AAT Qualifications
Results: Will be issued to students directly by AAT via MyAAT.
Certificates are sent directly to students by AAT.
Post Results Service and Exam Result Appeals
BTEC, GCSE and City and Guilds Technical Students
If you’re not happy with your Exam results, there are a few options available to you. Once you have received your results, if you have concerns about your grades, you can apply for one of the following options:
EAR1 – Clerical Check
The exam board will recount your marks and check that everything was included for your original grade/mark. No one will be reviewing your actual answers and they will not remark your paper.
EAR2 – Review of Marking
This is not a remark. A second or Senior Examiner (depending upon the exam board) will review your paper and make sure they agree with the marking outcomes from when it was first marked. They will not remark your paper but will check they agree it was marked correctly.
Are you happy with your grade but want to get a copy of your paper(s)?
ATSC – Access to Script
You can apply for a copy of your exam paper (script). The Exams team will provide you with a copy of your exam paper(s) once they are received from the exam board.
Please order all of the above through the online store (http://onlinestore.colchester.ac.uk/). Please follow the links below for further information and confirmation on fees for each of theseservices.
For information on how to apply and pay for post-result services for BTEC Exams please click here.
For information on how to apply and pay for post-result services for GCSE Exams please click here.
For information on how to apply and pay for post-result services for City and Guilds Technical Exams please click here.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal an exam result you have received you will need to complete an Exam Result Query Form – 2022* within 5 days of receiving your exam result.
Please note, if you apply for either a clerical check (EAR1), or review of marking (EAR2) service, and after viewing the outcome wish to appeal your results further, you must also complete an Exam Result Query Form – 2022* within 5 days of the exam board sending the outcome of your service.
It is important to remember that as a result of the appeal process your grade can go down, up or stay the same.
*when you click on the Exam Result Query Form link above, you may be asked to sign in using your college email address and college password.
Exam Certificates
We usually hold certificate collection days for those who want to come in to the campus to collect their certificates in person. Please keep checking your emails, and this webpage, for information on how to collect your certificates.
Some certificates may be posted out to you directly using the address we have for you on our records so please ensure you keep us informed if you change address to ensure your certificates get to you!
If you need to change your address, even after you have finished your course, please email the Registry Team on: registry@colchester.ac.uk
If you have lost your old certificates
If you have lost your old certificates
You will need to contact the relevant awarding body to order a replacement certificate. If you need confirmation of which awarding body you studied with, we may be able to help you. Please email: examsofficecolchester@colchester.ac.uk with your full name, date of birth and the information that you need and we will do our best to assist you.
We will do our best to respond to any requests within 10 working days.
If you are unhappy with the overall grade received for your GCSE English or Mathematics result issued on 25th August 2022 and wish to be entered for a resit in November 2022, please see the information below for dates, prices and to make an application.
Please note: We do not accept private candidates for GCSE examinations.
Exam Dates
31st October 2022
GCSE English Paper 1
1st November 2022
GCSE Maths Paper 1
2nd November 2022
GCSE English Paper 2
3rd November 2022
GCSE Maths Paper 2
7th November 2022
GCSE Maths Paper 3
Exam Cost:
The cost of the November re-sit is £55.00 per subject.
If you would like to re-sit both Maths and English you will need to complete 2 online forms and pay for re-sits for both subjects.
If you go on to achieve a grade 4 or above in your November GCSE resit we will refund your resit fee if you did not have a grade 4 already.
****November GCSE Re-sit bookings have now closed****
YOU CANNOT BOOK YOUR RE-SIT UNTIL GCSE RESULTS DAY (25TH AUGUST 2022).
Please note that you must have completed the form(s) above and made payment by Tuesday 20th September 2022.
If you are enrolled for GCSE English and/or Mathematics as part of your 2022/23 timetable and are considering entering for a resit in November 2022:
As part of college policy, if you are enrolled to attend GCSE English and/or Mathematics as part of your timetable for 2022/23 and follow the steps below to enter yourself to resit in November 2022 you will still be expected to attend your timetabled GCSE classes until the results day in January 2023. If on the January results day you achieve grade 9-4 you will be removed from the GCSE timetable. If you do not achieve grade 9-4 you will continue to attend your GCSE classes and will be entered for the June 2023 examinations free of charge.
If you would like to speak to a member of the GCSE Team for advice and guidance about GCSE November Resits please email GCSE.Admin@colchester.ac.uk with your name, contact details and whether you want to talk about Maths, English or both and a member of the team will call you.
How can you support the preparations for exams and assessment
If your child or young person is preparing for exams there are actions that you can take to help support them, this video might be a good starting point so that you are familiar with the regulations
How can you support on Exam Days?
There are several things that you can do on exam days to help improve your young person’s experience, and hopefully their result! (good advice which we know won’t always work with teenagers)
Help them to be rested, fed and watered; encourage a good night’s sleep and to have a healthy breakfast. Provide a bottle of water which they can take into the exam with them, this will need to be in clear bottle with labels removed).
Make sure they get to College early; they will need to have plenty of time to get to their exam room without feeling too rushed, which can add to stress levels. In some cases the course area will arrange to meet students first to keep thing calm before getting to the exam room.
Check they have ID with them; exam regulations mean we have to check all candidate’s identity when they enter the exam room. The easiest way is if they have their College ID card but a back up could be a passport, driving license or other form of photo ID.
Check they have all the equipment that they need; including a black pen (amazing how many students come without a pen!) if they want to bring a pencil case this must be see through. Some maths papers allow the use of a calculator or other equipment so it is helpful if they have this with them if needed.
Remind them of what they can’t have in an exam; all mobiles must be switched off and hand in all mobile phones and watches for the duration of the exam.
Check they can easily read an analogue clock; we increasingly find that some students struggle to tell the time on an analogue clock. Imagine being in an exam and having a big clock on the wall to mark the start and finish time, and not being able to read it – maybe just check that this isn’t going to be something to add to their stress!
Other helpful videos and other resources you could refer to could include:
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