Upcoming Core Exam Assessments

As we begin the summer series of core exams, we'd like to share some useful reminders with you to help ensure these assessments go smoothly.

Paper-based assessments

For those sitting paper-based assessments, the papers will be dispatched to arrive 3 working days before the date of assessment. You must be prepared to store these papers securely until needed. Where a delivery can't take place it may be the following working day. Where an email address has been provided with a booking, email updates will be shared and NCFE will be monitoring all dispatches and contacting providers where needed.

Online assessments

For those sitting online assessments, no paper dispatch will take place but  providers  must open the online assessment platform in advance of the date of the assessment to ensure any updates needed can take place without impacting students.

Start times

Whether sitting online or paper-based, providers can vary the start time of the assessment up to 30 mins earlier than, or later than, the published start time with no requirement to notify NCFE.

Guidance on late arriving students is within Section 21 of our Regulations for the Conduct of External Assessment, and providers may want to reference our Special Consideration policy for those students who experience unexpected disruption on the day of an external assessment.

Students must complete both paper A and B in the same series, and there is no allowance to combine the outcome of a paper A from one series with paper B from another. Students must also complete both papers in the same series using the same format, i.e. both online or both paper-based.