Exams Officer Update
25 January 2024 |
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Happy new year and welcome to this week’s Exams Officer Update.
We hope you've enjoyed a well-earned rest over the winter break.
As always, our essential information guide is available for you to access and utilise throughout the academic year. The article is designed to aid you with frequently asked questions and various processes that you might require assistance with in your day-to-day activities. |
| Exams Officer Update | live sessions |
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Throughout the event, we will walk you through the latest news, updates, and upcoming processes for the weeks ahead, providing you with the opportunity to pose any questions you may have. You can view recordings of previous events on our Pearson Development Hub. |
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| Date |
Description |
| 30 January |
Deadline to submit Special Consideration applications- January 2024 BTEC Firsts & Nationals |
| 31 January |
Deletion deadline: delete learner registrations if learner has withdrawn from qualification |
| 31 January |
Deadline to request modified papers for summer 2024 BTEC exams |
| 9 February |
Cohort Declaration checkpoint: deadline for you or your Head of Centre to confirm
which learners are expecting a qualification result in August 2024, following a check that all
estimated completion dates are accurate on Edexcel Online. |
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We’ve recently been in touch to ask centres to complete our term-time checkpoint. We’re asking you to check that all estimated completion dates and registrations are accurate before completing your cohort declaration. This year, this activity should be completed by 9 February for:
- BTEC First and National
- BTEC Tech Awards (2022)
- BTEC Specialist and Professional
- BTEC international
- BTEC Higher National
Who should complete this activity?
Schools, colleges, training providers and international centres could all potentially need to complete the declaration if they offer any of the above qualifications. The cohort declaration should be completed by your head of centre, or person authorised by your head of centre.
Why are you asking me to complete this?
We need to have a shared view of all your learners expecting an overall qualification in August so we can ensure we deliver results on time. We’ll then be working in partnership for the rest of the year to make sure you have the information you need to make BTEC claims and received your results.
Where can I find support and training?
We will be running drop-in sessions to go through the cohort declaration in detail on 1 and 7 February. Sign up using the following links if you’d like to attend:
Thursday 1 February 2–2:30 p.m. | Register to attend
Wednesday 7 February, 11–11:30 a.m. | Register to attend
Don’t forget, we are here to help, and you can contact us through the Pearson support portal using “cohort declaration” in the description.
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The deadline to delete BTEC registrations made from September 2023 and receive a refund for the registration fees is 31 January 2024.
Watch our guidance video for step-by-step instructions on how to process BTEC deletions on Edexcel Online. |
The latest modules in our BTEC exams officer training series are now available on the Pearson Development Hub.
- BTEC Bitesize Module 4: BTEC Amendments (2023/24)
This course includes information about how to amend learner details on a BTEC registration, how to process transfers and deletions, how to amend external assessment bookings and onscreen tests, and much more.
- BTEC Bitesize Module 5: Modified Papers (2023/24)
This module explains what a modified paper is and how to make an application for modified papers on PAAO. It will also show you where you can find key dates and deadlines and how to access past papers in a modified format.
- BTEC Bitesize Module 6: Access Arrangements (2023/24)
This module explains what an access arrangement and a reasonable adjustment is and how to apply for access arrangements on PAAO. It also covers deadlines and how to avoid common issues when making your applications.
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The Special Consideration Service is your new online tool to submit and track your special consideration requests for BTEC First and National qualifications. This service will be opening in early January, which means you will no longer complete any paper JCQ Form 10 applications.
You’ll need an Edexcel Online account that has the basic access and special consideration boxes ticked. If you don’t have access to this, you can contact us and we will add this on for you.
You’ll now be able to track the receipt and processing of your special consideration applications for BTEC Firsts and Nationals. This is our first phase in improving and streamlining how you submit special consideration requests. You will submit all special consideration requests for general and vocational qualifications through the Special Consideration Service in summer 2024.
We’ll be in touch when the new service opens, and in the meantime you can find out more in our latest support article.
Read our guide to using the Special Consideration Service |
BTEC Firsts and Nationals
Learner Work Transfer (LWT) is now open for you to upload learners’ work for some BTEC Firsts and Nationals throughout the January 2024 external assessment series. You are no longer required to upload learner work to SharePoint.
The submission deadlines vary by unit and are detailed in our BTEC timetables; you should submit learners’ work before the end of each unit’s submission window. You can find a full list of the BTEC units using LWT in our BTEC External Assessments: LWT Guidance support article.
We will work in partnership with you to ensure you are able to upload all your learner work and we receive it.
We have a wealth of support available to help you navigate LWT with confidence, including a short on-demand e-learning module and a recorded webinar: |
There is subject-specific guidance for uploading learner work to LWT in each unit’s administrative support guide (ASG). You can find each subject’s ASGs on the qualification course materials page, under external assessments. |
We sent our monthly BTEC Tech Awards newsletter last week, featuring details on the January series, moderator reports, where to access PSAs and external assessment materials for May/June, and much more.
The index contains direct links on support covering the following topics:
- Registration & Entry processes
- Access Arrangements & Modified Papers
- Internal Assessment & Learner Work Transfer (LWT)
- Quality Assurance
- Results
- Certification
We'll add to this support throughout the year, so please bookmark the page to see our latest articles.
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| Date |
Description |
| 25 January |
Final date for requesting copies of scripts to support reviews of marking - Access to Scripts Service - November 2023 |
| 31 January |
Deadline to request modified papers - GCSE/GCE- June 2024 |
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Summer 2025 Provisional timetables
We published our provisional timetables for summer 2025 on Monday 22 January as agreed by JCQ and all other awarding bodies.
The consultation window will run from Monday 22 January to Friday 23 February.
November 2024 & January 2025
The provisional timetables for November 2024 International GCSE and January 2025 International A Level and Edexcel Awards were made available on Monday 18 December.
The consultation window for these is now closed.
All of the above provisional timetables are available on our website.
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Standards Verifiers (SVs) have now been allocated for Entry Level FS. If you are delivering the qualification please look out for an email from your SV. If you don't receive anything by February please let us know via the customer support portal-
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Summer 2024
Modified papers for the summer 2024 exam series are now available to order.
The deadline for ordering modified papers for the summer 2024 exams is the 31 January 2024. Please ensure you place any orders for modified papers as soon as possible to avoid the risk of us being unable to fulfil your request.
Please be aware the deadlines for ordering modified papers are as follows: |
- 4 October 2023 - January Series
- 31 January 2024 - summer series
- 20 September 2024 - November series
These do not change each year.
Models for use with summer 2024 Mathematics modified papers
Please be aware that we no longer automatically supply 3D models with the modified large print Maths papers.
Please note that these will still come as standard with all orders for UEB Grade 1 and Grade 2 braille. You do not need to order these if your candidate uses braille.
If your centre has placed an order for modified large print papers for Maths, please complete this form to order your candidate 3D models.
Failure to respond will result in no models being sent to your centre.
If you require any further information regarding this, please contact the Modified Formats Team at additional_requirements@pearson.com.
For further information on modified papers, access to past modified papers and answers to FAQs, please go to the modified formats page on our website. |
You should have now received standard and modified question papers and attendance registers for the BTEC February series.
The Yellow Label Service will be in place for this series for centres in England to return scripts.
You can expect to start receiving question papers for the March series from Tuesday 6 February with attendance registers, labels and learner cards from Tuesday 13 February.
If you require tracking information, please contact our customer service team via the customer support portal. |
We introduced app-based multi-factor authentication for all users of Edexcel Online in December, to protect your data and maintain the integrity of our assessments. This replaced the existing web based multi-factor authentication, and became mandatory on 5 December. All users will require access to a smart phone device to receive a verification code to access Edexcel Online.
Based on feedback received since this was launched we have also created a short 'Did you know?' graphic to answer some of your immediate questions.
Please share this information with your teaching and IT staff and anyone else who may have missed these communications but needs to access Pearson systems.
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If you are running examinations in 2024, it is important for you to stay up to date with the official exam regulations.
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We want to ensure you have all the help and support you need at your fingertips; that’s why we’ve got a library of support articles hosted on our Customer Support Portal. Each article contains answers, detailed information, step-by-step guides, instructional videos, and general advice. Articles require no special access, are easily searchable by keywords in their title, and are available 24/7, 365 days a year. And for good measure, we also have the portal user guide.
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Don't forget we have a dedicated Pearson Exams Officer Support page on Facebook. This provides you with a quick and convenient way to stay up to date with our latest news and live updates from the team.
Important and informative announcements will be posted on the page daily and messages will be monitored 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday by Charlie, Emma and Seren; our dedicated Social Media Team. Message them with for help with your queries throughout your working day. |
Sign up to receive these updates
If you would like to sign any of your colleagues up to receive these updates, you can do so here. You can view previous editions of the EO Update on our support portal. |
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