The Exams Office liaises with JCQ to support exam centres and also welcomes JCQ to its National Conferences

For all JCQ information and documentation, please visit the JCQ website

If exams office staff need to contact JCQ regarding exams administration related queries, please email centresupport@jcq.org.uk – for other queries, see contact details

JCQ INFORMATION

Refer to the JCQ website where you will find the most essential information and JCQ documents which will help you in your role including:

Support for Exams Officers

Exams Office

Blogs

Newsletters

Results

Post-Results

Appeals

Data transport application

Centres delivering JCQ member awarding body qualifications which come under the common arrangements must conduct exams and assessments in accordance with JCQ’s current regulations, guidance and instructions which include:

The Exams Office invited to join the Independent Commission into Malpractice…

Following the JCQ’s announcement in July 2018 of the launch of an independent industry-led Commission into examination malpractice chaired by Sir John Dunford, The Exams Office confirmed it would be contributing to the work of the Commission.

The Exams Office was the only Exams Officer representative organisation invited to join the Commission.
Report of the Independent Commission on Examination Malpractice (published 10 September 2019)

JCQ DOCUMENTS 2026/27

Below is an overview of information as published on the JCQ website for 2026/27. For all the most essential JCQ documents, please visit the Exams Office area of the JCQ website.

This includes:

(Published May 2026)

Commentary – June 2027 examination timetable

Post-Results Services – June 2026 series and November 2026 series

(Published December 2025) Key Dates – GCSE November 2026 examination series
 

2025/26

This includes:

(Republished May 2026) Suspected Malpractice: Policies and Procedures

(Published March 2026) Notice to Centres – Release of results June 2026 examinations

(Updated March 2026) Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments and publication of Supplementary guidance

(Published December 2025)

Term-time checkpoints: what you need to know – A centre’s guide to ensure the timely delivery of VTQ results in August

(Published September 2025)

Suspected Malpractice: Policies and Procedures

Instructions for conducting Functional Skills assessments (English and Mathematics)

Strategic Plan 2025-2030

 

(Published August 2025)

Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments 

  • Overview of evidence requirements for access arrangements
  • Access arrangements – A guide for teaching staff
  • Flowchart – access arrangements process for teachers
  • Flowchart – managing parent, carer or student requests (no evidence in centre)
  • 2025/26 update to the 7th edition of the Patois guide: Assessing the need for Access Arrangements in Examinations
  • 25% extra time infographic
  • 26%-50% extra time infographic
  • Forms 8, 8RF, 9
  • Guidance for centres on the decoding of symbols and unit abbreviations in Mathematics and Science examinations
  • Guidance regarding access arrangements/reasonable adjustments when a candidate changes centre
  • Guidance regarding parental/candidate requests for access arrangements when the centre has no evidence of need
  • Guidance for centres on remote invigilation
  • Reasonable Adjustments for GCE A-level sciences – Endorsement of practical skills

Instructions for conducting examinations

  • Checklist for invigilators (for written examinations)
  • Notice to Centres – The people present in the examination room
  • Exam Materials Receipt Log – Point of Delivery
  • Exam Materials Receipt Log – Exams Officer
  • Second Pair of Eyes Check Form
  • Pre-series Checklist
  • Exam Day Checklist
  • Centre Emergency Evacuation Procedure

Notice to Centres – Instructions for conducting GCSE, GCE AS and A-level Modern Foreign Languages & Irish Listening examinations 

High-level principles for the conducting of MFL and Irish Speaking assessments

Supervised assessments – Vocational and Technical Qualifications

A guide to the special consideration process

General Regulations for Approved Centres

Exam room posters:

  • Unauthorised items poster (Effective from 1 September 2025)

Key Dates – VTQ June 2026

Key Dates – VTQ January 2026

Online forms

  • Guidance notes for transferred candidates
  • Guidance notes for overnight supervision of candidates with a timetable variation
  • Guidance notes – Alternative Site arrangements
  • Guidance notes – Centre Consortium arrangements
  • Guidance notes – Very Late Arrival Form

Instructions for conducting coursework

Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments (GCE & GCSE specifications)

  • Notice to Centres – Informing candidates of their centre assessed marks
  • Review of marking (centre assessed marks) suggested template for centres
  • Notice to Centres – Sharing NEA material and candidates’ work 
  • Reasonable Adjustments for GCE A-level Sciences – Endorsement of practical skills

Information for candidates

  • Coursework assessments 
  • Non-examination assessments 
  • On-screen tests
  • Written examinations
  • Preparing to sit exams

(Published July 2025)

Guidance for centres on cyber security – Revised (July 2025)

JCQ Appeals booklet (A guide to the awarding bodies’ appeals processes) Effective from June 2025 examination series

Overview of the process for an appeal

(Published June 2025)

Appeals FAQs

Sample Centre Cyber Security Policy

(Published May 2025)

Key Dates – June 2026
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