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Exams Information

Key Dates

Below are some key exam dates for the academic year 2024-25. Exam timetables are distributed prior to each exam period.

November 2024 Year 11 & Year 13 mock exams
April 2025 Year 10 & Year 12 exams
8 May 2025 GCSE & A Level exams begin
26 June 2025 GCSE & A Level Contingency Day
14 August 2025 A Level Results Day
21 August 2025 GCSE Results Day

Preparing for your exams

Revision Advice

There are many different opinions about how revision for exams should be undertaken.  All would agree that there is a period of learning work some months in advance of the exam coupled with practicing as many questions as possible.  In the days just before each exam “last minute revision” is then done in which all your work is quickly read through to remind you of what you have already spent time learning.

When revising, set a regular time to one side.  Make sure you are comfortable and have a good light to revise by.  Some people swear by revising to music, others in silence – you hopefully know what works for you by now.  Build regular rest breaks into your work – 50 minutes work, 10 minutes rest would be good.  Get up and walk about so that your eyes can focus on distant objects for a change – go and make a drink and keep your liquid intake up.  Don’t work continuously over weekends or when you are on study leave – have a day off if necessary and don’t work more than three three-hour shifts in any one day.

Revise using all the facilities at your disposal.  Your notes and a specification (syllabus) will give you a good idea of what you should be learning.  Past paper questions help further and give you an idea of the level of answer required.  Revision books will give you a good all-round knowledge of the very basics whilst textbooks will give you a greater understanding.  Use textbooks wisely as they contain background information that you do not need to learn and they may be covering the specifications of other examining boards too.

There are many sites devoted to particular subjects that may help you with revision.  Take care that you use them wisely as a part of a structured revision program.  Don’t use them simply because it’s an excuse to go on line.  When you visit a site – can you trust it?  Try to stick with reliable sites chosen by the staff or those that are widely recognised such as BBC Bitesize.

Books and Specifications

You should find that your notes, exam papers and the textbooks that you are issued with are sufficient.  However, if you are struggling to sort out the basic information from some of the in depth work and are losing confidence then try a good revision guide.  These often present the information in a very concise form for simple fact learning exercises.  Once you have re-built your confidence you may be able to leave these books behind.  These days revision books are quite closely linked in with particular specifications (syllabuses) so make sure you know which Exam Board your exam is with and which version you are following (often A or B).

The specification or syllabus for a subject provides a rough guide as to what material should be taught at a particular level.  A teacher has a huge amount of experience in interpreting these and therefore you must be careful that you do not read too much into any of the statements. Some subject teachers may already have supplied a specification to you; others regard it as not being useful or perhaps even a hindrance!  Copies can be obtained from Exam Boards either by ordering or by downloading from their sites.

Exam Guides

Click the images below to read and download the guides.

The exams office team are responsible for all matters related to the external examinations, from submitting entries, to dealing with results once they are released. If you have any queries, please contact us at exams@ermysteds.uk.

JCQ information for candidates can be found via the links below:

1 Preparing to sit your exams
2 Warning to candidates
3 Written exams
4 On screen tests
5 Non exam assessments
6 Coursework
7 Unauthorised items
8 Social media
9 Privacy notice

Exam Policies

Exam Policy
Exam Appeals Policy

If you would like to view any of the appendices to the Exam Policy, please contact the Exam Office.

“Outcomes are very positive for pupils across all subject areas.

Ofsted

Exam Boards

We use four exam boards:
AQA
Pearson (Edexcel)
OCR
WJEC (Eduqas)

Their websites contain useful material, but any contact with them concerning the exams should be made through the school.

KS3
GCSE
GCE
English Art (AQA) Art (AQA)
Maths Biology (AQA) Biology (AQA)
Science Chemistry (AQA) Chemistry (AQA)
Art & Design Computing (OCR) Design & Technology (OCR)
Design & Technology Design & Technology (AQA) Economics (AQA)
Geography English Language (AQA) English Language (OCR)
History English Literature (AQA) English Literature (OCR)
Computing Food & Nutrition (WJEC) French (AQA)
MFL French (AQA) Geography (AQA)
Music Geography (AQA) German (AQA)
P.E. German (AQA) Computing (OCR)
Religious Studies History (Pearson Edexcel) History (Pearson Edexcel)
Latin (WJEC) Maths (Pearson Edexcel)
Maths (AQA) Music (AQA)
Music (Pearson Edexcel) P.E. (OCR)
P.E. (AQA) Physics (AQA)
Physics (AQA) Politics (AQA)
Religious Studies (OCR) Psychology (AQA)
Religious Studies (OCR)
Extended Project (Pearson Edexcel)

FAQs

Publication dates for results

GCE Summer 2025 Thursday 14 August 2025
GCSE Summer 2025 Thursday 21 August 2025

At what time can I collect my results?

Results will be emailed to pupils between 8:00 – 8:30 am on results day. Pupils are invited into school to collect a paper copy of their Statement of Results between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm.

Can I phone in for results or send a friend?

The results are confidential and it is regretted that we cannot give details out over the telephone. Please do not ring the office unless it is urgent. For the same reasons of confidentiality, we cannot allow another person to take results away on behalf of a pupil without prior written consent from the pupil.

What if my results are not good enough?

Every year there are pupils who do not obtain the summer results they were expecting.  For some pupils this may be a shortfall for re-entry into Ermysted’s whilst for others it may be for a further education course. For this reason, we recommend that candidates would be available to come into school on Results Day, if required. The Headteacher together with a number of senior staff are always present during results day to give advice.  Senior members of staff will already have analysed the results of all pupils and will be expecting to talk to those students who have not reached their targets. Computers will be available for pupils to use the internet to access any appropriate information.

Can I resit a paper

At GCSE level, Maths and English are essential for higher education. In order to embark on a sixth form course at Ermysted’s you may be asked to re-take your qualification if you failed to achieve at least a grade 5.

When do I get my certificates?

Certificates are sent to school by the various exam boards in the November following your exams. These will be retained until completion of your studies in Year 13. In the December/January following your A Level exams you will be invited to attend a presentation evening to collect your GCSE and A Level certificates. If you are unable to attend the evening and collect your certificates, please contact the Exams Officer to make alternative arrangements. If you leave Ermysted’s following your GCSE’s you will be contacted to arrange collection of your certificates. Please ensure the exams office have your up to date contact details. The JCQ guidance states we are required to retain certificates for only 12 months following receipt.

At Ermysted’s

532
years

Established circa 1492

825
pupils

on roll

59
weekly

enrichment activities