Examinations
At Queens', students are assessed in each subject continuously from Year 7 through to the Sixth Form in order to monitor their progress internally so that they can achieve highly in public examinations. Assessments give a full and detailed picture of each individual's progress which we share with parents and carers.
Internal assessments will be taken on a regular basis in class and more formal internal examinations are taken in order to prepare students for the rigours of public examinations in the future.
If you have any queries about exams please contact our Exams Officer at exams@queens.herts.sch.uk.
Public Examinations
Public examinations take place annually during the summer term for Year 11 and Year 13.
Summer 2025 Contingency Days
The awarding bodies have collectively agreed a contingency day for several years now which is always scheduled at the end of the GCSE and A Level exam timetables. The contingency day is in the event of national or significant local disruption to exams in the United Kingdom.
For the June 2025 exams, the awarding bodies have therefore introduced an additional half-day contingency session. This will be on Wednesday 11 2025. The standard contingency day remains at the end of the timetable being scheduled on Wednesday 25 June 2025.
Students and parents or carers should consider the contingency day of Wednesday 25 June 2025 when making their plans for the summer. Candidates must remain available until Wednesday 25 June 2025 should examinations need to be rescheduled.
A wealth of information is available on the awarding bodies' websites:
If you have any queries please contact our Exams Officer at exams@queens.herts.sch.uk.
Non-Exam Assessments
Non-examination assessments measure subject-specific knowledge and skills that cannot be tested by timed written papers.
There are three assessment stages and rules which apply to each stage. These rules often vary across subjects. The stages are:
- Task setting
- Task taking
- Task marking
A Level and GCSE students will be advised of their centre assessed marks in March 2025. Work is marked in accordance with awarding body specifications, internally moderated and standardised, then moderated externally. Candidates may request a review before their marks are submitted to the awarding body. Candidates are reminded that marks are likely to remain the same but can brought down. All marks are subject to further change through external moderation.
Requests for reviews must be submitted to the Examinations Office within 3 working days of receiving marks. A fee is payable for an NEA review by an independent assessor with appropriate competencies. Please see the policies section for more details on how to go about this process.
If you have any queries please contact our Exams Officer exams@queens.herts.sch.uk.
Exam Access Arrangements
Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) are put in place to ensure a 'level playing field' for all students - they are there to remove barrier to learning and access put there by a long term (12 months +) disability as defined in the 2010 Disability Act. They are not there to add knowledge or give an advantage or for academically weak students or students with poor exam technique.
We provide access arrangements for students with a medically diagnosed condition (ASD, dyspraxia, visual impairment) for which we have the formal diagnosis paperwork or for students who have been identified by teachers and have been tested by the SEND team or external assessor.
The practical application of these arrangements is always in accordance with the annually updated guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications.