Guidelines for IGCSE Public Examination
Candidates & Year 11 Leavers
Version 2015 May
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IGCSE EXAMINATION BOARDS .......................................................................................................................... 1
SUMMER 2015 IGCSE EXAMINATIONS – PRACTICAL INFORMATION ............................................................ 5
BAD WEATHER ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
ILLNESS ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
EXAM DAY TO DO LIST ........................................................................................................................................ 7
STUDENTS WITH EXTRA TIME AND/OR USE OF WORD PROCESSOR......................................................... 10
USE OF CALCULATORS IN PUBLIC EXAMS .................................................................................................... 11
IGCSE STATIONERY AND OTHER MATERIAL - RULES AND CONVENTIONS ............................................ 12
MALPRACTICE .................................................................................................................................................... 13
2015 IGCSE EXAMINATION RESULTS .............................................................................................................. 14
ENQUIRY AFTER RESULTS (EAR) (ALSO KNOWN AS “REMARK REQUEST”)............................................ 15
RETAKE ............................................................................................................................................................... 16
PRIVATE CANDIDATE POLICY – FOREIGN LANGUAGES .............................................................................. 16
MAY 2015 IGCSE EXAMINATIONS - CERTIFICATES ....................................................................................... 17
WIS LEAVERS – HOW TO FORWARD WIS STUDENT EMAILS TO ANOTHER EMAIL ACCOUNT ............... 18
Public Exam Guidelines
IGCSE Examination Boards
The Year 10 to 11 IGCSE school option form subject choices of your son/daughter will determine which UK
based public IGCSE examinations your child will partake in. The following is given as background information.
AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
website http://www.aqa.org.uk/
GCSE Dance (4232)
GCSE Design & Technology subjects: Food Technology (4547), Textiles Technology (4572), Resistant
Materials (4562) and Graphic Products (4552)
Functional Skills English & Maths
Cambridge International Examinations
IGCSE Business Studies (0450)
IGCSE First Language English (0500)
IGCSE First Language Chinese (0509)
IGCSE Foreign Language Spanish (0530)
IGCSE Foreign Language French (0520)
IGCSE Mandarin Chinese (0547)
IGCSE Chinese as a 2nd Language (0523)
IGCSE Music (0410)
IGCSE Cambridge International Mathematics (0607)
IGCSE Additional Mathematics (0606)
IGCSE World Literature (0408)
IGCSE Global Perspectives (0457)
website http://www.cie.org.uk/
Edexcel (part of Pearson Education Limited)
website http://www.edexcel.com/Pages/Home.aspx
IGCSE History (4HI0)
IGCSE Geography (regional paper) (4GE0R)
IGCSE English Literature (regional paper) (4ET0BR)
IGCSE Economics (4EC0)
IGCSE Sciences (Double Award) (regional paper) (4SC0.R)
IGCSE Triple Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) (regional paper) (4BI0R, 4CH0R, 4PHR)
IGCSE Mathematics Option A (regional Paper) (4MA0R)
GCSE Religious Studies (full course) (2RS0)
GCSE Physical Education (full course) (2PE0)
GCSE Chinese (full and short course) (2CN0 / 3CN0)
GCSE Drama (full course) (2DR0)
GCSE Fine Arts (full course) (2FA0)
GCSE Statistics (2ST0)
WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee)
GCSE Film Studies (0155)
website http://www.wjec.co.uk/
1
Public Exam Guidelines
Registration & invoicing
Student registration starts in December (after the mocks) and is finalized by 15 February. Student registration
slips are uploaded in a google folder your child shares with the exams office. Once released, make sure your
son/daughter checks these data carefully and inform any discrepancies to the Exams Officer as soon as
possible. Any change or withdrawal after 20 February will carry financial implications and will be billed to the
student/parent/guardian. Invoices are issued to parents/guardians at the start of March based on the most
updated HK dollar – British pound sterling exchange rate at that time. Invoices are issued as an e-payment
request and must be settled within 1 month of issue. If you encounter problems with the payment procedure,
contact the West Island School accounts office.
Withdrawing and late subject changes (new)
If a student is withdrawing from a subject after 20 February, the relevant subject fee must be settled by the
parent/guardian. We will inform the board of the withdrawal. The withdrawn subject will not appear on any
record. Late changes too will carry amendment fees that must be paid by the relevant parent/guardian.
From mid-April onwards, withdrawals are no longer processed by the exam boards. This means that any
withdrawal processed after 15 April will result in the subject being mentioned on the provisional result slip and
the final certificate with grade ‘X’ mentioned. X stands for ‘withdrawn’ or ‘absent’ or ‘pending issues’.
If a student did withdraw at a very late stage and the subject is recorded in UCAS, the student will have to
mention this subject on his/her application form when applying for a university / college place. The ‘X’ grade
can be explained as mentioned above. Do not hide this fact. Universities do check application forms against
UCAS and if they find out that a student did not report all, it might be held against the student. The same
applies with multiple grades obtained for a retake subject. All trials / grades must be reported. Universities
only consider the highest grade.
Exam scheduling
Year 11 mock exams are scheduled around the last week of November and first week(s) of December. They
are an essential part in preparing the examinee for the summer public exam procedure. They last
approximately 10 days.
The summer exams start end April and finish about mid-June. Although the majority of exams are completed
in early June, AQA and WJEC exams are customarily scheduled to fall in the last 2 weeks of June. This year,
the last summer 2015 IGCSE exam is scheduled on 18 June 2015.
When do your get what information?
Timeline
June
Provisional timetables are released by the exam boards approximately 1 year prior to
the actual exams. We do not release this to students/parents as too many changes
might occur. It does give a rough indication of start and end dates.
2
Public Exam Guidelines
December
The general summer public exam schedule is released to students, staff and
parents. This timetable will inform you of the date and morning, afternoon or evening
schedule. Dates are fixed and are non-changeable.
WARNING: A public exam cannot be rescheduled. If a student cannot make it, he/she
will receive zero marks on the missed paper.
Only with the black rainstorm or typhoon signal 8 hoisted in Hong Kong will exams be
postponed. See further Bad Weather Arrangements.
March
After all IGCSE registrations are finalized in mid-February, we issue individual
student timetables and exam board registration slips. Printed copies will be mailed
via letter and e-copies of these documents are placed in the secure google doc folder
each student shares with the exams office.
Google Doc Folder: Important documents are stored in secure google doc folders
which the exams office shares with the student population. Students start sharing this
individual folder with the exams office at the start of Year 10. As the secure google doc
folders reside in our intranet, access is restricted to WIS gmail account holders.
Students must show these documents to their parents. If parents hold gmail accounts,
we can add sharing rights. Contact the Exams Officer if required. Inform the Exams
Officer if you find any errors mentioned on the registration slips.
March/April
We inform students of clashing (or near clashing) subjects and alternative
arrangements. Taking into account our available resources and after applying for the
required approval(s) from the relevant boards, some minor adjustments might be made
for students with clashing subjects.
Exam board start, earliest finish or key times
In theory, all public exams must be scheduled to start at the same time an exam commences in the UK. Hong
Kong falls in the time zone GMT +8 hours. To cope with this time difference, some boards apply a regional
“key time” system. Below the conversion for summer examinations:
AQA
AM exams – key time 4.00 pm (earliest release time 5.00 pm)
PM exams – key time 8.30 pm (earliest release time 9.30 pm)
WJEC
AM exams – key time 4.00 pm (earliest release time 5.00 pm)
PM exams – key time 8.30 pm (earliest release time 9.30 pm)
Edexcel non R-coded papers
AM exams – key time 4.00 pm (earliest release time 5.00 pm)
PM exams – key time 6.00 pm (earliest release time 8.30 pm)
Edexcel R-coded papers
AM exams – key time 1.00 pm (earliest release time 2.00 pm)
PM exams – key time 4.00 pm (earliest release time 5.00 pm)
Cambridge
AM exams – key time 9 am (students must be under full centre supervision at 9 am)
PM exams – key time 1 pm (students must be under full centre supervision at 1 pm)
3
Public Exam Guidelines
Exceptions
Retake examinations and some special subjects might be subject to different start/finish times than mentioned
above. Students will get informed if applicable.
Google Docs folder
General email notifications will be sent to all students and parents informing them of the general timetable as
well as the release of individual timetables. Important documents are stored in secure google doc folders
which the exams office shares with the student population. All IGCSE students will receive the appropriate
invitation to the following folders:

Student specific folder “2015 IGCSE - …” containing individual timetable – registration slip(s) – exam
board student result webpage pin codes (if available after invoice has been settled) etc.

General information folder “Info – 2015 IGCSE” containing regulations & guidelines
After receiving this link, ‘ADD’ this folder to your personal drive by clicking on CTRL and drag the folder to
MyDrive. Students can download all documents and share them with their parents. Parents/Guardians are
advised to sit down with their son/daughter and examine the documentation. Study the exam board
regulations and check the individual registration slips for erroneous information. Contact the exams office to
clarify any issues.
4
Public Exam Guidelines
Summer 2015 IGCSE Examinations – Practical Information
Start
: Tuesday, 28 April 2015
End
: Thursday, 18 June 2015
Read your individual exam timetable carefully. Exam start times vary greatly over the boards. You are solely
responsible for arriving well ahead of the start time of an exam. Late arrival must be reported to the exam
boards and will likely result in a disqualification for the paper on that day.

Check your individualized exam schedule carefully and immediately notify the Exams Officer of any
errors.

Memorize your candidate number: the last 4-digits on your WIS student card.

Learn how to delete the RAM in your graphic display calculator.
Bad Weather
All public examinations will proceed as scheduled with the exception of:

Tropical Cyclone Number 8 signal or higher
Examinations will be postponed. Announcements are made on TV and on our school website. Check the
school website for news on the cancellation and possible rescheduled day and time. Rescheduled exams
can fall on a Saturday or a public holiday.

Black Rainstorm signal
Examinations will be postponed until later in the day. Check the school website for an announcement.

Red Rainstorm signal
Follow the weather update broadcasts. Although schools are closed by default, public examinations
proceed as scheduled and will only be postponed if the forecast predicts a worsening condition. Check
our website for updates. Proceed to school if it is safe to travel and no cancellation message is posted on
our website.
On days with adverse weather conditions, always check the school website and listen to public
announcements on TV and radio before leaving home.
Announcements are made:

for morning examinations between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.;

for afternoon examinations between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

for evening examinations between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
5
Public Exam Guidelines
WHAT TO DO?
The moment one of the above signals is hoisted, we will post an announcement on our website. Listen to
television and radio broadcasts to follow the development of the weather. Once the HK Observatory
announces the lowering of the warning signals, start checking our school webpage http://www.wis.edu.hk/
at regular intervals for updates. Do not call as nobody will have arrived school yet. The new start time will be
announced on the school’s website. It is important to be ready to come to school as soon as the signal is
lowered/ rainstorm warning is cancelled and it is safe for you to travel. Once the time is known you should
make your way to school as quickly as possible in order to be on time for your examination. If you arrive late,
do not enter the hall but contact the Exams Officer first.
Important Reminder - do not chat online with friends while waiting for the signal(s) to be lowered
If you are prevented from taking an exam at a scheduled exam time due to adverse weather conditions
affecting Hong Kong, you should officially be placed under supervision by an adult who makes sure you do
not communicate about the exam with anyone. This supervision starts from the official start time of your
missed exam. In other words, if you were scheduled to take an English exam at 8.30 on a particular date but
Tropical Cyclone signal number 8 is hoisted, your parent will become your ‘supervisor’ and must ensure you
no longer use mobile phone or any other electronic communication tool. Refrain from chatting, texting or
blogging with your friends. Only check the school website and possibly request help from your parent or a
sibling to assist you with checking your school email for announcements on the new exam schedule. This
might fall late afternoon/ evening as well as on a Saturday or public holiday. Do not call or text your friends.
Have someone in your family do it on your behalf. Once it is safe to travel and all bad weather signals are
lowered, proceed to school to take your missed exam. Do not use your mobile phone during your trip to
school. Leave it switched off.
On the rare occasion that a localized landslide prevents you from reaching school, you must inform the exams
officer as soon as possible. We will request the assistance of your parents and place you under overnight
supervision conditions. Once the blockage has been cleared and it is safe for you to travel, you must proceed
under accompaniment of your parent or other supervising adult to school and take the missed exam. You are
not allowed to communicate with any friends, to use a mobile phone or other electronic communication device
(including the internet) until you have taken the missed exam.
Illness

In the extreme event you come down with a severe illness preventing you from taking scheduled
examinations, notify the school prior to the exam and hand in a written notification issued by a medical
doctor stating the nature and start date of your condition as soon as possible afterwards. We will report
your illness to the relevant examination board(s) and request for special consideration. We can however
not guarantee that you will get a grade for the missed examination(s) and are allowed to graduate.
6
Public Exam Guidelines
Exam day to do list

Arrive school 20 to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Leave valuable items at home or lock them away in your locker. Do not leave any bags on the blue
benches in front of the exam hall. No supervision is provided and we will not be liable for any loss.

Empty your pockets. Do not keep anything in them.

Disable the alarm on your wristwatch. If you do not know how, leave the watch at home.

Prepare your HKID card or WIS student card. Without this document, you are not allowed in the hall. If
you have problems producing any of these, immediately contact the Exams Officer upon arrival at
school.

Check if you have all stationery needed/allowed (refer to the detailed list in this booklet) and store this in
a clear, see-through zip-lock bag. Correction fluid or tape is not allowed into the exam hall. Boxes and
covers of all kinds are banned from the exam hall. Leave your GDC cover at home, covers are not
allowed in the exam hall. You may bring spare batteries or a spare calculator. If you forget anything, we
cannot guarantee that we can issue you a spare piece. Before leaving home, make sure to pack
everything required for the set exam paper.

If you plan to carry a spare set of glasses, you must store them in a clear, see-through plastic box.

Visit the washroom if needed. No toilet breaks allowed during the first hour and last 15 minutes of an
exam.

Water is allowed in the hall but must be stored in a clear, non-coloured see-trough plastic bottle.
Coloured bottles or bottles with text on are not allowed in the hall.

No food allowed in the exam hall. If you are a diabetic, asthmatic or on medication, hand in a doctor’s
note to the Exams Officer before the start of the public exam period. With this proof on file, we can allow
you to bring a small snack, an inhaler or medication into the hall.

Gather near the MPH or Auditorium 10 to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Check your seat on the seating plan posted outside the hall. Your seat is indicated by your candidate
number (4 digit number). Candidates are seated in candidate number order and according to a “snake”
pattern.
While waiting outside the exam halls, you must be quiet.
The summer 2015 schedule is tight with IB & (i)GCSE exams running concurrently.
There are almost always other exams going on in one of the nearby halls.
Do not disturb other exam candidates by talking loudly while waiting.
Entering the exam hall

Quietly line up near the entrance. Queue according to your tutor group.

Check once more your pockets are empty.

Carry your zip-lock bag with pens, ruler, eraser, etc. as well as your HKID card or WIS student card.

Step forward when your candidate number is called out by the attending invigilator.
7
Public Exam Guidelines

When entering the hall, show the invigilator your ID or student card, your plastic bag and “RAM Cleared”
on your GDC for those exam papers where calculators are allowed. Leave your calculator at home
during language exams.
To clear memory on a Texas Instruments TI 84 / 83 GDC, press the following buttons:
2nd then + ; select 7 , select 1 , select 2
Exam conditions apply from the moment you step into the exam hall.

You are not allowed to talk or signal to other candidates once you are inside the exam hall.

Other candidates might already be in the hall taking another exam. Be quiet.

Proceed to your seat. Your name tag will be on your desk.

Sit down quietly and place you water bottle underneath your desk.

Place your student card or HKID card on your desk for identification purposes and leave it there during
the examination.

If you accidentally carried an unauthorized item into the hall, declare this now. Raise your hand to draw
the attention of an invigilator. The invigilator will collect and keep the item until the end of the exam.
Centre numbers
AQA & WJEC
: 74798
Edexcel
: 92840
Cambridge
: HK003
Start of the examination

Listen carefully to the instructions of the invigilator(s).

Write your name, candidate number and centre number on the exam paper. Remember to write your full
name as stated on your HKID card, passport or birth certificate.

Centre number, start and stop times will be mentioned on the whiteboard and posted around the hall.

Use only black pens. Exam papers are scanned. Light coloured text can possibly be misread by a
scanner and can therefore not be marked.

Pencil is only allowed when explicitly mentioned on the cover sheet of your question paper.

Carefully read the instructions on the front page of your question paper. You will not earn extra points if
you answer more than you are requested to do.

Do not use highlighters on your answers. They may be used to highlight questions within the question
paper or questions/answer booklets. Never on your answers.

Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator to approach you if you have a question or are in need of
anything.
8
Public Exam Guidelines
During the examination

Keep an eye on the remaining time. Clocks are placed around the hall. Start and stop times are
mentioned on the whiteboard and posted around the hall.

Rough work must be done in the answer booklets. There is ample place for it. Draw a neat line through
all rough work that is not to be marked.

Stay within the dedicated answer boxes if requested to do so. If you do not have sufficient space,
continue on a blank sheet or request for an extra sheet of answer paper. Write “continued on …” near the
relevant question/answer. This will alert the examiner to search for the rest of your answer.

Toilet breaks are only allowed during exams longer than 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes). Toilet breaks
are not allowed during the first 60 minutes and the last 15 minutes of an exam. This to avoid excessive
disturbance and noise. Raise your hand and wait for a signal from the invigilator. You will be supervised
outside the hall. Keep your visit to the toilet as short as possible.

Re-read your paper when you finish early. You will not be allowed to leave the exam hall until the
scheduled finish time. This to avoid excessive disturbance and noise.

The invigilator will make an announcement 5 minutes before the end of the exam.
End of the examination

Once the invigilator announces the end of your exam, you must immediately stop writing. If you continue
writing, your name will be noted down and the incident will be reported to the exam board. This might
result in a disqualification for that specific paper.

Close your papers and put your pen down.

Follow the instructions of the invigilators.

If you are requested to bind your papers with a treasury tag, bind as follows:
-
Cover sheet (if applicable) on top
-
Answer booklet/sheets in the middle
-
Question booklet at the bottom

Remain seated and do not talk while the invigilators collect all papers.

The chief invigilator will indicate which group/row can leave first.

Leave the room quietly.

Students with extra time can continue working. Be considerate and be as quiet as possible when leaving
the hall. Once outside, do not hang about near the exam hall. Agree to meet with your friends at another
spot on school premises.

You are reminded that you cannot discuss the content of the exam paper – including your subject
teachers - for 24 hours after an exam. This to ensure the confidentiality of the paper.
Be considerate.
If you are the one staying behind for a long paper,
you would appreciate it if others leave the hall quietly.
Do the same for your classmates.
9
Public Exam Guidelines
WARNING
If you breach any of the above mentioned conditions, you will be reported to the exam board. You will most
likely have your results disallowed. This will remain as a permanent record on your exam transcript.
Because of a possible security breach of the exam papers, late arrivals are severely punished by the exam
boards. Once reported, penalties will be imposed. This might be a reduction of marks or non-marking of the
relevant paper. Make sure you arrive school on time.
Edexcel examinations
Edexcel no longer allows early release of candidates after signing confidentiality and parent supervision
agreements. Consult page 3 for estimated start times. Exact start time will be informed on the individual
student timetable released in March/early April.
Students with Extra Time and/or use of Word processor

You will receive prior written confirmation if the use of a word processor or extra time has been granted
to you.

Extra time is provided at the end of the normal scheduled time. All candidates start together. When
normal time candidates leave, remain seated and continue working till your full time has expired.
Invigilators will place a yellow post-it note on your desk with mention of your start and finish time.

Extra time students are often seated in such a manner as to prevent disturbance by normal time students
when they leave the hall early. Ignore your classmates when they leave ahead of you. Concentrate on
your paper.

Word processor users are most often placed against the wall where power sockets are present. This to
prevent accidental power disconnection.

If you are entitled to the use of a word processor and none was placed on your desk prior to the start of
the examination, raise your hand and mention the omission to the invigilator or Exams Officer. We will
provide you with one.

Rules imposed on word processor users:
-
You must use one of the dedicated exam laptops.
-
No spell checker or internet access is available.
-
You must follow the instructions on the exam paper as if you were handwriting your paper.
-
Use the Word document template on the desktop of your computer.
-
In the header, add your full name, candidate number, subject title and paper code. The subject title
and paper code/component code are mentioned on your question paper.
-
Set point size to 12 and use double spacing (default setting).
-
Save your file on the provided USB stick and save your work at regular intervals.
-
Do not remove the USB stick while working.
10
Public Exam Guidelines
-
Do not unplug the power charger. Once power is lost, all work stored on the desktop will
automatically erase. Make sure your file is stored on the provided USB stick. No extra time will be
given if you lose your work as a result of misuse of the equipment.
-
Clearly indicate the number of the question you are answering before each answer in your
document.
-
For First Language English question 3(a): write your answers in a numbered list with points
numbered as they appear in the question paper.
-
Only after the exam time is finished can your paper be printed. You will not be able to proofread the
printed paper. You will be given the time to:
-
-
check if the print is indeed your work;
-
add page [page #] of [total # pages] on each sheet if missing.
We strongly encourage you to make full use of your extra time. You are only allowed to leave after
the normal scheduled exam time has passed, or after your extra time has elapsed.
Use of Calculators in Public Exams

For question papers where the use of calculators is allowed, candidates are responsible for making sure
that their calculators meet the awarding bodies’ regulations.

Calculators cannot be brought into exams where the use of a calculator is not required, such as a
language exam.
Calculators must be:

of a size suitable for use on the desk;

either battery or solar powered

free of lids, cases and covers which have printed instructions or formulas
Calculators MUST NOT:

be designed or adapted to offer any of these facilities: 
language translators;

symbolic algebra manipulation;

symbolic differentiation or integration;

communication with other machines or the internet

be borrowed from another candidate during an examination for any reason;

have retrievable information stored in them - this includes:

databanks;

dictionaries;

mathematical formulas;

text
The candidate is responsible for the following:
11
Public Exam Guidelines

the calculator’s power supply (carry spare batteries if required)

the calculator’s working condition.
The school is not obliged to provide you with spare stationery or a spare calculator and we only have a very
limited number of electronic calculators. We do not have spare GDC’s. Make sure you carry your own for the
papers where a calculator or GDC is required.
Type of calculators
Permitted

Calculators (including graphic calculators) which do not have the facility for symbolic algebra
manipulation and/or symbolic differentiation or integration can be used.

Basic rule = if a calculator gives only numeric answers e.g. equation solving, gradients, and the area
under a curve, then it is within the regulations and can be used.

Can be used: Casio fx99I es, Texas Instruments TI-83 and TI-84 (all versions)
Prohibited

Casio : Cfx 9950g, Algebra FX2.0 and FX2.0 PLUS, ClassPad 300, ClassPad 300 PLUS, ClassPad 330

Hewlett Packard : HP 40G, HP 40GS, HP 48G, HP 48G, HP 49G, HP 49G PLUS, HP 50G

Texas Instruments : TI-89, TI-89 (Titanium), TI-92 PLUS, Voyage 200, TI-nspire CAS
IGCSE stationery and other material - rules and conventions

Candidates must write in black ink or ball-point pen unless the instructions on the front of the question
paper state otherwise.

For certain papers, the use of pencil and coloured pencils, geometrical instruments and others might be
allowed or required (see table below).

You must always carry a ruler. Instructions often request the candidate to draw a line underneath one
answer before starting the next answer.

The use of pale-coloured gel pens, blotting paper, correction pens, fluid or paper is forbidden in all exams.
Students must not bring these into the exam hall. Calculator covers too must be left outside the hall.

If you do not prepare the below items, you risk not having them at your disposal during the exam.
Subject
Additional material allowed / to be brought by candidate
Additional Maths (Cambridge)
Electronic calculator
Biology
Paper 1: ruler, calculator is allowed – Paper 2: -
Business Studies
Chemistry
All papers: calculator is allowed
Chinese 5CN0 – Edexcel
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
Chinese as a 2nd Language
-
(both traditional & simplified character text available)
Cambridge International Maths
Component 22: geometrical instruments - NO CALCULATOR ALLOWED
12
Public Exam Guidelines
Component 42 & 6: geometrical instruments – graphics calculator
D&T: Food Technology
black pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils
D&T: Graphic Products
black fine-line pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils
D&T: Resistant Materials
black pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils
D&T: Textiles
black pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils
Economics
Calculator is allowed
English Literature
Film Studies
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
Pencils and coloured pencils allowed
First Language Chinese
-
(both traditional & simplified character text available)
First Language English
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
French
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
Geography
Ruler, pencil, pen
Global Perspectives
-
History
-
Mandarin Chinese
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
Maths - Edexcel Foundation &
Higher
All Papers: ruler graduated in cm and mm, protractor, compasses, pen, HB
pencil, eraser, calculator. Tracing paper allowed.
Music
Soft pencil allowed for diagrams, graphs, music or rough work
PE
Physics
All papers : ruler, calculator, protractor
Religious Studies
-
Spanish
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
World Literature
-
(no dictionaries allowed)
Functional Skills English
Dictionaries allowed – provided by the school
Malpractice
Any behaviour leading to a possible unfair advantage over other candidates will be documented and reported
to the relevant examination board for investigation. You will be notified in due course of the outcome of this
investigation.
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Public Exam Guidelines
2015 IGCSE Examination Results
IGCSE Results

Cambridge International Examinations
Results available online on 11 August 2015 (Cambridge Candidate Results Website) – pin code
document will be uploaded in your individual google doc folder shared with the exams office.

Edexcel, WJEC and AQA
Results available at school on Thursday 20 August 2015 from 14.00 onwards. Check exact time and
place after your return to school. Provisional results slips will be distributed in the Upper School area by
the year 12 tutor group teachers.

Pin codes to secure examination student webpages will only be released if all IGCSE exam fees have
been paid. AQA and WJEC do not provide a student result website service. Students will receive printed
result slips. Edexcel results are released via the Edexcel ResultsPlus website. Upon creation of student
ResultsPlus account, students will receive an email notification from ResultsPlus directly. Do not lose
your login account name and password.
Year 11 Leavers
Inform the exams office if you are leaving West Island School.

Year 11 leavers
Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel results can be checked online. Make sure you
download your login details and pin codes before leaving West Island School.
AQA and WJEC results are only available as printed “Statement of Results” slips. Keep the Exams
Officer informed of you contact email. Your results will be emailed to you late afternoon / evening on
Thursday 20 August 2015.
BTEC Results

Certification is processed in June. Results are official once they went through a verification process in the
UK which occurs approximately 10-14 days later. Although BTEC certificates are send to us in batches
from end June onwards, delays with verification of results can cause the certificates to arrive late. We
therefore can only guarantee all BTEC certificates to be ready for collection at about mid-August. See
page 17 on how to arrange for collection.
Extended Project Results

Results available on Thursday 13 August 2015
14
Public Exam Guidelines
Enquiry After Results (EAR) (also known as “remark request”)
If you wish to challenge your result for a written exam paper with an exam board, you can submit an enquiry
upon results. Before proceeding, discuss your chances carefully with your subject teachers. They will have the
required reference material and know your capabilities to judge your chances for a successful EAR.

Get advice and contact your subject teacher on or after 20 August 2015.

Collect an EAR form at the exams office.

Submit the duly completed and signed form to the Exams Officer in room B303.

We will issue an invoice via the new e-payment system. Student who have left and wish to process an
EAR will be requested to pay via bank transfer.

Once we receive your payment, we submit your EAR application to the relevant board.

EAR result notifications are sent to the Exams Officer approximately 3 to 6 weeks after submission. We
will inform you by email.

Application deadline Friday 18 September 2015.
Remember: Your grade may go up or go down as a result of an Enquiry After Results.
EAR fees
EAR is a paid service and we require your deposit before we can process your request. Decide which exam
paper you wish to remark.

Cambridge EUR 2 service
Per component: approx. HK$ 410.- (to be confirmed later)

Edexcel EUR 2 service
Per component: approx. HK$ 350.- (see above)

WJEC EUR 2 service
Per component: approx. HK$ 480.- (see above)

AQA EUR 2 service (exam paper only)
Per component: approx. HK$ 450.- (see above)
If an EAR results in a change of grade (up or down), the service is free of charge and costs are born by the
exam board. Your deposit will be credited to your e-payment account and the amount can be used for other
purposes. As a reminder:

Grade goes up: your certificate will get updated and we credit your e-payment account

Grade remains unchanged: we settle payment with the board

Grade goes down: your certificate will get updated and we credit your e-payment account
Only a very small percentage of remark requests are successful and result in a change of grade.
EAR processing for Leavers
If you have officially left West Island School but still consider processing an EAR, we require the duly filled in
form and 1 cheque per component (exam paper) you are processing. Make sure a family member or friend
still residing in Hong Kong can assist you with this. If your EAR results in a change of grade, we will return you
the cheque. If there is no change of grade, we will cash in the cheque to settle payment with the relevant
exam board.
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Public Exam Guidelines
Retake
Students not achieving a C grade on the core subjects Mathematics and First Language English will be
encouraged to re-take these exams in November (Cambridge English and Maths) or January (Edexcel
Maths). The Exams Officer will coordinate registration with the relevant department heads. You will receive
the necessary information (registration slips, exam timetable and e-invoices) in October.
Private candidate policy – Foreign Languages
West Island School will support students’ requests to enter as external candidates, by acting as an
examinations centre, only if there is an educational benefit to the student and under the following parameters.

Private entries will only be made on behalf of West Island School students and will only be supported in
year 11, Year 12 and in year 13 on occasion and in consultation with a member of the Leadership team
and the exams officer. (the only exception will be those using the ESF languages centre for first language
exams)

First Language Exams not offered at WIS.
In the case of students who have studied a first language with ESF Languages Centre the school will
look to support the final examination at WIS as advised by the centre and with consultation with the Head
of Languages

Second Language courses at WIS.
Where a student has entered a request on the Year 10 to 11 IGCSE school option form for two
languages IGCSE courses offered by the school, and where one of these two language does not run as
an option choice for the individual student due to lack of take up, the school will agree to the student
entering the second language examination at the end of year 11 only where the form provides evidence.
Only the exam boards and syllabus numbers used by WIS will be supported. The school will also conduct
the final oral examination at the school. The school will not be able to offer other support eg. lessons,
resources or a mock examination.
16
Public Exam Guidelines
May 2015 IGCSE Examinations - Certificates
Arrival : November 2015
The arrival of the certificates will be announced on the WIS website at http://www.wis.edu.hk/certificates
Collection place
: Examinations Office, room B303, Block B, 3/F
Time
: weekdays between 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m. on Friday)
Collection
Certificates are the property of the examinee and can only:

be handed to the examinee in person, or

be handed to his/her appointed representative, or

mailed in a secure and traceable manner to an address indicated by the examinee.
You are required to show proof of identity when collecting your certificate. Bring along your HKID card or
passport. We must keep your certificates for minimum 1 year. After this, the exam boards allow us to safely
dispose of them if deemed necessary. Certificates are often required when applying for a job. Do not forget to
collect this very important document.

Collect in person upon production of a valid identification document carrying your photograph.

By appointing someone – plan ahead and complete the Consent Form before you leave school:
-
Complete the personal details of your appointee on the Consent Form;
-
Ensure to include your appointed person’s ID or passport number; and
-
Personally sign the form;
-
Pass this form to the Exams Officer or request your appointee to bring it along when collecting
your certificate.

By HK Speedpost courier – plan ahead and request for the service before you leave school:
-
Complete the mailing instructions on the Consent Form;
-
Ensure the mailing address is valid, clearly legible and keep us informed of any subsequent
changes as long as the certificate has not reached you;
-
Personally sign the form and pass back to the Exams Officer;
-
We issue an e-invoice for the required postal fees. Fees are mentioned on the back of the form.
-
Only if payment is settled, will we process your request;
-
Certificates reach us by end October / early November. We will inform you by email.
West Island School cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to the certificate suffered
during the dispatch or whilst in the possession of your appointed representative.
Always keep us informed of any change in your mailing or email address!
17
Public Exam Guidelines
WIS Leavers – how to forward WIS student emails to another email account
Steps to transfer copy of old email account to new Gmail account.
1. Login to your personal Gmail account.
2. Click the gear icon and click Setting.
3. Click Accounts and then click Add a POP3 mail account you own.
4. Enter your school e‐mail address and click Next Step.
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Public Exam Guidelines
5. Fill‐in your account details as below:
Username: Enter your school username e.g. ([email protected])
Password: Enter your Wisdom password
POP Server: Enter pop.gmail.com
Port: Select 995
Tick Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail.
Tick Label incoming messages:
6. Click No and then click Finish. Your old emails will then be retrieved
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