Examinations and Tests

Illness, Misadventure and Extension Application Form

Primary School students are assessed progressively throughout each of the four terms. Assessment tasks and examinations are set for each year group throughout the term and are summarised in a Final Semester Report. All progressive reporting of student outcomes and Final Semester Reports are sent to parents via SEQTA Engage.

Years 7 to 10

Students will have progressive assessments throughout the year. Details of assessments are available in the Assessment Schedule issued near the start of each year. As per the Assessment Schedule, secondary school students will have examination periods in Terms 2 and 4.

Year 11

Students will have formal assessments throughout the year. Preliminary Year examinations will usually occur in the last two weeks of Term 3 of Year 11.

Year 12

Students will have end of course examinations which take place early Term 3, and trial examinations are typically held later in the Term. The external Higher School Certificate examinations usually commence in the second half of October.

Secondary School students are expected to be familiar with the Examinations Code of Conduct distributed prior to major examination periods.

Examinations Code of Conduct (Years 7-10)

The St Columba Anglican School Examinations Code of Conduct exists to ensure that those assessment tasks which are to be done individually and without assistance from others are carried out in an environment that ensures fairness and integrity:

Students who have approved leave should see their teacher to make arrangements for an alternative examination time prior to the examination period.
If an alternative examination time cannot be scheduled during the examination period the student will need to sit the examination on either a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon session from 3.30pm.
For both written and practical examinations students are to wear the appropriate school uniform and to follow all directions of supervisors.
Students should be ready outside the appropriate examination room ten minutes before the starting time.
Misreading of the examination timetable will not entitle students to an alternative task. For students in Year 10, absence on the day of an examination requires a medical certificate and/or detailed note from parents.
No student may enter the examination room until asked to do so by the supervisor/teacher in charge.
Students may not leave the examination room, except in medical or other emergency, until the allotted period for the examination has expired. Students must attend to any anticipated needs and organise materials before entering the examination room.
Once in the examination room, students may only speak to the supervisors. To gain the supervisor’s attention at any time during the examination students must silently raise one hand. No other action is appropriate. At the end of the examination, silence must be observed until all question booklets and answer sheets have been collected.
Under no circumstances may students speak to each other. Any behaviour that may distract or interfere with the capacity of another student to concentrate may result in immediate removal from the examination and cancellation of the paper.
Students must observe the stated times to start and finish writing as directed by the examination supervisors.
No material may be taken into the examination room other than writing implements, approved calculators and other subject-specific materials. Calculators must be opened and placed on the desk for checking by the supervisor. Pencil cases, study materials and books must be left at the front of the room or in another secure location as directed by the supervisor. All materials brought into the examination room may be scrutinised by the supervisor.
Smart watches are not to be brought into the examination room. All other watches must be placed face-up on the desk once in the examination room.
Students may not borrow equipment during an examination. No blank examination paper or answer booklets may be removed after the examination.
Any possession of notes and any writing on the skin is not permitted and will lead to the cancellation of the paper or a section of it as determined by the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Attempts to communicate by any means with anyone other than a supervisor, including perusal and/or copying of another candidate’s work, is not permitted and may lead to the cancellation of the paper or a section of it as determined by the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Foodstuffs are not permitted. Clear, unlabelled bottles of water may be taken in, but this may not necessarily be permitted in examinations organised and supervised by the NSW Education Standards Authority. Candidates with special provisions may be exempt from this ruling depending on the nature of the underlying condition. All bottles should be placed on the floor throughout examinations.
If a reading time is provided, students must not hold a writing implement. Students are not to take up their pens until directed by the supervisor.
Students must be very careful to read all instructions and sections of each paper. Mistakes due to misreading or overlooking instructions (e.g. answering two questions when the examiner requires only one) cannot be considered by the marker. The Head of School will determine the decision as to how marks will be determined in such cases.
All students are expected to complete each examination to the best of their abilities. A paper determined to be a non-serious attempt will be referred to the appropriate Faculty Coordinator and may receive zero marks. This could result in the subject being omitted from the student’s Record of Achievement. In some cases, this could cause the student to be ruled ineligible for the subject to appear on their ROSA record or Higher School Certificate.
All writing and diagrams on question papers and answer booklets must be relevant to the examination. Any additional material, including “doodles”, unnecessary remarks or messages to the examiner, may be considered to be evidence of a non-serious attempt.

Examinations Code of Conduct (Years 11 and 12)

Absences during exam periods (including the two school days prior to examinations) must be accompanied by a doctor’s certificate.
Absences during exams that are not school-related or accompanied by a doctor’s certificate will require approved Principal’s leave prior to the examination period.
Students who have approved leave should see the Director of Teaching and Learning to make arrangements for an alternative examination time prior to the examination period.
If an alternative examination time cannot be scheduled during the examination period the student will need to sit the examination on either a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon session from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
If a student is absent during examinations and no leave has been granted, the student shall receive zero for that examination and will be required to sit the examination during a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon session from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
For both written and practical examinations, students are to wear the appropriate school uniform and to follow all directions of supervisors.
Students should be ready outside the examination room ten minutes before the starting time in the case of internal exams and at least twenty minutes for external examinations in Year 11 and Year 12.
Misreading of the examination timetable will not entitle students to an alternative task. For students in Years 10 to 12, absence on the day of a paper requires a medical certificate. If no medical certificate is provided, the student will receive zero for the examination. Medical certificates should be lodged with the Director of Teaching and Learning.
No student may enter the examination room until asked to do so by the supervisor/teacher in charge.
Students may not leave the examination room, except in medical or other emergency, until the allotted period for the examination has expired. Students must attend to any anticipated needs and organise materials before entering the examination room.
Once in the examination room, students may only speak to the supervisors. To gain the supervisor’s attention during the examination, students must silently raise one hand. No other action is appropriate. At the end of the examination, silence must be observed until all question booklets, and answer sheets have been collected.
Under no circumstances may students speak to each other. Any behaviour that may distract or interfere with the capacity of another student to concentrate may result in immediate removal from the examination and cancellation of the paper.
Students must observe the stated times to start and finish writing as directed by the examination supervisors.
No material may be taken into the examination room other than writing implements, approved calculators and other subject-specific materials. Calculators must be opened and placed on the desk for checking by the supervisor. Pencil cases, study materials and books must be left at the front of the room or in another secure location as directed by the supervisor. The supervisor may scrutinise all materials brought into the examination room.
Smart watches are not to be brought into the examination room. All other watches must be placed face-up on the desk once in the examination room.
Students may not borrow equipment during an examination. No blank examination paper or answer booklets may be removed after the examination.
Any possession of notes and any writing on the skin is not permitted and will lead to the cancellation of the paper or a section of it as determined by the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Attempts to communicate by any means with anyone other than a supervisor, including perusal and/or copying of another candidate’s work, is not permitted and may lead to the cancellation of the paper or a section of it as determined by the Director of Teaching and Learning.
Foodstuffs are not permitted. Clear, unlabelled bottles of water may be taken in, but this may not necessarily be permitted in examinations organised and supervised by the NSW Education Standards Authority. Candidates with special provisions may be exempt from this ruling depending on the nature of the underlying condition. All bottles should be placed on the floor throughout examinations.
If there is a reading time provided, students must not hold a writing implement. Students are not to take up their pens until directed by the supervisor.
Students must be very careful to read all instructions and sections of each paper. Mistakes due to misreading or overlooking instructions (e.g. answering two questions when the examiner requires only one) cannot be considered by the marker. The Head of School will determine the decision as to how marks will be determined in such cases.
All students are expected to complete each examination to the best of their abilities. A paper determined to be a non-serious attempt will be referred to the appropriate Faculty Coordinator and may receive zero marks. This could result in the subject being omitted from the student’s Record of School Achievement. In some cases, this could cause the student to be ruled ineligible for the Record of School Achievement or Higher School Certificate.
All writing and diagrams on question papers and answer booklets must be relevant to the examination. Any additional material, including “doodles”, unnecessary remarks or messages to the examiner, may be considered to be evidence of a non-serious attempt.