S4 Prelim S4 Prelim Examinations:Examinations:

National 5 National 5 CoursesCourses

What Are The Prelims For?What Are The Prelims For?• To practise under time pressure for National 5

exams• To practise working with invigilators• To find out what areas you need to focus on in

each subject• To provide evidence of performance to help

teachers make estimates for SQA• Are essential if you miss an exam for medical

reasons• Prelim grades are relevant for S5 course choices.

AppealsAppeals

• The appeals process you may have heard about from older pupils no longer applies.

• Prelims cannot be used to appeal a result in the final exam that is lower than the school had estimated.

• Prelims have more to do with identifying key areas for future learning than anything else.

Exam TimetableExam Timetable

S4 Classes during the prelimsS4 Classes during the prelims

• When not in exams, pupils should be in normal classes • When an exam ends, pupils should return to their normal

timetabled class • If there are 5 minutes or fewer left in a period when an exam

ends, pupils should wait and then go to their next period class • Pupils at National 4 level (where there are no exams) in any

subject are expected to be in their normal class while the National 5 prelim in that subject is taking place

• Class teachers will decide how to use their contact with S4 during the prelims, for example by – Continuing with teaching of the group (if that is practicable) – Using the time for one-to-one work with pupils – Setting subject-based revision work for the group – Allowing the pupils to work on revision of their own choosing

TimetablesTimetables• CheckCheck– ExamsExams– TimesTimes–RoomsRooms–Note that some exams run beyond normal Note that some exams run beyond normal

period times.period times.– If in doubt speak to your teacher or to Mr If in doubt speak to your teacher or to Mr

Paterson.Paterson.– Pupils with adjusted arrangements will Pupils with adjusted arrangements will

receive individualised timetable very soon.receive individualised timetable very soon.

Exam RulesExam Rules• Attendance/timingAttendance/timing

• LatenessLateness

• Leaving an examLeaving an exam– a note will be made of the time a note will be made of the time

that you leave an exam if you that you leave an exam if you leave earlyleave early

Seat NumbersSeat Numbers

Your ConductYour Conduct• School Uniform – normal rules applySchool Uniform – normal rules apply• Invigilators – SQA representativesInvigilators – SQA representatives• Items with writing on not allowedItems with writing on not allowed• Food/drink – water/medicines onlyFood/drink – water/medicines only• Bags not allowedBags not allowed• Jackets not allowedJackets not allowed• Pencil cases not allowedPencil cases not allowed• Silence essentialSilence essential• Mobile Phones/mp3s not allowedMobile Phones/mp3s not allowed• HIGHEST STANDARDS EXPECTEDHIGHEST STANDARDS EXPECTED

Fire AlarmFire Alarm

• Exam is still in progressExam is still in progress

• Follow instructions of the Follow instructions of the invigilatorinvigilator

Around the BuildingAround the Building• Other exams may be runningOther exams may be running

• Other classes are still in progress – Other classes are still in progress – the rest of the school is operating the rest of the school is operating as normalas normal

• Please go quietly back to class, or Please go quietly back to class, or wait as quietly as you can in the wait as quietly as you can in the social area if you have another social area if you have another exam about to start.exam about to start.

Your Coursework & Your Coursework & AssessmentsAssessments

Remember that all assessments you do in class for Units are SQA assessments and the same rules apply regarding your conduct.

QuestionsQuestions

• See Mr Paterson if you have See Mr Paterson if you have any questions before or any questions before or during the Prelim period, or during the Prelim period, or with any questions about with any questions about Scottish Qualifications Scottish Qualifications Authority issues.Authority issues.