Exams

At Educate U, we are committed to providing a supportive environment for our young people pursuing various qualifications, including GCSEs, Functional Skills, ASDAN certification. Our comprehensive exam procedures, policies, and resources aim to create a smooth and successful examination experience for all our young people with special educational needs. Here's what you need to know

Overview Of Functional Skills

Functional skills are the core skills you need to successfully navigate life. They focus on personal attributes such as communication and teamwork.

We use the exam board Pearson for both Functional Skills in Maths & English. Outcomes are either marked as a ‘Pass’ (P) or ‘Unclassified’ (U).

There are three different levels of Functional Skills, which are ‘Entry’ level. ‘Level 1’ and ‘Level 2’. Entry Level – the achievement is below GCSE level

Level 1 – the achievement is equivalent to a Grade 3 at GCSE Level 2 – the achievement is equivalent to a Grade 4 at GCSE

Overview of GCSE’s

GCSEs are General Certificates of Secondary Education. Outcomes range from a 9 to a 1 with 9 being the highest grade obtainable and a 1 being the lowest.

Scheduling

We offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate individual needs for Functional Skills examinations.

Graduated approach to assessments

For example, a young person will visit the exams room so they can see what it’s like in there and spend time in the room with no expectations or pressure. The student may complete a piece of work in the exam room with a member of staff, to again alleviate any stress, prior to formal assessments.

Mock exams

We aim to give each student a ‘mock’ exam. These are practice exams to see what exam room conditions look like, help with their time management, take off any undue stress of not knowing the exam environment, another form of revision and they can act as performance indicators.

Access Arrangements

There are pre-examination adjustments for candidates based on evidence of need and normal way of working. They enable a level playing field to be provided, by overcoming a potential disadvantage when they are applied.

Exam Formats

Depending on the qualification, exams may include written or online examinations. Candidates receive detailed instructions regarding the format and requirements of their specific exams.

Security

Our exams are invigilated to maintain fairness and integrity. Whether in-person or remote, our invigilators uphold strict standards to ensure compliance with exam regulations.