Update: Extreme Weather Conditions during January Examinations Series: Important Information

Friday 08 January 2010

Examinations underway

CCEA’s January examinations series is now underway. 
In light of the recent extreme weather conditions and the forecast ongoing difficulties we wish to issue the following points of information.

  • It is expected that the examinations series will be conducted according to the published timetable.
  • Centres are asked to make every effort to accommodate the timetabled examinations.
  • Centres are reminded that the start time of the examinations can be varied by up to 30mins.
  • Examinations Officers are asked to make all necessary checks to avoid any very late requests or changes to entries.
  • Should any issues arise that may affect the delivery of examinations please contact:

    - Kevin Smart (Tel: (028) 9026 1215 or 07887 927 622) during normal working hours; or
    - CCEA Examinations Emergency Helpline (Tel: 07787 091 120) outside of normal working hours.


Monitoring weather conditions

In the event of weather conditions in Northern Ireland worsening, preventing some candidates from attending their centre for examinations, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) have outlined the following options available -

These include:

  • Where candidates are sitting one or two units and this is not their terminal (final examination series), they may be entered for the June 2010 series.
  • Where candidates are sitting units within a 'new AS' specification and expecting a qualification grade in March 2010, but the units are available again in June, they may be entered for the June 2010 series.
  • Where candidates are sitting units as part of their terminal examination series and no further re-sit opportunity is available, such as candidates sitting legacy GCE A2 units, which are available for the final time in January 2010, then an application for Special Consideration may be made. The candidate must meet the published criteria for Special Consideration as indicated in the JCQ publication, Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration. 

To view the full JCQ document click here.