Key dates for assessments and dated exams
There are important dates that need to be included in exams planning when managing dated exams and assessments. These dates include submissions windows, deadlines and exam timetables. These dates are subject to change.
Key dates for T Levels qualifications
Key dates for Technical qualifications
Booking exams
On demand and dated examinations are booked on Walled Garden, our administration platform.
How to book an exam via Walled Garden (PDF)
How to book a Remote Invigilation test (video)
Visit the Walled Garden support page for more information on registering learners and booking exams and assessments.
Walled Garden support
Conducting exams
Step-by-step guide to delivering exams
Centres are responsible for the secure and safe administration of all assessments and examinations. This includes:
- secure storage of physical and electronic assessment materials;
- assessment administration and examination invigilation according to relevant guidance.
The below document and video will walk you through the exam administration process from receipt of question papers and conducting exams, to returning your scripts to City & Guilds securely in a timely manner.
Returning Examinations
In the document below, you will find important information to ensure the correct return of exam scripts and stationery:
In the event of industrial action by Royal Mail, read the guidance for centres below on the return of Technical Qualifications dated examination scripts and stationery:
Special circumstances
The form below should be used by centres or examiners to provide feedback, raise points of clarification or advise of potential assessment material errors or omissions in City & Guilds external assessments:
In the event a candidate is “very late” for an exam, please complete the form below:
Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidance for conducting examinations
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has set out common regulations for schools and colleges that enter students for qualifications.
The regulations specify the standard requirements for externally marked examinations and assessments. For certain qualifications some of the requirements may be different, please check the individual qualification handbooks and assessment guides for more information.
These regulations:
- are re-issued each academic year;
- set out key administrative requirements;
- reference national agreements on conduct of exams and special arrangements for individuals with particular requirements.
JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations
JCQ Exams Office
Contingency planning and exam disruption
Updated guidance on handling disruption, such as industrial action, is available from the Department for Education, the regulators, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and City & Guilds. Please read the following communication for details.
Read the update
Heads of centre must complete a declaration (on behalf of their centre) to confirm they have read the update and your centre has the relevant contingency plans in place.
Complete the declaration form
City & Guilds Exams Guidance for emergencies
This guidance explains what to do if emergencies affect any City & Guilds assessments, including dated and on-demand exams. An emergency is defined in this instance as a serious, unexpected situation that requires immediate action.
Access arrangements
Access arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access assessments without changing the demands of the assessment.
Visit our Centre Document Library for JCQ and City & Guilds guidance to support with special considerations and reasonable adjustments for dated entry examinations, assessments and on-demand examinations.
Guidance on access arrangements
Candidates results
For some qualifications, results are released to centres prior to being released to students. In these cases, the results are embargoed and centres are not permitted to provide students with results until the published results date. Results usually start to be released by centres to students from 8am on the published date.
View key results dates for Technical qualifications, T Levels and Extended Project Qualifications below.
2023 key results dates
Appealing exam results
A centre can ask for a candidate’s exam result to be reviewed, alternatively a candidate can request this directly. City & Guilds will arrange for the candidate’s answers to be remarked.
In the case of assessment decisions made by centres, candidates must go through the centre’s own internal appeals procedure.
Access related documentation and forms via the Centre Document Library:
Guidance on appeals processes
More resources for exams
Explore a range of resources for exams officers and tutors, including information and support on contact updates, registration, bookings, timelines and communications for all staff.
Key links for Technical Qualifications
Find out more about guidance in our Technicals Resource Hub.
Contact update form – Please use the contact update form to add/remove contact details for relevant staff involved in the delivery of Technical Qualifications.
Registration, Assessment Entry and Results Guide – Complete guide to registration, booking assessment entries, amending learner details, viewing and downloading results slips, and access to scripts.
Exams Timetable – Full list of exams and the scheduled date and times for 2023.
How to Book Assessments Guide – Step by step guidance to ensure you have made all the required bookings for your students.
Quality Assurance Guide for Centres – A comprehensive quality assurance guide for centres delivering Technicals.
Moderation Portal Centre User Guide – Complete guide on how to upload marks, grades and evidence to the Moderation Portal, for the Synoptic, Centre Assessed Components and Employer Involvement.
Results Guide – How to view and download results from Walled Garden for our Technical Qualifications.
Key links for T Levels
Find out more about guidance in our T Level Resource Hub.
Contact update form – Please use the contact update form to add/remove contact details for relevant staff involved in the delivery of T Levels.
Candidate withdrawal form – Use this form to notify City & Guilds about learner withdrawal or registrations made in error.
Registration, Assessment Entry and Results Guide – Complete guide to making registration, booking assessment entries, amending learner details, viewing and downloading results slips, and access to scripts.
T Levels Technical Qualifications Grading Guide – Information on the structure, grading and awarding of the T Level Technical Qualifications (TQs)
Employer-Set Project Guidance – Guidance on delivery of the ESP, which includes how to upload complete ESP evidence to Walled Garden.
Occupational Specialism Assessment Guidance – Guidance on the delivery of the Occupational Specialism Assessment. Further information on how to upload marks and evidence to the Moderation Portal will be provided soon.
Key links for Functional Skills (On Demand)
Find out more about guidance in our Maths & English Resource Hub.
For an overview, guides and links to invigilation, go to Functional Skills qualifications page.
Plus see our recent webinar about the journey from Registration to Exams and Performance Feedback.
FS Exam Journey - Webinar
FS Exam Journey - Slides
Open Assess
Open Assess is our online tool to help learners prepare for their on-screen Functional Skills exams. Learners can take our Functional Skills on-screen sample tests in a replicated version of the live test environment. This helps learners to become familiar with the on-screen environment they will face, and practise taking a test.
More on Open Assess