1. Practical Assistant The role, rules and advice

2. What is a Practical Assistant?
A practical assistant carries out practical tasks at the instruction of the candidate

3. The Role
The head of centre must ensure that the person appointed to facilitate an access arrangement is trained and fully understands the rules
Where the candidate is accommodated separately on a one to one basis, the invigilator may act as a prompter, a practical assistant, a reader and/or a scribe as long as permission has been given for these arrangements
The practical assistant must not normally be the candidate’s own subject teacher and must not be a relative, friend, peer or private tutor of the candidate
The practical assistant must be made aware, prior to the examination, of the particular task(s) he/she will be performing as specifically approved by the awarding body

4. When is a Practical Assistant needed?
A practical assistant is used when a candidate needs assistance carrying out tasks – this may be a long term need due to a disability or a short term temporary need, e.g.
Holding a ruler
Using equipment
Turning pages of a script or booklet
Guiding a candidate with vision impairment to a section of text

5. A Practical Assistant may …
ask the candidate to repeat instructions where these are not clear

6. A Practical Assistant must …
perform practical tasks as specifically approved by the awarding body and according to the candidate’s instructions, unless the skill to be performed is the focus of the assessment (in which case the practical assistant will not be permitted) or the procedure would be unsafe
immediately refer any problems in communication during the assessment to the invigilator or examinations officer
abide by the regulations since failure to do so could lead to the disqualification of the candidate
ensure the safety of the candidate and those around him/her
not give factual help to the candidate or indicate when the task is complete
not advise the candidate on which questions to do, when to move on to the next question, or the order in which questions should be answered

7. Practical Assistant Cover Sheet
Where an application is processed using Access Arrangements Online, e.g. GCSE and GCE qualifications, a pre-populated Practical Assistant cover sheet must be printed from the system and must be placed inside the candidate’s script
For Entry Level Certificate qualifications, Form 13 must be printed from the JCQ website:
Form 13 must be placed inside the candidate’s script
A cover sheet must be securely attached to any non-examination assessment completed with the aid of a practical assistant. The work must be sent to the moderator in addition to the sample requested
Cover sheets must indicate the level of assistance given by the practical assistant
The cover sheet must be signed by the practical assistant and countersigned by the head of centre or examinations officer

8. The Rules
A practical assistant is not a reader, a prompter or a scribe but the same person may act as such, as long as permission has been given for any or all of these arrangements
The practical assistant must not be the candidate’s own subject teacher or a relative, friend or peer of the candidate
The head of centre must ensure that the person appointed to facilitate an access arrangement is trained and fully understands the rules

9. FAQs

10. Can I assist with setting up equipment?
It is permitted as long as the input from you as the practical assistant is not deemed to give the candidate an undue advantage

11. Can I help with an Art and Design examination?
Question:
A candidate wants to be entered for GCSE Art & Design but cannot perform any practical skills independently
Answer:
The candidate will not be able to be credited with any marks for skills performed, he cannot be entered for the specification

12. Can I hold equipment during an examination?
Example:
A candidate has a disability affecting his left side and needs a practical assistant to hold equipment while the candidate performs practical tasks. As the practical assistant is acting as a second hand this is permitted

13. Useful Links www.ccea.org.uk www.jcq.org.uk
instructions-for-conducting-examinations
arrangements-and-special-consideration/regulations- and-guidance