Prelim briefing Info for pupils– January 2026

Personalised exam timetables were issued in the last week of term, on Tuesday 16 December. This provided you with dates, times and room numbers for all your SQA prelims. If you attend Moray College please check with them about their exam dates and times.

If you were absent on this day the individual exam timetables were given out, your individual timetable will either be at reception or in your tutor folder. Ask reception and/or your tutor teacher.

Check your personal timetable thoroughly. If you believe that there are exams missing or you are entered for exams that you shouldn’t be, please see Mrs Petrie immediately.

Know where your exams are and when – and always check the prelim noticeboard in the atrium in case of any last minute changes to accommodation. You will also find the seat number you should sit in for all your exams in the noticeboard in the atrium

Once in the exam room the Invigilators are in charge – it is essential that you sit on the seat number allocated to you but note that Invigilators have the discretion to move your seat if necessary.

Wear School Uniform and arrive on time – you should assemble outside the exam room at least 15 minutes before the exam is scheduled to start. The invigilators will call you into the exam room about 10 minutes before the exam is scheduled to start.

Please come prepared for the exam, i.e. pens, an approved calculator if appropriate, bottled water only for refreshment, and if possible, a note of your SQA SCN (Scottish Candidate Number). Please note that your final SQA exams should now be completed in pen. This is due to most exams now being digitally marked by SQA and the scanners cannot pickup pencil marks.

Make sure to put your name (and SCN if you know it) on all paper used during the exam.

Mobile phones, iPods, Smart Watches, Apple watches or any other electronic device are not allowed into the exam – this could lead to your exam entries being cancelled –secure storage is available at Reception for these – please leave all such items in your lockers or at Reception prior to your exam.

Bags should be left at the back of the exam room (or outside in the assembly hall if you are doing an exam in the Drama Rooms). Jackets should also be stored at the back of the exam room. No personal items should be at your desk.

Do not bring anything with you that could be interpreted as cheating, e.g. notes, annotations, etc. Use a clear pencil case if possible or be prepared to allow invigilators to look in your pencil cases and calculator cases.

Those pupils with Additional Assessment Arrangements should have received letters confirming the arrangements in place for them before the Christmas holidays. If you aren’t quite sure about these, please speak to Mrs Petrie.

Please enter and leave exam rooms QUIETLY - remember other classes are still in school and it is unfair to disrupt them.

When not in an exam, you will be following your usual timetable and for the most part, studying in classes.  Please obey signage where areas of the corridors are blocked off due to exams taking place in those areas.

100% attendance is expected for your exams. In the case of genuine illness your Parent/Carer must notify the school in the morning. If we do not hear from you and you do not turn up for a prelim, your parent/carer will be called to ask where you are.

When you finish each exam, go over your paper thoroughly. Check for mistakes. Do not sit idly. Pupils must remain in exam rooms until the exams is finished.

Please make sure you have been to the toilet prior to your exam. If you need a comfort break during the exam, you should raise your hand to attract the invigilator’s attention who will phone for another member of staff to escort you to and from the toilet.  

Please check your desk when you sit down and report any damage/graffiti if you notice anything – otherwise you may be held responsible for any damage that is later reported.

If the Fire Alarm sounds during an exam, pupils will be asked by the Invigilator in charge to draw a line beneath the work they have already done, with a note being made of the time at which candidates are asked to stop work. If told to evacuate by SLT, pupils and Invigilators should then proceed to leave the premises by the nearest available exit and make their way to the astroturf, which is the main School Fire Assembly Point. However, instead of standing with your usual tutor class, you line up directly opposite where S4-6 usually line up on the astroturf, with others in your exam room, and line up in seat number order. The invigilators will check against their registers that all pupils have safely evacuated the building. You will not be allowed to talk to others during an emergency fire evacuation.

During a fire evacuation, it is important to note that you must assemble on the Astroturf with the Invigilator of your exam rather than your normal tutor group.

In the event of a fire evacuation, you should not discuss the content of the exam paper with any other pupils or members of staff.

You will obtain your prelim results in your normal lessons from week beginning 26 January and you will receive a letter in tutor summarising all your results in all our subjects on Tuesday 10 February.

Normal classes and teaching will resume on Monday 26 January.

 

Good Luck!