Exams Administration

Downloading and printing question papers on the day of an exam

If you're missing question papers on the day of an exam, need to print them on coloured paper, or need the non-interactive PDF version to support learners using reader software, you’ll be able to download them from Centre Services.

You do not need to request these in advance - they will be available automatically for every specification you have entries for.

To make sure every candidate receives a clear and accurate question paper, it’s important to closely follow all guidance for both downloading, printing, and collating question papers. Not following the guidance could impact your learners’ exam experience and affect their outcomes.

Electronic question papers must be treated in the same way as printed question papers to make sure they are secure, and to protect the integrity of the exams.

How to download question papers

Question papers will be available to download 60 minutes before the exam’s published starting time.

Only the main Centre Services administrators are able to download question papers. To make sure you are meeting the JCQ regulations, at least two members of staff must be Centre Services administrators. Find out how to add an additional administrator.

The electronic copy must only be stored locally so you can print copies, or to be used on devices with computer reader software. Files must be deleted immediately after use, and deleted from the deleted items folder, in line with JCQ guidance.

To download question papers, you’ll need to:

• log in to Centre Services with multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• select 'Exams'
• select 'Day of exam material'
• click on 'View day of exam resources'
• select the question paper or resource you need to download
• a pop-up will appear that says ‘send me a code’
  • make sure you have pop-ups enabled
  • select a reason for the download
• an email will be sent to your Centre Services email address with the code, and the main Centre Services administrator will also be notified of this action by email (this will come from aqa_noreply@aqa.org.uk – please add this email address to your safe sender’s list)
• enter the code into Centre Services to access all the paper(s) you need – you’ll only need to enter this download code once for the session it applies to access all available papers and you won't need to use this when using literacy support tools
• the question paper will appear in your ‘downloads’ folder, ready to use. Downloads folders work differently on each computer, some appear in the top right-hand corner of the browsers, some download directly into the 'Downloads’ folder. If you’re not sure where the files are saved, please speak to the IT Technicians in your centre.

When you request a question paper, this will also trigger an email to any other Centre Services administrators at your school or college to tell them about this download request. If you get an email to let you know a question paper has been requested and your centre did not request it, you must report this immediately by calling us on 0800 197 7162.

Please remember that if you’re moving an exam to a later session because of a clash, you’ll need to download the question paper during its timetabled session, as it will not be available on Centre Services after this.

If you are moving an exam to an earlier session because of a clash, you’ll need to contact the Exams Office Support team, as it will not be available for download from Centre Services before its timetabled slot.

Difficulty downloading question papers 

If you have problems downloading the question paper from Centre Services, please contact us and we can help, but we’ll need your Head of Centre to verify your request. If your Head of Centre is not available, we may not be able to share the question paper. Please make sure they know about this additional security measure and they’re aware they may be called upon in the 60 minutes before the morning and afternoon exams to support with this.

Take a look at this helpful guidance from the JCQ to see how to manage downloading question papers on the day of the exam.

How to print and collate question papers

You'll need to identify a secure environment in which to print your downloaded question papers, following JCQ guidance.

It is essential that question papers are printed as instructed to make sure they are the correct standard:

• print the paper at ‘actual size’ or to ‘100% custom scaling'.
• paper size should be set to A4 (or A3 if printing at that size).
• select ‘print on both sides of paper’ and ‘flip on long edge’.
• select 600dpi.
• print in colour, where relevant.
• make sure you have selected all pages.
• print on 80 gsm paper.

Once printed, compare the printed question paper with the electronic PDF version to check that every page has printed correctly – you should pay particular attention to sizing, shading, colour, graphs, diagrams and images. Please also check that all pages are printed and in the correct order and orientation.

Secure the pages with either two treasury tags or two staples down the left-hand side of the pages, so that learners can use the question paper as a booklet.

Make sure you have also printed any inserts or additional resources for the exam (these will be listed on the front of the question paper).

If you do not print and collate the question papers to these standards, it may impact your learners’ exam experience – for example, content such as graphs and items to measure may not be at the correct size and they will not be able to calculate the correct answer. For this reason, question papers should only be photocopied as a last resort.