Malpractice
Information on exam rules and guidelines to help you understand what is considered to be malpractice and how to avoid it, and what to do if you suspect malpractice in exams and assessments.
Reporting malpractice
If you believe you have witnessed malpractice in exams and assessments, your first port of call should be your head of centre who has a duty to investigate and report all such incidents. If you believe that you may be victimised by raising such issues with your head of centre, or if you feel that your senior management team is involved, then please contact us directly.
Awarding bodies are keen that malpractice and maladministration are reported and would encourage anyone who has information regarding malpractice to come forward and report the matter. If you wish to remain anonymous, this will be respected, unless an awarding body is legally obliged to report the identity of the person making the allegation.
You must be aware that information supplied anonymously cannot be used as evidence. However, such information can form the basis of, or give probable cause for, an investigation. In order to support any potential investigation it is better if you supply all the information you have at one time, rather than add information later, if possible.
Contact us
If you have information concerning malpractice, you can contact our Irregularities team in writing or by telephone.
Irregularities
AQA
Devas Street
Manchester
M15 6EX
Email: irregularities-n@aqa.org.uk
Telephone: 0161 958 3736
What we need to know
To help us investigate effectively, we need as much information as possible about the incident. This includes: what the malpractice was, who perpetrated it, who benefited from it, when it took place, where, and who, if anyone, may have witnessed it taking place, if appropriate.
Additional information about making an allegation and whistleblowing can be found on JCQ's malpractice page.
Awarding bodies will not feed back the outcome of cases to persons making allegations. To do so would be to reveal privileged information which is often subject to legislation.
Official guidance
Further information and guidance from JCQ and Ofqual.
Malpractice
- JCQ suspected malpractice in examinations and assessments 2019-20
- JCQ guidance: plagiarism in assessments (teachers and assessors)
- JCQ notice to centres: malpractice
- JCQ notice to centres: sharing NEA material and candidates' work
- JCQ exam poster: no mobile phones
- JCQ exam poster: warning to candidates
- JCQ form M1: report of suspected candidate malpractice
- JCQ form M2: notification of suspected centre staff malpractice or maladministration
- JCQ guidance: Public Interest Disclosure Act (Whistleblowing)
- Ofqual report on malpractice in summer 2019 exams
Conducting coursework
Tackling malpractice
For our views on the importance of tackling malpractice, you can read our blog post: A fair experience for all our students: tackling exam cheating by Alison Lewis, Director of Quality and Customer Standards at AQA.