Exams Administration

Send scripts for marking

Instructions for exam officers on how to send us students' question papers after the exams.

If you're sending marks and samples for non-exam assessment (NEA), see submit non-exam assessment (NEA) files.

Before the exam

We'll send you:

• grey AQA-branded sacks for you to put your scripts in
• blank yellow or white labels to print your exam labels on
• attendance registers.

Order extras as needed

• If you need extra sacks and/or blank labels, order extra stationery.
• If the original label has been used, extra printable versions can be ordered using our exam labels form. These will be available to print on Centre Services 24-hours after the request has been submitted.
• Attendance registers can be found on Centre Services – for support, see our guidance on creating an attendance register.

Print exam labels and logs in advance

• Exam labels and transfer candidate labels will be available to print seven days before the exam on Centre Services – to access, select ‘exams/script dispatch labels/print labels’.
• Dispatch logs for Department for Education (DfE) centres can also be found on Centre Services – to access, select ‘exams/script dispatch labels/print labels’.
• For further support, watch our tutorial on how to print labels and dispatch log files

About your label types

If your school or college is in England, you'll receive one or both of these label types:

Yellow labels with a barcode in the middle. See details for DfE's yellow label service

White labels with a bar code on the left for any qualifications not covered by the DfE's yellow label service.

If your school or college is outside England, you’ll receive white labels with a bar code on the left for all qualifications.

After the exam

At the end of the exam series, please make sure that you've checked your secure storage for any:

• exam papers
• additional pages
• word processed exam materials.

If you don't send us all exam materials, it can cause delays to marking and problems with us being able to issue your learners’ results in time.

Fill and label the sacks

1. Ensure that the attendance register is filled in. Please write ‘W’ for withdrawn candidates and ‘T’ for transferred candidates in the absent column.
2. Use treasury tags for any loose additional pages and forms, and place them behind the front cover of the student’s answer booklet. Don't use paper clips or staples.
3. Place the scripts and attendance register in the sack.
4. Reinforce any single or lightweight dispatches with card and seal the sack.
5. Stick the label on the sack and make sure the entire barcode is showing.
6. Ensure component/unit code on exam label matches component/unit code on exam script.

Dispatch your sealed sacks

Yellow label packages – May to June

If you have timetabled exams on three or more days during any week, Parcelforce Worldwide will contact you to arrange collection.

Yellow label packages – July to April

Call Parcelforce on 0344 561 7998 to book a collection. This is a dedicated service and a contract number isn’t required. Fill in the dispatch log you printed from Centre Services and retain in school for tracking.

White label packages

We recommend using a tracking service. If you use first class post instead, then make sure you keep proof of postage. Ensure you have put both the white label and your chosen courier label on the sack.

Unused labels

On every exam label, there is a unique barcode. Once you’ve returned your scripts, this barcode is scanned so that we can track your package.

If you don’t use all your labels, it means the barcodes on them will not be scanned, and this will lead to us chasing your scripts.

To avoid this, you can send us a note via Centre Services to let us know about your unused labels. To do this, follow the instructions below. Please note this option is only possible three days after the exam, or seven days after the exam if your school/college is not in England.

1. Log in to Centre Services and go to 'Exams'.
2. Select 'Script dispatch labels'.
3. Click 'View and respond to script tracking'.
4. A table will appear showing the labels we have not received packages for. Under 'Reason', select 'We have sent all scripts but not used all allocated labels'.
5. Click 'Submit'.
6. A notification box titled 'Additional information' will appear. Here you can add a note to tell us that the label was not used.
7. Click 'Confirm'.

For further guidance, watch our video tutorial on how to view and respond to script tracking requests on Centre Services

What happens next

If you’re not able to send your scripts on the day of the exam, please make sure they are kept secure and arrange for them to be dispatched as soon as possible.

Once you’ve sent your scripts you don’t need to contact us. We’ll send you an email alert if we haven’t received your scripts within two to five days of the exam, or within two weeks if you’re sending from overseas.