Cambridge AssessmentInternational EducationHow to manage your science practical examsThis guidance document is for exams officers,teachers,and supervisors in centres that offerCambridge International science qualifications that include a practical component.It offersadvice on howto use and store confidential instructions,chemicals and materials,and waysin which to manage the number of candidates in practical exams.What are confidentialinstructions?Confidential instructions list all the chemicals and materials required for each specificpractical exam.They are confidential and only intended for the member of staff in charge ofthe laboratory(the supervisor)to carry out preparations before the exam.Under nocircumstances must any information in the instructions be given to candidates.Confidential instructions are sent to you once you have made final entries.Therefore,weencourage you to enter candidates at the earliest possible opportunity.How do I store the confidential instructions?You must keep confidential instrudtions under secure conditions at all times,and the Head ofCentre must make sure the contents remain confidential.You must not discuss theinstructions with any other centre.If you have any questions,you must ask us.Do not openany question paper packets before the exam.You must report any known or suspected breach of any confidential material to us.Seesection 5 ofthe Cambridge Handbook 2019Why are there differences between the confidential instructionsand the question paper?There may be differences between the identity and/or concentrations of chemicals andmaterials in the confidential instructions and those on the question paper.This is perfectlynormal and candidates must not be told the details from the confidential instructionsDifferences may be for safety reasons,or so you do not have to find a less widely-availablechemical.ExampleThe confidential instructions may specify 0.1 mol dm3 hydrochloric acid because it isinexpensive and widely available.However,the question paper may specify1 mol dm3 propanoic acid which better suits the context of the exam question.Do you supply chemicals and materials for practicalexams?For some syllabuses,the confidential instructions list any chemicals and materials that wesupply.You must check the despatch list against the list in the confidential instructions asHow to manage your science practical examssoon as they arrive and let us know about any discrepancies immediately.Open the packetscontaining perishable materials(for example,enzymes)as soon as they arrive and keepthem in a refrigerator that is not accessible to unauthorised people.The Head of Centre,along with the supervisor,is responsible for the safe and confidentialhandling of all materials until they are used in the exam.No information about thesematerials must reach candidates.Who supplies microscope slides for Biology practicalexams?We supply microscope slides at a ratio of one slide per two candidates.When you receivethe slides,open them immediately and check:·no slides are brokenyou have been sent the correct number ofslidesIf any slides are broken or missing,or you do not have enough for the exam,contact usimmediately.We may be able to provide digital images of the slides that can be printed for each candidateand used in the exam.Before we do this,you must have made every effort to obtain theslides and have contacted us in advance of the exam.After you have checked them,the slides must be stored securely with the relevant questionpapers until the day of the exam.The slides are confidential and must not be viewed with amicroscope by anybody at your centre.After the exam,you must return all microscope slidesto us,or purchase them using the form enclosed with the slides.Where do I find chemicals and materials?If possible,source chemicals and materials locally or in-country.If this is not possible,thefollowing suppliers will ship internationally.You must allowenough time for internationaldelivery and customs clearance.Chemicals:Sigma-aldrichChemicals and equipment:VR InternationalTimstarFisher scientificElectronics:·RS componentsWhat if I can't find some chemicals ormaterials?If you cannot get some of the chemicals or materials you need from local,in-country orinternational sources,email us and tell us the syllabus,component,and details of thechemicals or materials:info@cambridgeintemational.orgWe will suggest alternative chemicals or materials that candidates can use.These may beitems you already keep in your centre,or which you can find locally.The supervisor's reportHow to manage your science practical examsshould clearly record any alternative chemicals or materials thathave been agreed with usbefore the exam.It is the centre's responsibility to source chemicals and materials for practical exams andfailure to do so may mean we will refuse entries for that syllabus in the future.How do I manage the practicalexam?Seating arrangementsWhen seated in a practical exam,the minimum distance in all directions from the centre ofone candidate's chair to the centre of another's should be 1.25 metres.We recognise that insome science laboratories this minimum distance may not be possible.Where it is not,candidates must be spaced sufficiently far apart to preventthem seeing,intentionally orotherwise,the work of others.Large numbers of candidatesIf more candidates are entered for a practical exam than can be accommodated at one time,you may divide candidates into two groups,or more,if necessary.All groups must take theexam on the same day,with the minimum delay between sittings.You must apply for our permission to hold additional sittings.Submit your request usingPreparation-Form 8.Send it to info@cambridgeinternational.org with 'AdditionalSittings-Compliance'in the subject line at least four weeks before the date of the affectedexam.You do not need to list all candidates affected;however,you must make accurateseating plans and attendance registers for each sitting,and attach these to the supervisor'sreport.In addition,you must keep a copy of the forms until the end of the enquiries aboutresults period.You must make arrangements to keep the groups apart until all candidates have taken theexam.Candidates waiting to take the exam must gain no knowledge of its contents.Securityofthe exam must be maintained at all times and you may need to conduct periods of FullCentre Supervision.See the 'Key Times and Full Centre Supervision'section of theCambridge Handbook 2019.Use all av ailable laboratoriesNot all candidates taking an exam have to be in the same laboratory.As long as suitableequipment and safety apparatus is available,you can seat candidates in all availablelaboratories.Each laboratory should have a seating plan and a completed supervisor'sreport,produced using the same apparatus and chemicals as the candidates are using intheir exam.Each laboratory must have one invigilator per 20 candidates,and a supervisor.The supervisor is normally a teacher of the subjedt or a technician.They areresponsible forconducting the experiment out of sight of the candidates as specified in the confidentialinstructions,and completing the supervisor's report.Divide candidates between bothversions of the Advanced PracticalSkills paperIn some exam series,two versions of the Advanced Practical Skills paper(paper 3)areavailable:.Cambridge International AS &A Level Biology (9700)How to manage your science practical exams3