Exam Policies Overview

Syllabus and technical changes

The IAEA will do all it can to provide students enrolled on a module with updated materials as soon as legislative or technical changes become known, these updates will be available on the website in the relevant qualification section. It is important that you keep yourself informed of any changes which may occur affecting the modules you are studying by referring to the website.

Exams will be based on the syllabus indicated in the relevant qualification section. Any legislative or technical updates issued that are not included in the syllabus will not be included within the next exam sitting. The IAEA strongly recommends that candidates refer to the qualification updates and syllabus for the latest information on the changes that will be examined.

Reasonable adjustments policy

The IAEA is dedicated to the provision of assessment conditions which allow access to their qualifications regardless of age, disability, transgender, pregnancy, maternity, marriage/civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation to allow candidates to maximise their potential to the best of their abilities.

Examples of reasonable adjustments that can be accommodated with sufficient notice are:

• Dyslexia - extra time, alternative font, alternative paper colour
• Arthritis - extra time for rest/stretch breaks
• Diabetes - extra time to check blood sugar levels, eat or take required medication

A candidate with a disability or a condition which they believe should be taken into consideration in assessing their exam performance should refer to the Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Cancellation and illness policy

Please refer to the Cancellation and Illness Policy if you need to cancel an exam booking or are unable to attend an exam due to illness or another unexpected circumstance.

If at the time of the examination, a candidate considers there are circumstances that need to be taken into account in assessing their performance, they should speak to the invigilator immediately to request that an incident report form is completed. The Special Consideration Policy provides full details of the process.

Oral exam procedures and rules

Candidates are required to arrive at the exam centre a minimum of 30 minutes before the exam is due to start. Late arrivals may not be able to sit the exam.

Candidates will be required to show proof of identity to the exam invigilator before the exam session starts. The following are acceptable as identification:

• a current passport;
• a company identification card containing both your photograph and signature;
• a driving licence containing both your photograph and signature;

If you do not hold one of these, you will be expected to obtain one before the exam. Please contact the IAEA Administration Manager at least 28 days before the examination if you believe there may be a problem providing proof of identity.

During the exam, at all times candidates must comply with the direction and rulings of the exam invigilators.

• No books, notes, paper or document may be taken into the examination room. All bags, handbags, books, revision notes, mobile phones or similar communication or electronic devices and other personal belongings must be left in the area as specified by the invigilators.
• Mobile phones, smart watches and any other communication or electronic device must be turned off and left with other personal belongings as directed by the invigilator.
• Paper and Pens will be provided in the examination room for the candidate to make notes. Any notes made during the exam must not be removed from the room and will be retained by the invigilator.

Disciplinary action

It is important that candidates entering an IAEA examination familiarise themselves with the rules and procedures that are in place during an examination.

Any breach of the instructions above may result in your disqualification, not only from the examination you are sitting and any examinations you have already sat, but also from all future examinations, either for a period of years or indefinitely.

Written exam procedures and rules

Candidates are required to arrive at the exam centre a minimum of 30 minutes before the exam is due to start. Late arrivals may not be able to sit the exam.

Candidates will be required to show proof of identity to the exam invigilator before the exam session starts. The following are acceptable as identification:

• a current passport;
• a company identification card containing both your photograph and signature;
• a driving licence containing both your photograph and signature;

If you do not hold one of these, you will be expected to obtain one before the exam. Please contact the IAEA Administration Manager at least 28 days before the examination if you believe there may be a problem providing proof of identity.

During the exam, at all times candidates must comply with the direction and rulings of the exam invigilators.

• No books, notes, paper or document may be taken into the examination room. All bags, handbags, books, revision notes, mobile phones or similar communication or electronic devices and other personal belongings must be left in the area as specified by the invigilators.
• Mobile phones, smart watches and any other communication or electronic device must be turned off and left with other personal belongings as directed by the invigilator.
• Candidates must not communicate with, or willingly receive communication from any other candidate during the exam. Any attempt on the part of another candidate to communicate with you must be reported to an invigilator.
• Candidates must not read or attempt to read the work of any other candidate.
• Candidates must not temporarily leave the exam room, except in the case of urgent necessity when you must be accompanied by an invigilator.
• Candidates must hand the answer book, question paper and any notes made on additional paper to the invigilator before you leave the exam room.

Disciplinary action

It is important that candidates entering an IAEA examination familiarise themselves with the rules and procedures that are in place during an examination.

Any breach of the instructions above may result in your disqualification, not only from the examination you are sitting and any examinations you have already sat, but also from all future examinations, either for a period of years or indefinitely.

After the exam

Pass marks

Written exams

SECTION PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION

Section 1 60% 70% 85%

Section 2 60% 70% 85%

Section 3 60% 70% 85%

Section 4 60% 70% 85%

Section 5 60% 70% 85%

Oral exams

SECTION PASS

Oral Exam 60%

* Candidates must achieve a minimum of 60% of the available marks for the compulsory salvage categorisation question.

Marking

The IAEA has a very strict system to moderate the marking of written exam papers and the assessing of the oral exam. Examiners are selected for their relevant and up to date knowledge and experience.

The IAEA operates a positive marking policy to ensure that candidates are treated fairly. Full marks are given if a candidate has provided a complete answer according to the marking scheme. Full credit is also given for alternative answers that are equally valid but not given in the marking scheme. For questions involving numerical calculations, the bulk of the marks are awarded for the correct method being used; only a minority of the marks being awarded for the final answer.

Quality assurance processes are in place to ensure that marking is accurate and consistent and that exam standards are maintained over time.

Answer books cannot be returned under any circumstances. It is the policy of the IAEA not to return examination answer books to candidates and or to disclose the breakdown of marks. This is in line with Schedule 7, paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the policy of many professional examining bodies.

Post results review of marking

The service is only available to candidates where a result is a fail in any of the written or oral response exams. All requests must be received within 6 weeks of the release date of the results. For further details refer to the Post Results Review Policy.

Examination appeals policy

The IAEA is committed to providing a fair and transparent route to achieving their qualifications. The appeals procedure is intended for consideration of circumstances that materially affect a candidate's performance in an assessment where all other available routes of resolution have been exhausted. For details of the grounds of appeal considered and the process, refer the Appeals Policy.