[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-642186-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-642186-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","how-to-manage-your-science-practical-exams","How to manage your science practical exams","","Guidance for exam officers, teachers, and supervisors running Cambridge International science practical exams. Explains how to handle and safeguard confidential instructions listing required chemicals and materials, including secure storage, controlled access, and strict non-disclosure to candidates. Covers resolving differences between confidential instructions and question papers, checking and storing supplied materials, microscope slide handling and return requirements, sourcing chemicals and equipment, and managing seating distance and large-candidate logistics.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/how-to-manage-your-science-practical-exams/642186/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/how-to-manage-your-science-practical-exams/642186.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Finn","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-10-23",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",5,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What are confidential instructions in practical exams?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Confidential instructions list the chemicals and materials required for each specific practical exam. They are confidential and must only be used by the laboratory supervisor for preparations before the exam; no information may be given to candidates.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should confidential instructions be stored and handled?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Keep confidential instructions under secure conditions at all times. The Head of Centre must ensure their contents remain confidential, and you must not discuss them with other centres. Do not open question paper packets before the exam.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What minimum spacing is required between candidates during a practical exam?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The minimum distance in all directions from the centre of one candidate’s chair to the centre of another’s should be 1.25 metres. 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It offers advice on how to use and store confidential instructions, chemicals and materials, and ways in which to manage the number of candidates in practical exams.  \nWhat are confidential instructions?  \nConfidential instructions list all the chemicals and materials required for each specific practical exam. They are confidential and only intended for the member of staff in charge of the laboratory (the supervisor) to carry out preparations before the exam. Under no circumstances must any information in the instructions be given to candidates.  \nConfidential instructions are sent to you once you have made final entries. Therefore, we encourage you to enter candidates at the earliest possible opportunity.  \nHow do I store the confidential instructions?  \nYou must keep confidential instructions under secure conditions at all times, and the Head of Centre must make sure the contents remain confidential. You must not discuss the instructions with any other centre. If you have any questions, you must ask us. Do not open any question paper packets before the exam.  \nYou must report any known or suspected breach of any confidential material to us. See section 5 of the Cambridge Handbook.  \nWhy are there differences between the confidential instructions and the question paper?  \nThere may be differences between the identity and/or concentrations of chemicals and materials in the confidential instructions and those on the question paper. This is perfectly normal and candidates must not be told the details from the confidential instructions.  \nDifferences may be for safety reasons, or so you do not have to find a less widely-available chemical.  \nExample  \nThe confidential instructions may specify 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid because it is inexpensive and widely available. However, the question paper may specify  \n1 mol dm-3 propanoic acid which better suits the context of the exam question.  \nDo you supply chemicals and materials for practical exams?  \nFor some syllabuses, the confidential instructions list any chemicals and materials that we supply. You must check the despatch list against the list in the confidential instructions as soon as they arrive and let us know about any discrepancies immediately. Open the packets containing perishable materials (for example, enzymes) as soon as they arrive and keep them in a refrigerator that is not accessible to unauthorised people.  \nThe Head of Centre, along with the supervisor, is responsible for the safe and confidential handling of all materials until they are used in the exam. No information about these materials must reach candidates.  \nWho supplies microscope slides for Biology practical exams?  \nWe supply microscope slides at a ratio of one slide per two candidates. When you receive the slides, open them immediately and check:  \n• no slides are broken  \n• you have been sent the correct number of slides.  \nIf any slides are broken or missing, or you do not have enough for the exam, contact us  \nimmediately.  \nWe may be able to provide digital images of the slides that can be printed for each candidate and used in the exam. Before we do this, you must have made every effort to obtain the slides and have contacted us in advance of the exam.  \nAfter you have checked them, the slides must be stored securely with the relevant question papers until the day of the exam. The slides are confidential and must not be viewed with a microscope by anybody at your centre. After the exam, you must return all microscope slides to us, or purchase them using the form enclosed with the slides.  \nWhere do I find chemicals and materials?  \nIf possible, source chemicals and materials locally or in-country. If this is not possible, the following suppliers will ship internationally. You","cbCaiawnYlaJce6O","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiawnYlaJce6O","pdf",147765,"English","# Confidential instructions\n## Storage and access control\n## Differences from question papers\n# Chemicals, materials, and slide handling\n## Sourcing and despatch checking\n## Microscope slides for Biology\n## Alternatives when items cannot be found\n# Managing the practical exam\n## Seating arrangements\n## Large numbers of candidates","[{\"question\":\"What are confidential instructions in practical exams?\",\"answer\":\"Confidential instructions list the chemicals and materials required for each specific practical exam. They are confidential and must only be used by the laboratory supervisor for preparations before the exam; no information may be given to candidates.\"},{\"question\":\"How should confidential instructions be stored and handled?\",\"answer\":\"Keep confidential instructions under secure conditions at all times. The Head of Centre must ensure their contents remain confidential, and you must not discuss them with other centres. Do not open question paper packets before the exam.\"},{\"question\":\"What minimum spacing is required between candidates during a practical exam?\",\"answer\":\"The minimum distance in all directions from the centre of one candidate’s chair to the centre of another’s should be 1.25 metres. If this is not possible, candidates must be spaced sufficiently far apart to prevent them from seeing others’ work.\"}]","How to manage your science practical exams | PDF",1792721554]