Examination Candidate Identification Procedure
DATE February 2026
REVIEW DATE February 2027
Centre name Jumeirah English Speaking School
Centre number 91526/74558/AE313
Date policy first created 12/10/2023
Current policy approved by Stephen Green
Current policy reviewed by Katie Raybould
Key staff involved in the policy
Role Name
Head of Centre Stephen Green
Senior Leaders Richard Malpass Katie Raybould
Examinations Officer Alexis Cheneau-Chateau
This procedure is reviewed and updated annually to ensure that procedures to verify the identity of all candidates that are entered for examinations or assessments at Jumeirah English Speaking School are managed in accordance with current requirements and regulations.
References in this procedure to GR and ICE refer to the JCQ publications General Regulations for Approved Centres and Instructions for conducting examinations.
PURPOSE OF THE PROCEDURE
1.1 The purpose of this procedure is to confirm that Jumeirah English Speaking School (‘JESS’ and/or the ‘School’):
1.1.1 verifies the identity of all students that it enters for examinations or assessments (GR 5.6).
1.1.2 has processes in place to be satisfied that that all candidate identities have been checked (GR 5.6).
1.1.3 has written procedures in place to verify the identity of all candidates at the time of the examination or assessment (GR 5.9)
PROCESS TO CHECK CANDIDATE IDENTITY
2.1 Internal candidates
2.1.1 The identity of students on roll at JESS is checked as part of the initial registration process. (GR 5.6).
2.1.2 The process is when a student is enrolled at JESS, the school will request a passport copy, visa copy and Emirates ID of all students. These details will have to coincide with the details provided on the student registration.
2.2 Private candidates
2.2.1 The identity of students (private candidates), not on roll at a centre but who may be accepted to take examinations, must be checked by a verification process which involves photo-ID. (GR 5.6).
2.2.2 When a private candidate is enrolled at JESS to sit public examinations, the school will request a passport copy. These details will have to coincide with the details provided on the student registration.
PROCEDURE DETAILING HOW THE IDENTITY OF ALL CANDIDATES SITTING EXAMINATIONS IS CONFIRMED
3.1 Invigilators are able to establish the identity of all candidates sitting examinations in accordance with this procedure and by following the arrangements in place for them to carry out adequate checks. (ICE 16).
3.2 The process at JESS is that before the start of every exam, candidates are gathered in the amphitheatre. Here candidates will be addressed before the exam by their subject teacher and or Head of year 11. They will be responsible for identifying candidates and to send students in according to the seating plan. In every exam room there will be a candidate card on every desk, every candidate card will have the candidate number, candidate name and last name as well as a candidate picture, this is for invigilators to be able to identify candidates.
3.3 The following arrangements are also in place:
3.3.1 A private or external candidate or a transferred candidate who is not known to the centre will be asked to show photographic documentary evidence to prove that they are the same person who entered or registered for the examination or assessment, e.g. a passport of photographic driving licence (ICE 16.5).
3.3.2 Where it is impossible to identify a candidate due to the wearing of religious clothing, such as a veil, the candidate will be approached by a member of staff of the same gender and taken to a private room where they will be politely asked to remove the religious clothing for identification purposes (ICE 16.6).
3.3.3 Invigilators will be informed of those candidates with access arrangements and made aware of the access arrangement(s) awarded (ICE 16.8).
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 The role of the examinations office/officer
4.1.1 Through training, ensure invigilators are aware of the procedure for confirming the identity of all candidates sitting examinations (ICE 16.1).
4.1.2 Prior to the examination, inform a private or external or a transferred candidate who is not known to the centre that they must show photographic documentary evidence to prove that they are the same person who entered or registered for the examination or assessment, e.g. passport or photographic driving licence. (ICE 16.5).
4.1.3 Inform candidates prior to their first examination that where it is impossible to identify a candidate due to the wearing of religious clothing, such as a veil, the candidate will be approached by a member of staff of the same gender and taken to a private room where they will be politely asked to remove the religious clothing for identification purposes and that once identification has been established, the candidate should replace, for example, their veil and proceed as normal to sit the examination (ICE 16.6-7).
4.1.4 Prior to the beginning of the examination, brief invigilators on those candidates with access arrangements and make them aware of the access arrangement(s) awarded (ICE 16.8)