Frequently Asked Questions

This section will be updated as frequently as possible to answer the sort of questions that reach us by phone and email.

Q: Do the SQA moderate P&N papers?

A: The SQA do not moderate commercially produced papers--they cannot endorse any commercial product.

Nevertheless, all P&N writers/editors are highly experienced in exam setting in their own subject, and external scrutineers are employed to ensure P&N closely emulates the national standard. All our setters/scrutineers receive a guaranteed rate for their work similar to that paid by SQA. This enables P&N to attract and retain the very best setters.

Q: Can P&N papers be used for appeals purposes?

A: All P&N papers fully conform to SQA guidance regarding commercial production of papers. All P&N current year's papers (2010/2011, publication date: October 2010) are guaranteed "sight unseen".

Indeed, P&N were the first commercial supplier of prelim papers to take all possible measures to attempt to safeguard the 'unseen status' of all our papers. The security notice which first appeared on the front of our 2002/2003 test papers (published September, 2002) was subsequently recommended by SQA to be adopted as a standard notice by all other commercial prelim suppliers (at a meeting in May, 2003).

Also see SQA Guidance on Estimates, Absentees and Appeals (Nov, 2009). Subject specific information is given in Part 2 of this document. SQA also provide an interactive Estimates, Absentees and Assessment Appeals Toolkit on their website (new version available shortly).

Q: Why doesn’t P&N publish test papers in editable electronic form to allow centres to ‘fine-tune’ material to what they feel is the current level of candidates at ‘prelim time’?

A:

DTP software and fonts used by P&N are unlikely to be available to most presenting centres. All feedback from our network of contacts with examiners/setters indicate that departments risk ‘shooting themselves in the foot’ by electronically amending test paper material to suit their own candidates as this may not constitute a valid and reliable assessment resource.

Best practice is to:–

• scrutinise test papers on receipt in early October
• material that will not be fully taught by date of prelim should be set aside and kept under strict security conditions
• prelim exam should as necessary be given a reduced time allocation and ‘set aside’ material used as a class test under exam conditions once course is completed. Marks/grades should then be aggregated to support any future appeals.

P&N produce closely scrutinised, balanced prelims which cover the whole course, a prerequisite of material which might form the basis of a successful appeal.

Nevertheless, some departments find it helpful to electronically archive prelim files for future homework/classroom use. Some schools may also wish to use PDFs to support exam accessibility. As in previous years, these are available on request.

On request, electronic password-protected copies (in PDF format) can be provided if required on CD (or emailed to recognised council email addresses) in addition to our supplied 'first generation laser masters'. These are mostly supplied free of charge when despatched via email. Postal delivery may require a small additional charge. Please contact enquiries@prelims.co.uk for details.

Q: Will P&N "price-match" with other suppliers?

A:

P&N compete on quality. Customer feedback on our papers is highly favourable and our papers are set at a competitive price. We are confident of the high quality of our product and offer a full guarantee of satisfaction--"you get what you pay for". P&N employ the best setters by head hunting only those individuals highly experienced in exam setting at national level in their own subject. We produce the highest quality material which is independently scrutinised to ensure centres and candidates can be confident of robust, valid and reliable results from its use. See also our section on reasons to buy P&N.

We are, of course, happy to discuss discounts for bulk purchases.