BEFORE THE EXAMINATION

1. A stiffy with the letterheads and word processing questions will be supplied to schools about 2 weeks before the examination. The information on this stiffy is stored as READ-ONLY *.RTF files. The Computyping educator must immediately make a back-up copy of this stiffy and see if he/she can access the files. (Further information will be supplied with the stiffy.) Store the original in the safe.
2. It is the task of the Computyping educator to save this information on the network, or on the computer’s hard drive or to prepare a separate stiffy for each learner. LEARNERS MAY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE ACCESS TO THESE FILES BEFORE THE EXAMINATION. This process must take place under the supervision of the chief invigilator. Save the files as the type of file used by learners during the course of their course, but keep the READ-ONLY option active.
3. Schools must provide each learner with 2 stiffies on which to save their answers. Question 1 must be saved on a separate stiffy and submitted to the invigilator before proceeding with the rest of the question paper. The second stiffy must be handed in at the end of the examination. The stiffies must be clearly marked with:
  • The school’s examination centre number (not the school’s name)

  • The learner’s examination number

  • The workstation number

Alternatively, where schools do not work with stiffies, they can submit their learners’ work on a CD.

NB: All the stiffies of an examination centre must be placed in an envelope and submitted together with the printed answers to the Department.

4. Schools are also responsible to supply suitable paper for their printers. The printouts must be placed inside the cover provided and sent to the Department. Please note that only one printout per question must be placed inside the cover. Printouts that must not be marked, must be handed in separately to the invigilator after the conclusion of the examination. These printouts must be destroyed after the conclusion of the examination. No learner may remove any printouts from the examination room.


THE EXAMINATION

5. The attention of principals/centre managers and chief invigilators is drawn to the fact that a timed-accuracy test forms a compulsory part of the Computyping examination. The time limit for the timed-accuracy test in Computyping is 10 minutes.
6. The following additional arrangements in connection with the examination in Computyping must be strictly adhered to:
6.1 The instructions to invigilators state that learners must enter the examination room 25 minutes before the examination is due to start. Learners for Computyping must, however, be allowed into the examination room an additional 10 minutes earlier in order to practise on their computers and to get the computers ready for the examination. Learners must, however, terminate these activities, approximately 25 minutes before the commencement of the examination.
6.2 The first part of the paper consists of a timed-accuracy test of 10 minutes. Learners must be allowed 15 minutes to read through the instructions on the paper and to prepare themselves for the timed-accuracy test.
6.3 Immediately after the timed-accuracy test has been completed, the answers must be printed and the invigilator must sign at the last word on each page. Only one printout per learner is allowed for the timed-accuracy test. After the invigilator has ensured that all learners have printed the timed-accuracy test, learners may commence with the rest of the paper (two hours and fifty minutes). After the conclusion of the two hours and fifty minutes learners have an additional 30 minutes to print their answers. During this time learners may execute no editing or typing.

Principals/centre managers must note that each examination session takes about 4 hours to conclude.

6.4 Learners are allowed to make more than one printout of the answers of the rest of the paper. These printouts must be handed back to learners immediately. No learner is allowed to get up and fetch printouts from a printer.
6.5 An experienced Computyping educator, not necessarily the learners Computyping teacher, must for the duration of the examination be present in the examination room so that he/she can give the necessary instructions to the learners when to begin typing and when to stop. He/She may assist learners who experience problems with their computers (Such learners must be allowed additional time equal to the time lost due to factors beyond their control). The educator must adhere strictly to the rules and instructions applicable to the timed-accuracy test. No additional time will be allowed for work lost that was not saved.
6.6 The attention of Chief invigilators and learners is drawn to the fact that it is imperative that learners’ full examination numbers appear on all printouts.
7. After completion of the examination in Computyping, invigilators must, with the assistance of the principals, place the pages for the timed-accuracy test inside the cover of the answer books of each learner. It cannot be over-emphasised that this task must be carried out with the utmost care and accuracy in order to ensure that the correct timed-accuracy test pages are placed in each answer book.
8. It is advisable that one of the invigilators is computer literate.
9. TWO persons must be in the examination room at all times for 10 or less learners. For each additional 10 learners an extra invigilator should be present. This is especially important during the 30 minutes allowed for printing when no editing or typing may take place. It is recommended that the Computyping educator be responsible for the handing out of all printouts.
10. Principals/centre managers must ensure that computers and printers, which are to be used for this examination, are in good working condition.
11. Should a power failure occur during the Computyping examination, the following procedure should be followed:
11.1 Learners are to remain in the room until the electricity has been restored. Learners may not talk to each other while waiting for the power to be reconnected. The time lost during the power failure is to be allowed as additional examination time.
11.2 IF AFTER HALF AN HOUR, THE POWER HAS NOT BEEN RESTORED, THE EXAMINATION SESSION IS TO BE CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED ON A DATE AGREED UPON BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL(S) INVOLVED.
11.3 The Directorate: Examinations is to be informed immediately of the power failure.
11.4 The work already completed by the learners is to be handed in and submitted to the Directorate: Examinations.
11.5 Where two Computyping sessions take place during an examination, the above procedure applies to both sessions.
11.6 In order to prevent the incidence of a power failure principals/centre managers should make the necessary arrangements that heavy electrical appliances (e.g. in Metalwork, Woodwork and Home Economics rooms) not be used for the duration of the Computyping examination.
11.7 If a power failure occurs during the first session and the Computyping examination of the first session is cancelled, principals/centre managers are to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that, before the second session starts there is no contact whatsoever between learners of the first session and learners who are going to type during the second session.
11.8 When a power failure occurs, the principal/centre manager should immediately inform the local authorities and ascertain, if possible, how long the power failure is likely to last.
11.9 All electrical equipment, wiring, extension leads, wall plugs and wall sockets at the school should be inspected to ensure that it is in good working order. This will prevent a power failure caused by defective electrical equipment and installations.

Principals are urgently requested to put preventative measures in place in order to eliminate the possibility of a power failure.


SIGNED: A.P. CLAUSEN
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:09:12