1. BEFORE THE EXAMINATION
1.1 A stiffy containing the letterheads and word processing questions will be supplied to schools approximately 14 days before the examination. The information on this stiffy is stored as READ-ONLY *.RTF files. The Computyping teacher must immediately make a back-up copy of this stiffy and ensure that he or she can access the files. (Further information will be supplied with the stiffy.) Store the original in a safe or strongroom.
1.2 It is the task of the Computyping teacher to save this information on the network, or on the computer's hard drive, or to prepare a separate stiffy for each candidate. CANDIDATES MAY NOT 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 candidates during their course, but keep the READ-ONLY option active.
1.3 Schools must provide each candidate 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. All stiffies must be clearly labelled with the following:
  • The school's examination centre number (not the school's name)

  • The candidate's examination number

  • The workstation number

Alternatively, where schools do not work with stiffies, they can submit their candidate's work on a CD.

N.B. All the stiffies from an examination centre must be placed in an envelope and submitted, together with the printed answers, to the Department.

1.4 Schools are also responsible for supplying 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 at the conclusion of the examination. These printouts must be destroyed after the examination. Candidates may not remove these printouts from the examination room.
2. THE EXAMINATION
2.1 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 allocated to this test is 10 minutes.
2.2 The following additional arrangements in connection with the examination in Computyping must be strictly followed:
2.2.1 The instructions to invigilators state that candidates must enter the examination room 25 minutes before the examination is due to start. Candidates for Computyping must, however, be allowed into the examination room 35 minutes before the examination in order to practise on their computers and to get the computers ready for the examination. Candidates must, however, terminate these activities approximately 25 minutes before the commencement of the examination.
2.2.2 The first part of the paper consists of a timed-accuracy test of 10 minutes. Candidates must be allowed 15 minutes to read through the instructions on the question paper and to prepare themselves for the timed accuracy-test.
2.2.3 Immediately after the timed accuracy-test has been completed, the answers must be printed and the invigilator must sign after the last word on each page. Only one printout per candidate is allowed for the timed accuracy-test. After the invigilator has ensured that all candidates have printed the timed-accuracy test, candidates may commence with the rest of the paper (2 hours and 50 minutes). After the conclusion of the 2 hours and 50 minutes, candidates have an additional 30 minutes to print their answers. During this time candidates may do no editing or typing. Principals, centre managers and chief invigilators should note that each examination session lasts about 4 hours.
2.2.4 Candidates are allowed to make more than one printout of their answers of the rest of the paper. These printouts must be immediately handed back to candidates. No candidate is allowed to get up and fetch printouts from a printer.
2.2.5 An experienced Computyping teacher, not necessarily the candidates' Computyping teacher, must be present in the examination room for the duration of the examination in order to give the necessary instructions to the candidates as to when to begin typing and when to stop. This teacher may assist candidates who experience problems with their computers. (Such candidates must be allowed additional time equal to the time lost owing to factors beyond their control.) The teacher must adhere strictly to the instructions applicable to the timed accuracy-test. No additional time will be allowed for work lost because it was not saved.
2.2.6 Chief invigilators and candidates must note that it is imperative that candidates' full examination numbers appear on all printouts.
2.3 After completion of the examination in Computyping, invigilators must, with the assistance of the principal, place the pages for the timed accuracy-test inside the cover of the answer books of each candidate. It cannot be over-emphasised that this task must be carried out with the utmost care in order to ensure that the correct timed accuracy-test answer pages are placed in each answer book.
2.4 For a Computyping examination involving 10 or fewer candidates, there must be TWO persons supervising in the examination room at all times. For each additional 10 candidates 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 advisable that at least one invigilator should be computer literate. It is also recommended that the Computyping teacher be responsible for the handing back of all printouts.
3. Principals and centre managers must ensure that computers and printers which are to be used for this examination are in good working order.
4. Should a power failure occur during the Computyping examination, the following procedure should be followed:
4.1 Candidates must remain in the room until the electricity has been restored. Candidates may not talk to each other while waiting for the power to be restored. The time lost during the power failure must be allowed as additional examination time.
4.2 When a power failure occurs, the principal or centre manager should immediately inform the municipality's electricity section and ascertain, if possible, how long the power failure will last.
4.3 If, after an hour, the electricity has not been restored, the examination session must be cancelled. The Directorate: Examinations must be immediately informed of the cancellation and the examination must be rescheduled to a date agreed upon by the Department and the school(s) involved. The work already completed by the candidates must be handed in and submitted to the Directorate: Examinations.
4.4 Where two Computyping sessions take place during an examination, the above procedure applies to both sessions. If a power failure occurs during the first session and the Computyping examination of the first session has to be cancelled, then principals and centre managers must ensure that, before the second session begins, there is no contact whatsoever between candidates of the first and second sessions.
5. Principals are requested to take preventative measures to eliminate the possibility of a power failure. The following precautions are strongly recommended:
5.1 Equipment and appliances that consume large amounts of electrical current, especially in Metalwork, Woodwork and Home Economics rooms, should not be used during the Computyping examination.
5.2 All electrical equipment, wiring, extension leads, wall plugs and wall sockets at the school should be inspected to ensure that they are in good working order. This will prevent a power failure caused by faulty electrical equipment and installations.
6. Kindly bring this minute to the attention of all concerned.
7. Your assistance with all of the above procedures will be much appreciated.


SIGNED: A.P. CLAUSEN
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2006:09:07