Getting ready for the summer 2016 Music exam series

For the following qualifications, the final date for submitting your marks and samples of work for the summer 2016 series is 15 May 2016:

• GCSE Music
• GCE Music
• GCE Music Technology.

By 15 May 2016, you must have submitted your coursework/controlled assessment marks to Edexcel via Edexcel online, and have sent your sample (visible on Edexcel online from mid-April) to the moderator. Your moderator’s name and address will be available on Edexcel online from mid-April.

The administrative guides for each subject gives details of how to present the work for the examiner/moderator.

In large centres with multiple teachers, it's essential that you carry out internal moderation before you finalise the coursework or controlled assessment marks. You should sample double-mark, selecting mark points within the same band from different teaching sets. The double marking should continue until you are satisfied that you have achieved comparability.

Small schools with only one teacher need not carry out internal standardisation. It is helpful to include a covering note with your sample explaining that you are in this situation.

You should not attempt to grade the work; you should be marking the work by applying the marking criteria in a consistent manner.

The controlled assessment and coursework grades will be awarded at the end of each examination series using the standard code of practice awarding process.

Grade boundaries, which are subject to change each exam series, are published on the website on the grade boundaries page. For summer 2016, they'll be available to download from results day: 17 August 2016 for GCE and 24 August 2016 for GCSE.

Please also remember that the mark you submit to us should be the total raw mark, not the UMS mark. The UMS marks are allocated by us as a result of the awarding process.

A score of zero should only be used if a candidate has submitted work that is found to meet none of the assessment criteria. An X should be used for any candidate who is absent.

OPTEMS forms will arrive in centres in April of the examination year. You must complete the forms and they must arrive at Edexcel in pre-printed envelopes or transmitted by EDI by 15 May.

The second copy of the OPTEMS should be sent to your moderator along with the submissions.

This must be done for GCE Music unit 1 and unit 4, and for GCSE Music unit 1 and unit 2.

OPTEMS are not required for externally assessed units. 

The sample of candidates’ work required, will be indicated with asterisks next to the candidates’ names on the OPTEMS. You also need to send the work of the highest- and lowest-scoring candidates in addition to the requested sample. If any of the called-for candidates have been withdrawn or have incomplete submissions, please provide additional candidates' work of a comparable level, along with a covering note. 

This information is also available on our exam timetables page. International centres should consult the international exam timetables which are available on this page.

While moderating your centre's coursework or controlled assessment, the moderator will write an E9, moderator’s report which will give you detailed feedback on your marking and administration. You will be able to download this report on results day. Find out how to access your E9 moderator report. If you can't access your report, please ask your examinations officer for assistance. 

I hope you've found this update useful. If you have any further questions about the submission of coursework or controlled assessment, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Wishes,

Jeffery Hole