If you have already practised with the Sequencing Tool (Demo Version) this will feel familiar, most of the functionality will look and feel the same in the live version. That said, there are a few important differences worth knowing about:

Key Dates:
Key dates matter in the live version. Activities are time-dependent, so what you see and when is carefully controlled.

Candidate Thematic Context choices only become available from the start of the Thematic context Allocation Window (TAW), and all selections must be completed before the window closes.

Unlike the demo versions, cards for Tasks 1 and 2 won’t appear straight away. These will only be visible three working days before the Speaking Assessment Window opens, helping to keep the process fair and secure for every learner.

Groups Functionality:
Groups help you focus on the right learners. The tool will initially show all learners in your school who meet the filter criteria. For example, all French students across both tiers. Group functionality allows you to create smaller, more manageable lists containing only the students you want to work with.

A teacher might set up one group per class, meaning they only see that class’s learners.

Users will only be able to see the groups they create; groups set up by other colleagues in the centre won’t be visible.

Groups can be created ahead of the TAW and the Speaking Assessment Window, giving you time to prepare.

Reassignments:
Reassignments are there for exceptional cases. In rare situations where an allocated card would cause genuine distress to a learner, the tool allows teachers to randomly reassign that card. This feature is designed to be used sparingly and only when necessary. All use will be monitored.

Full guidance on when and how to use reassignments is available in the User Guide.