IDM Examination Rules and Regulations

IDM Qualifications IDM Examination Rules and Regulations Updated May 2016 IDM is a registered trademark. Page 1 of 11

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 3 1.0 Special Consideration and Special Needs... 4 2.0 Appeals... 6 3.0 Complaints... 7 4.0 Malpractice... 7 5.0 Intellectual Property Rights... 8 6.0 Examination Preparation, Procedures, Rules and Regulations... 9 IDM is a registered trademark. Page 2 of 11

INTRODUCTION This document describes the IDM s rules and regulations for students of the following study programmes: IDM Certificate in Direct and Digital Marketing IDM Certificate in Direct Marketing The IDM operates in accordance with the latest data protection legislation. Any information you supply will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be seen by the relevant personnel at the IDM. The IDM is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students. We therefore offer a special consideration service for anyone with learning difficulties or requiring additional support for any other reason. The IDM adopts and rigorously applies a policy which puts students at the heart of the organisation by ensuring equality, transparency, fairness, consistency and robust assessment processes. From time to time it may be necessary to amend these Rules & Regulations as part of the IDM s continuous improvement programmes. Should this be necessary, you and your Tutor will be informed immediately through the correct channels. Tracey Poulson Head of Qualifications, Dip IDM, M IDM IDM is a registered trademark. Page 3 of 11

1.0 Special Consideration and Special Needs 1.1 IDM commitment to equal opportunities a. The IDM is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students. We therefore offer a special consideration service for anyone with learning difficulties or requiring additional support for any other reason. b. You may be eligible for special consideration during your studies and examinations in many different circumstances including: Learning difficulty i.e. Dyslexia Disability Illness Compassionate English is not your first language and you do not work in an English speaking country 1.2 Special consideration process a. Any student who has special requirements for their examinations must inform the IDM Qualifications Department immediately or at the earliest possible time in writing: Email: qualifications@theidm.com Post: Head of Qualifications, The IDM, 1 Park Road, Teddington, TW11 0AR b. Medical or other appropriate supporting documentation should be submitted with your request. c. The IDM will send an acknowledgement of your Special consideration request and on approval will begin the process of making appropriate arrangements, as required, for studies and sitting examinations, including informing relevant personnel. d. You will receive notification of the preparations that have been made for you from the IDM once the arrangements are complete or prior to the time you require them, if earlier. e. In respect of each special consideration candidate the IDM will record the following information: candidate name and number the nature of the special needs extra time awarded (if any) details of any extra materials or equipment to be provided either by the candidate or the IDM IDM is a registered trademark. Page 4 of 11

1.3 Special consideration in examinations if English is not your first language and you do not work in an English speaking country and/or a medical condition ie Dyslexia if you fall into this category then please contact The IDM You are entitled to 30 minutes extra time prior to the start of each examination You will not be permitted to leave the examination until after 30 minutes of the official examination start time All extra time allowances are added at the beginning of the usual examination timetable to ensure that all candidates finish at the same time 1.4 Data confidentiality and privacy a. Any information you supply in support of your Special consideration request will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be seen by the Head of Qualifications and where deemed essential the examination invigilator and/or the Exam Board. b. When you write to the IDM please mark for the attention of Head of Qualifications marking Strictly Private and Confidential to enable the IDM to treat the information with total confidentiality. 1.5 Special consideration for students once examinations have taken place a. Students must provide the Head of Qualifications with any relevant information on personal or documented medical circumstances that may have affected your exam performance within two weeks of sitting your examination(s). ANY CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AFTER TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED b. If the information is confidential, the details will only be disclosed to essential IDM personnel. c. Failure to disclose relevant information, without due reason, cannot be used subsequently as grounds for requesting a review of the decision of the Board of Examiners. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 5 of 11

2.0 Appeals 2.1 Policy statement The IDM recognises that all students have the right of appeal. However, students may not appeal against academic judgement ie feedback and marks on exam papers. 2.2 The appeal process for your final grade a. A candidate wishing to appeal their final grade should do so within two weeks of their final grade being issued and a detailed letter outlining the reasons for appeal should be sent to the Chair of Exam Board, c/o Head of Qualifications, The IDM, 1 Park Road, Teddington, TW11 OAR. APPEALS RECEIVED AFTER TWO WEEKS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED b. The decision of the Chair of Exam Board is final and will be communicated to the candidate in writing, once the matter has been fully investigated, normally within two weeks of receipt of the appeal. 2.3 Original student s exam papers In keeping with higher education and other professional bodies, the IDM retains the original student exam answer for a period of one year after the relevant Exam Board meeting, after which it is destroyed in keeping with current Data Protection guidelines. Students are not allowed to have their original nor a copy of their exam answer. The IDM will provide feedback on request as per 3.4. 2.4 Feedback on exam results A student may request written feedback on a failed exam paper provided the request is made in writing within two weeks of the issue of the grades and that the justification for the feedback request is provided. A 15 charge will be made for each paper requiring feedback. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 6 of 11

3.0 Complaints 3.1 Complaints procedure a. Should you have a complaint or concern about the quality of your tuition or any other issue relating to your IDM studies, your first action should be to contact the Head of Qualifications in writing. 4.0 Malpractice Student malpractice includes, but isn t restricted exclusively to: Being in possession of any materials, equipment, notes, books or other papers at any time during examination, other than those issued or authorised Contacting, communicating, talking to, copying from any other candidate or allowing work to be copied Helping or receiving help from another candidate Failing to abide by the instructions or advice of an invigilator Disruptive behaviour (including the use of offensive language) Leaving the examination (room) without the express permission of an invigilator and without an escort (does not apply to online exams) Consulting any unauthorised materials or persons during periods of authorised absence while the examination is in progress Attempting to make contact or influence the examiner or marker in any way (e.g. by writing or attaching notes to the submitted script) Impersonation pretending to be someone else; arranging for another to take one s place at examination Collusion working collaboratively with other candidates Plagiarism failure to acknowledge sources properly and/or submission of another person s work as if it were the candidate s own Uploading marked assignments for general view to an online platform. Any work found to be shared or uploaded to any online platform will result in immediate exclusion from your IDM qualification. Theft of another s work Deliberate destruction of another s work Alteration of any results document including certificates 4.1 Student penalties and sanctions The IDM may, at its discretion, and depending on the seriousness of proven malpractice, impose one or more penalties on the student, who will be informed in writing. The student may be issued with a written warning from the IDM, or lose all marks for an assessment(s). IDM is a registered trademark. Page 7 of 11

In serious cases of proven malpractice, the IDM reserves the right to invalidate all marks awarded to the student, or disqualify them from the qualification. In extreme cases of proven malpractice the student may be disqualified from any future IDM qualifications. 5.0 Intellectual Property Rights a. The Intellectual Property Rights in IDM Courses and Qualifications, Study Materials, Assignments and Exams are owned by and shall remain vested in the IDM. b. The Intellectual Property Rights in the Student Output both as a Student and as an IDM Graduate shall be owned by and shall remain vested in the IDM. c. Save as expressly stated in these Terms, you shall not acquire any interest in any of the Intellectual Property Rights in IDM Courses and Qualifications, Study Materials, Assignments Exams and Student output. d. By agreeing to these Terms, we procure that IDM grants you access to Course Materials for your own personal use and for completing the Course of Study. e. You agree that you will not rent, lease, sub-license, loan, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or create derivative works based on the whole or any part of an IDM Course or use (other than as permitted under these Terms) reproduce, share or deal in the Course of Study or any part thereof in any way. f. You are permitted to view, copy, and print materials within the IDM Study Materials subject to your agreement that your use of the information is for informational, personal, and non-commercial purposes only relating to your course of study. g. IDM Students and Graduates may not under any circumstances upload any of their work or any IDM study material to social media or sharing websites. This is deemed malpractice as per Section 5.0. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 8 of 11

6.0 Examination Preparation, Procedures, Rules and Regulations THESE NOTES SHOULD BE READ WITH CARE BY ALL EXAMINATION CANDIDATES 6.1 Examination frequency and timing Exam dates are set and can be found in your key dates/study calendar document. 6.2 Deferral of examinations a. Students may defer their examinations. Should you need to defer this then you must give at least 2 weeks notice in writing to the Head of Qualifications. The following deferral charges apply: Deferral of examinations due to compassionate and health reasons (excludes work related and holidays) no charge as long as supporting documentation supplied. 6.3 Before the examination a. It is your responsibility to attend the correct examination on the scheduled dates. b. Examinations are three hour s duration including reading time depending on the course of study. c. It is to your advantage to arrive outside the examination room at least 15 minutes before the official start time. d. Non-programmable pocket calculators are permitted under no circumstances are programmable calculators or calculators on mobile phones allowed to be used in the examination room. e. Answers must be completed in blue or black ink or biro. Pencil is not permitted. 6.4 Entry to examinations a. You must put briefcases, bags, coats, etc., in the designated area of the examination room as directed by the invigilators. Any digital devices must be switched off and left in bags. Neither the IDM nor the examination centre will be responsible for any loss or damage of personal articles. b. You must not bring any programmable calculators, mobile phones, laptops, tablets or other electronic equipment, unauthorised written or printed materials into the examination room. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 9 of 11

6.5 During the examination a. On the first day of your examinations you will be asked to complete both an address sheet and attendance slip. THE ADDRESS SHEET IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT ON WHICH YOUR NAME SHOULD APPEAR and this must be completed exactly as required. All forms will be collected during the first 30 minutes of the examination. Any answer booklets found with a candidate s name on will NOT be marked. Your candidate number must be written on all examination material you submit for marking. b. Candidates must not write any notes to the Examiners on any part of their answer booklet. c. All the invigilators are there to help you; ask them if you are not sure about any rule or aspect of examination conduct. However no form of advice or guidance may be sought from the invigilating staff on the meaning or interpretation of any part of the examination paper. Should you require assistance of an invigilator raise your hand to attract his/her attention. d. Silence must be maintained at all times during the examination session, including entry to, and exit from, the examination room. Candidates causing a disturbance may be required to leave the examination room. e. You must ensure that the examination paper provided is the examination for which you have been entered. f. The Chief Invigilator will make an announcement before starting the examination. You should LISTEN TO ANY ANNOUNCEMENT the Chief Invigilator makes it may be an important instruction relating to the examination paper. g. You should read and follow the detailed instructions given on the front of the answer book. h. The Chief Invigilator will give you time warnings towards the end of the examination and tell you when to stop writing. At this time you must cease writing at once and close your answer booklet. i. Candidates may not permanently leave the room until the examination has been in progress for 30 minutes. Any candidate leaving the room after this time must hand the question paper, answer booklet and any supplementary sheets to the Invigilator. j. An unmarked pocket English Dictionary is permitted for all candidates. When a candidate s first language is not English then an unmarked translation dictionary is allowed i.e. French to English/English to French, in addition to the pocket English Dictionary. Please note that invigilators will make random checks on dictionaries brought into the examination room. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 10 of 11

k. Students must not attach any correspondence to their answer book any breach to this rule will result in their examination being considered null and void. l. Candidates are not allowed to leave the examination during the last 30 minutes of the examination. YOU MAY NOT: Leave your seat without permission to do so Communicate with anyone other than the invigilator/s Borrow instruments or other materials from another candidate Help or receive help from another candidate Cause a disturbance in the examination room Late Arrivals Candidates are advised to check the exact start time and location of the examination venue and the time it takes to get there, and allow additional time for parking, adverse weather conditions, finding the correct room etc. No student will be allowed in the examination room 15 minutes after the start of the examination unless special permission has been granted by an Invigilator. 6.6 After the examinations a. At the end of the examination CHECK you have correctly completed the front of the answer book, that your candidate number appears at the top of all other papers used and that these papers are safely tagged together. b. Once the examination has stopped, remain seated and silent until all papers have been collected by the invigilators and you have been given permission to leave. c. When you leave please take with you your personal belongings and items you may have used during the examination. IDM is a registered trademark. Page 11 of 11