If you are running late for a GCE written paper, go to the correct assigned centre and report to examination staff as soon as you arrive. Bring the required identification and printed Entry Proof. SEAB’s 2026 secondary examination rules say candidates who report late receive no extra time. If they report after the examination has ended, they cannot sit it and receive an Absent grade for the subject under those rules.
Check the applicable rules and follow staff directions on arrival. The written-paper timetable, listening comprehension broadcast and science practical shift can each have different timing instructions. Keep the paper code and centre visible so you can explain exactly which sitting you are trying to attend.
- Confirm the paper, venue and start time.
- Report to staff promptly and follow their directions.
- If admitted, work with the remaining time.
- If you miss the paper for a valid reason, check Special Consideration promptly.
- Verify your later papers independently.
Check the centre before changing your route
Open the current Entry Proof and confirm the paper code, date, start time and assigned centre. Private candidates may sit different papers or components at different locations. If you have taken a wrong turn or travelled to another centre, use the correct official location to plan the rest of the trip. Keep the identification and printed proof ready for verification.
For routine planning, SEAB’s 2026 secondary rules say to report to the centre at least 30 minutes before the examination and be seated at the assigned desk at least 15 minutes before it starts, with a separate seated requirement for listening comprehension. Use the current instructions for your actual paper and allow time to find the room.
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Report to staff and use the time you have
Tell the examination staff your paper and that you have arrived late. Follow their instructions about admission, identification and where to wait or sit. Keep any explanation brief at the venue and give further details if asked. Whether you may sit the paper is determined under the applicable rules and directions.
If you are admitted, check the remaining time and identify the tasks you can complete within it. Read the instructions before answering and use the permitted materials. A shorter period calls for a clear order of work. Save any explanation about the delay for the appropriate follow-up channel.
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If the paper has ended or you cannot sit it
Ask staff or SEAB which procedure applies. If a valid adverse circumstance caused the absence or affected the sitting, check SEAB’s Special Consideration eligibility, evidence requirements and deadline promptly. A late arrival alone does not establish eligibility. Keep a record of the event, the paper and what staff told you.
Check your remaining exams independently. If a travel or health issue may affect another component, look at the separate time and venue and follow the relevant instructions. Use official confirmation if anything changes.
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Worked example
A candidate’s bus is delayed before an afternoon written paper. They verify the centre and paper on the Entry Proof, arrive and report directly to staff. If admitted, they follow the directions and plan their answers within the remaining time. Afterward they check the next paper’s centre and adjust their travel plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Will I get extra time because I reached the centre late?
The 2026 secondary examination rules say late candidates receive no make-up time. Follow the rules for your own examination.
What if the examination has already ended?
The 2026 secondary rules say a candidate reporting after the exam ends cannot sit it and receives an Absent grade for the subject. Check the applicable Special Consideration instructions if a valid circumstance affected attendance.
Are practical and listening papers handled the same way?
Check each component’s specific reporting rules. Practical shifts and listening broadcasts have additional instructions.
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