language A1 individual oral commentary

language A1 SL school supported self-taught oral

language A2, language B and language ab initio individual oral

music solo, group performance and composition

visual arts interview (where there is no visiting examiner)

theatre performance and production presentation

film presentation.

Use new, good-quality cassette tapes. Do not use mini-cassette or Dictaphone tapes™ as examiners may not have compatible equipment.

Choose a cassette of running time appropriate to the length of the examination. Clean the tape heads before use and test the equipment immediately before starting to record candidates.

Record one candidate on each side of a cassette. For music solo and composition, use one cassette per candidate. For group performance use one cassette per group.

Each candidate must state his or her name and session number at the start of the recording, except in the case of a music group performance, as stated in section H9.2.

Play back the last few minutes of each candidate’s recording to ensure that the cassette is not blank and that the candidate is audible. Ensure that each tape is wound back to the beginning before being submitted.

When recording each candidate’s performance, multiple candidates may be recorded on one CD. However, when sending sample recordings to an examiner for the purpose of moderation, the recordings must be restricted to two candidates per CD, even though this means sending up to five CDs to the examiner. (This is necessary in order to accommodate the sampling process for moderating the marking of examiners and to ensure that examiners can write reports for category 3 enquiries upon results.) It is essential to indicate which candidates are on each CD, preferably by writing the candidates’ session numbers on the CDs.

Each candidate must state his or her name and session number at the start of the recording, except in the case of a music group performance, as stated in section H9.2.

Play back part of each candidate’s entire recording on a CD player, and not on the CD function of a computer. This is to help ensure that the recording is audible and will be compatible with a standard CD player used by the examiner.

The recording should take place in a suitably quiet room, where possible, with any background noise eliminated. A small room usually gives a better quality recording.

A notice should be placed outside the room:

Use an external microphone for recording candidates—do not rely on the machine’s internal microphone as this will produce poor quality recordings.

Position the microphone so that the candidate can be heard clearly. In an interview this will probably mean placing the microphone closer to the candidate than to the teacher or examiner.

Each candidate must state his or her name and session number at the start of the recording.

Where appropriate, introduce each section of the examination. Announce the end of the examination.

Clearly label each cassette or CD with the examination session, year, subject, level, component, candidate name(s) and session number(s). For example:

Send the cassette(s) and/or CD(s) to the address shown on IBIS.

ask the candidate to speak more clearly or loudly if necessary

interrupt if the candidate panics and needs encouragement

suggest that the candidate is spending too long on one part or is completely off target

ask if the candidate has anything further to add.

Do not stop or edit the tape or CD. If the recording stops due to technical difficulties explain the reason on the recording itself after restarting.

If the cassette or CD is discovered to be blank at the end of the recording, contact the coordinator help desk immediately for advice. It may be possible for the candidate to repeat the performance or to record a new interview.

In all cases of problems beyond the candidate’s control, reassure them that they will not be penalized. Submit a full report to the coordinator help desk if any irregularities occur during the recording.