Detailed instructions for returning scripts

How to return your exam scripts to OxfordAQA

You should return your students’ scripts at least once a week to ensure results can be delivered on time.

Delaying the return of scripts impacts on our processes and may risk your students’ results.

Before the exam

Before the exam, we send you a ‘non-confidential’ stationery pack. If you need extra stationery, please use the Extra stationery order form (DOC).

In this pack, you will have received:

a grey OxfordAQA branded S1 bag to return the exam scripts
printable labels for each component
fixed address labels
purple sacks to return multiple grey component bags in.

To return scripts

1. Put scripts in dispatch sacks

The attendance record and scripts for each component should be put into its own grey OxfordAQA branded S1 bag.

Count the number of scripts and record the number in the designated box on the front of the sack.

Each component bag should be labelled, and each component must be bagged separately.

2. Print and attach the right component label to the grey bag

The labels have barcodes and the address of either the examiner who will mark the scripts (exam day labels) or our scanning location. You can access the exam label files 24 hours before an exam by following the below steps:

log into Centre Services
click on ‘Exams’
click on ‘Script dispatch labels’
click ‘Print labels and dispatch logs’

Click on the file link to open the labels so they can be printed. Do not worry if they are flagged as already printed, our system allows duplicates to be re-printed. When printing the labels, make sure the whole barcode is showing.

Important: Scripts for GCSE Computer Science paper 1 (9210/1) and AS Computer Science paper 1 (COMP1) will be sent to a different UK address to all other components.

The electronic version of the ‘Script dispatch labels’ will expire 20 days after the exam, so must be used within that time.

You will need one of the blank labels we sent you.

When printing exam labels to send scripts to us for marking, please ensure the label is printed clearly. If the ink is faded or smudged, the label may not be able to be scanned and this increases the risk of delays to marking or loss of students’ work.

Please add the details of the component bag to the consignment tracker and keep this safe.

If the original label has been used, additional labels can be ordered by using our online label order form.

It takes us 24 hours to generate the additional labels and you can find them on Centre Services by following these steps:

log into Centre Services
click on ‘Exams’
click on ‘Script dispatch labels’
click ‘Print labels and dispatch logs’
scroll down to view additional labels

You can give other Centre Services users access to print labels by assigning them the ‘Centre Labels and feedback’ position:

log into Centre Services
click on ‘Manage user roles’
locate the user you’d like to nominate
click ‘edit’ against user
on the ‘Edit user details’ page, change the position to ‘Centre Labels and feedback’.

You can order replacement or extra labels through our Extra stationery form (DOC).

Please do not photocopy labels or your parcels might get lost.

We must always have the correct contact information for the Exam officer, or Centre Administrator for Centre Services. If there are any issues with us receiving your scripts, or any queries we have around student attendance which may affect results, we need to be able to contact you.

You must also advise us of any changes to the personnel involved by emailing the Centre Approval team on [email protected], as we may be required to update your Centre Services administrator.

3. Add to the consignment tracker

You need to log the consignment details for each individually bagged component and package you send to us, using the consignment tracker. Please remember to keep a record of the courier company used, consignment numbers and the components they relate to.

You can download a consignment tracker (XLS) here. If you would like to inform us of the returns you have made, please email the completed tracker to [email protected].

4. Send your package

4. Send your package

To ensure that we have sufficient time to mark the scripts, please send them back to us within 24 hours of the exam being sat.

To ensure safe delivery please use a ‘sign on delivery’ service from a company that has the capability of tacking parcels in transit: We recommend using DHL. Please visit your in-country DHL website or contact your local DHL office.

Please ensure you use the correct address: 4 Garamonde Drive, Wymbush, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK8 8DF, United Kingdom

Make sure the delivery address on the DHL or courier packet is the same as the information provided on the address label from Centre Services. We have sent you pre-addressed labels to use for the outer packing.

5. What happens next

5. What happens next?

We will contact you if your scripts do not arrive within 15 days of the exam.
If we contact you, we will ask for the consignment details, as these are necessary for us to track and trace your package.
Please follow the link in the email to ‘view and respond to feedback request’ which is sent from [email protected]
This will take you to the relevant screen in Centre Services.
To respond in this instance, please select ‘We have dispatched the package but did not use Parcelforce’.
You will then be able to give us the details of the carrier and waybill or consignment number
This will allow us to track the scripts on your behalf.