Inspectors’ 2020 NPPF results: Frequently asked
questions
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Introduction
These updated FAQs accompany the results for the second and final rescheduled sitting of the Inspectors' NPPF Step Two Legal Examination held 19th November
2020, following its suspension on the 13 October 2020.
All candidates have now been provided with an opportunity to complete the full exam twice, the agreed resolution for the disruption to the exam experienced on the 13th
October 2020. No further opportunities to resit the exam will be provided and the next scheduled Inspectors’ NPPF Step Two Legal Exam will be held in October 2021.
How was my exam marked?
There were several stages to the marking process. First, we exported your
responses from the online exams platform and an occupational psychologist marked the exam. They started by analysing the response statistics for all questions within the exam. We reviewed any questions with unusual response statistics, along with any questions queried by candidates, before the marking process continued. We also reviewed our exam day records to identify any issues reported to us that could have affected the delivery of the exam. A second marker checked the exam marking to ensure accuracy. A report was then produced for the debrief panel detailing the marking procedure, the delivery of the exam and any action taken. The debrief panel ratified the results and confirmed they were content for them to be released.
Why haven’t you sent my results to me like you did
previously?
Now all candidates have completed their exam attempts they are able to access their results and feedback report from the AIMS candidate portal. This means they you will be able to download your feedback report. You will only receive your feedback report for your best attempt in the exam, regardless of whether you were successful or unsuccessful. If you achieved the same score in both attempts we will provide you with the feedback for your latest exam attempt. We cannot provide feedback on any other attempts at the exam.
How can I access my results?
You will access your results and feedback report from the AIMS candidate portal. We will notify your force exam contact when results are available. You will receive an email from AIMS that will explain how to access your results. You can only access your results by following the link in this email. You cannot access your results without this email, or by directly accessing AIMS. You should receive your email by 6pm on the day we notify forces that results are available. If you do not receive an email by 6pm, you should inform your force exam contact. The link in your email is only active for seven days, so please make sure you access your results as soon as you receive your email. After seven days, you will not be able to access your results.
What should I do if AIMS says it can’t verify my
identification when I try to access my results?
You should first check that you have entered your National Insurance number and date of birth correctly, and that this matches the details you provided when you registered in AIMS. If you still cannot access your results after you have done this, you should inform your force exam contact, who can check your details in AIMS. If after this you still cannot access your results, please email[email protected] with ‘Verifications Issues’ in the email
header.
Why aren’t the results sent directly to me?
AIMS allows you to access your results and feedback in a secure way at a time that suits you. This means you can access your results and feedback directly, rather than waiting for us to send you them.
I took the exam more than once, why have I only
got one feedback report?
We provided results to candidates and forces after each sitting of the exam. Now all candidates have completed their exam attempts they are able to access their results and feedback report from the AIMS candidate portal. We are only able to provide you
with your result and feedback in AIMS for one attempt of the exam, therefore you will only receive your feedback report for your best attempt in the exam, regardless of whether you were successful or unsuccessful.
What is the pass mark?
The pass mark for the exam has been set by the debrief panel at 65%, as for
previous exams. The debrief panel previously determined that the pass mark of 65% will apply across the entire exam attempts to ensure consistency.
Can I check my overall score in the exam by
averaging the scores for each of the subject areas
in the exam?
No. The four subject areas are weighted differently because they contain a different number of questions. This means it is not possible for you to check your overall percentage score by averaging the percentage scores shown for each of the four subject areas. If there were 30 questions in the area of Crime, for example, a candidate would need to answer 15 questions correctly to gain 50% in that subject area. However, in the area of Road Policing, there may only be 10 questions in total, so a candidate would only need to answer five of these questions correctly to
achieve a score of 50% for that area. The percentage for each subject area will tell you, on average, how you performed in a particular subject area, not how you performed in the overall examination.
Who was on the debrief panel?
The debrief panel consists of members drawn from the NPPF Governance Board, the NPCC and Police Federation, alongside representatives from the College including our Information Governance and Legal Services teams.
I submitted a query about a question in the
examination paper. What was the outcome of this?
The College’s Selection and Assessment and/or Legal Services team reviewed any questions queried by a candidate in order to identify if they were suitable forinclusion in the marking of the examination. We found that all questions in the exam were legally accurate, answerable from the 2020 syllabus and suitable for inclusion in the examination.
Can I submit an appeal now I know my result?
We understand that the incidents caused significant distress and worry to candidates and have offered candidates a way forward to allow another attempt at the exam. On this basis, we will not be accepting individual appeals from candidates in relation to the incidents that occurred on Tuesday 13th October 2020.
If you have submitted an appeal in relation to the exam held between 30th October
and 2nd November 2020 or the exam held on the 19th November 2020, we will
contact you via your Force Examination Officer to inform you what will happen next. The College will only accept appeals submitted within seven days of the examination and countersigned by a line manager. The NPPF Reports and Disqualification Panel will review any formal appeals of unscheduled incidents submitted within seven days of the examination and countersigned by a line manager. The panel will review all appeals from unsuccessful candidates now that all scheduled sittings of the inspectors’ exam have been held.
The NPPF Reports and Disqualifications Panel cannot award additional marks or change a fail into a pass for any candidate. The panel does have the discretion to send feedback to the candidate’s force, suggesting that they might consider waiving the candidate’s current examination attempt from any locally applied criteria. Where appropriate, the panel can also decide to provide feedback to the Selection and Assessment Unit, force examinations officers or chief officers on the future administration of the examination.
Can I submit an appeal about my exam
environment?
The move to online delivery means that you are responsible for providing a suitable environment for yourself to take your exam. The College of Policing will not accept appeals of unscheduled incidents relating to an unsuitable testing environment. This includes sitting the exam in a force-provided venue. You should direct any concerns regarding the suitability of the testing environment of a force-provided venue to your force. The College will not be able to consider these appeals.
Can I have my paper remarked?
There is no provision for candidates to contest their result, or to request to have their exam paper remarked, once results have been released. The marking process is very rigorous and lengthy to ensure that it is accurate. Once the results have been released, these are final and the College of Policing will not remark papers.
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