CASE STUDY

Joint Council for Qualifications

Helping JCQ reformat vital guidance for conducting exams to improve accessibility and interactivity
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Client

JCQ - Joint Council for Qualifications

Sector

Education

Services provided

Graphic Design

Copywriting

The Situation

The Joint Council for Qualifications is a membership organisation comprising the eight largest providers of qualifications in the UK. Part of their offering is the development of vital information on examination administration which is made available to schools, parents, invigilators, policy makers and others across the education sector – often in the form of detailed documents. They reached out to PLMR seeking to improve three important examination guidance documents. The key aim was to reduce the number of queries being made to the JCQ by:
  • streamlining the text itself to make it easier to read;
  • highlighting key information;
  • making the document more easily navigable with interactive features;
  • making the design more engaging to retain attention amongst an increasingly tech savvy audience; and
  • maintaining or improving accessibility.

What we did

As a first step, PLMR’s copywriters streamlined the copy and developed short chapter summaries to highlight the most vital information. Our designers worked closely with the JCQ to develop a unique style and format for the documents, complete with the following features:

  • designed chapter summaries highlighting key information and saving time for users skimming through the documents;
  • interactive tabs to jump between sections at a click;
  • hyperlinks where specific paragraphs, chapters or sections are mentioned so readers can immediately jump to related information;
  • tooltips and a how-to guide to help users understand how the new documents work; and
  • colour-coded sections to immediately differentiate between grouped information.

The documents were then made to be digitally accessible and also prepared for print format for those preferring a traditional read.

The Result

Through PLMR’s copywriting, design and digital interactivity features, the guidance documents have become easier to understand and navigate than ever before. Since launching them for the 2024-25 academic year, the JCQ has received a flood of positive feedback from staff across its members.

This looks really engaging. Good layout and it looks ‘modern’.

I think it has really modernised it, having it as a more interactive document, with the summary pages, clickable links and tabs. I also like that there is a really easy to follow guide to how to use the features. It’s great!

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