ICAS results: our process and timeframes

If your child has participated in ICAS this year, we know how eager you must be to access their results.

In this blog, we explore what needs to happen for ICAS results to reach you each year, including average wait times so that you know when to expect them.

Here is the process in full:

1. We process the results and send them to schools 

Timeframe for this step: 8 – 10 business days (or 4-5 weeks for Writing).

When the tests are complete for each subject, our system automatically marks them. In addition, our Analysing and Reporting team completes a series of important checks to ensure the integrity of the results. Once the reports are created from this data, we then re-check them.

As you can imagine, there are thousands of tests to go through every year, so this takes time: usually around 10 business days after the final sitting day for each subject. The exception is our Writing tests, which are all manually graded by teachers and then validated against each other. This takes around 4-5 weeks.

When the results are ready for each subject, we email your child’s school to let them know..

2. We tell parents and students that the results are available

Timeframe for this step: 5 business days after the results are released to schools.

We’ll email parents to let them know they can view the results online using their TAP-ID and PIN.

If your child has sat ICAS at their school in a previous year, your TAP-ID and PIN can be found on the back of one of their certificates. If you can’t find one, let us know by submitting this form and we’ll aim to respond to your request within 5-10 business days. However, we receive tens of thousands of TAP-ID and PIN requests each year via this form so responses can sometimes take longer, like 2-3 weeks.

If your child has not sat ICAS before, or they previously sat ICAS at a different school, you will need to request a new TAP-ID and PIN using this form, which you can do 10 business days after the final sitting day of your child’s ICAS subject. We’ll aim to respond to your request within 5-10 business days. However, we receive tens of thousands of TAP-ID and PIN requests each year via this form so responses can sometimes take longer, like 2-3 weeks.

3. We print ICAS certificates and send them to schools

Timeframe for this step: 14 business days

When the ICAS results are ready for each subject, we notify our printer to create the certificates. They print them in batches, quality-check them, and then mail them to each school. This takes around 14 business days – there are lots of certificates and schools – so your school can expect to receive certificates approximately 4 weeks after the final sitting day for each subject (except Writing which is a bit longer)

At the same time, we also analyse the top results for students to identify medal winners for the year. We then request the medals from our manufacturer. Once received, we individually mail them to schools.

4. Your child receives their ICAS certificate

Timeframe for this step: At your school’s discretion.

When schools receive the ICAS certificates, they organise them and hand them out to students, typically in celebratory assemblies (which is wonderful!). This can take some time to plan, and as hardworking people, they will appreciate your patience with this.

When you receive your child’s certificate, you can access their results here using the TAP-ID and PIN on the back.

For medal-winning students, schools may choose to contact parents individually. These are usually handed out in the same assembly as the certificates.

*Important note: While we will be doing our best to achieve these timings, we hope you understand that there may be some unforeseen delays that may impact the release of results, TAP-IDs, PINS, certificate or medals. In this instance we will keep schools and parents informed via email.

Timeframes by subject

That’s an overview of our process! We hope it has given you an idea of what goes on behind the scenes to deliver your child’s ICAS results.