Dear Colleague,

This is mainly to assure you that we're busily working on the test papers for Round 1, and to remind you of the arrangements for that test.

First, though, an administrative note about the committee:

• Martin Edwardes will liaise with you about most marking issues;
• I'll liaise with you about the test itself, including the detailed marking scheme which we'll provide for you. 

Now to the arrangements for Round 1, which will be very similar to 2012 (and are already outlined at http://www.uklo.org/?page_id=1432):

• For all levels (Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced), I shall upload the test papers plus blank answer sheets as .pdf files to an internet site where you will be able to download them, but with password protection. This will happen on the evening of Thursday Jan 31, but (of course) I'll notify you by email, together with the password.
• Around that time, if you are entering Advanced candidates Martin will send you an individual email containing the contact details for your volunteer marker.
• You will hold the competition in your school during the following week, and send your Advanced scripts to your marker by the evening of Friday Feb 8. (By 'send' I mean put them in the post, after making copies; if at all possible, we would like you to scan the scripts and send your marker the file.)
• On Saturday Feb 9 I will upload the answers and marking scheme to the same password-protected website, so that you can start marking your Foundation and Intermediate scripts.

I'll send you another email in January to remind you. Meanwhile, if you haven't yet notified Martin (cc above) of your predicted numbers, please do so as soon as you can. Our candidate numbers are already double last year's, and we’ve had positive responses from 108 schools, compared to the 106 that entered candidates last year. This still leaves nearly 200 schools who are on our list but have not yet responded.

With best wishes, Richard