Cookies

Updated: June 2023

Our use of cookies

Cookies are small files placed on your computer by websites that you visit. We use them to:

Types of cookies:

Third party websites: please be aware that if you access third party websites including social media platforms from this website you will be subject to their terms and conditions.

Cookies used across our websites

Necessary

Name Purpose Expiration
HASQA Ensures delivery of this website, by distributing workload across multiple computing resources. Session
HAAPPLB Ensures delivery of the FFORA website, by distributing workload across multiple computing resources. Session

Functional

Name Purpose Expiration
civicCookieControl Used to track consent, and allows anonymised users to control how cookies are set when using this site. 3 months
NID Used for the Postcode Finder service. 6 months
_gali Set when you opt to listen to a particular page. 1 minute
ipe_s, ipe.pageViewedCount Relates to the iPerceptions survey that appears on sqa.org.uk and set only after participation in the survey. Session
ipe_s Relates to the iPerceptions survey that appears on sqa.org.uk and set only after participation in the survey. 3 months
ajax_search_cookie Holds the search string used when filtering jobs in recruitment portal. End of session
ccp_user5152, lastaccesstime5152, sessionid5152 Identifies logged in user in recruitment portal. Holds timestamp for when a page is called from the server. Holds session ID. End of session
cookieip Holds the assumed IP address of the client. Session
choosecountryregion Holds country/region chosen. 6 months
choosecountryregionurl Holds URL for specific region page used on sqa.org.uk. 6 months
requestFromOutsideGB Holds a flag indicating if a user is assumed to be outside GB. Session
JSESSIONID Used to track sessions on sqa.org.uk and the past papers application. Session
PREF Set after performing a search through the sqa.org.uk website. Session
style Holds accessibility settings. 1 year
TEXT_SIZE Holds text size to be used. -
iama Indicates the selected user type from the 'I am a…' menu. 1 year
YSC Relates to the user's YouTube preferences. Session
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE Relates to the user's YouTube preferences. 8 months

Analytical performance

Google Analytics

These cookies are used to monitor website traffic, search queries and visits to this website. User data is anonymised.

Name Purpose Expiration
_gid Used to distinguish users. 24 hours
_gat or _dc_gtm Used to throttle request rate. 10 minutes
_ga Used to distinguish users and sessions. 2 years

HotJar

These cookies are used to record information on how visitors are interacting with the website. User data is anonymised.

Name Purpose Expiration
_hjClosedSurveyInvites Set once a visitor interacts with a Survey invitation modal popup. Ensures that the same invite does not re-appear if it has already been shown. 1 year
_hjDonePolls Set once a visitor completes a poll using the Feedback Poll widget. Ensures that the same poll does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. 1 year
_hjMinimizedPolls Set once a visitor minimizes a Feedback Poll widget. Ensures that the widget stays minimizes when the visitor navigates through the site. 1 year
_hjDoneTestersWidgets Set once a visitor submits their information in the Recruit User Testers widget. Ensures that the same form does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. 1 year
_hjMinimizedTestersWidgets Set once a visitor minimizes a Recruit User Testers widget. Ensures that the widget stays minimizes when the visitor navigates through the site. 1 year
_hjIncludedInSample Set to let Hotjar know whether a visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. 1 year

Flair website

Name Purpose Expiration
XSRF-TOKEN Used for security reasons Session
hs Used for security reasons Session
svSession Used in connection with user login 1 year
SSR-caching Used to indicate the system from which the site was rendered 1 minute
_wixCIDX Used for system monitoring/debugging 3 months
_wix_browser_sess Used for system monitoring/debugging Session
consent-policy Used for cookie banner parameters 1 year
smSession Used to identify logged in site members Session
TS* Used for security and anti-fraud reasons Session
bSession Used for system effectiveness measurement 30 minutes
fedops.logger.X Used for stability/effectiveness measurement 1 year

Social sharing

doubleclick.net

Name Purpose Expiration
DSID Used for re-targeting, optimisation, reporting and attribution of online adverts. 2 weeks
IDE Used for re-targeting, optimisation, reporting and attribution of online adverts. 1 year

Facebook

Name Purpose Expiration
fr Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third party advertisers. 3 months

Google

Name Purpose Expiration
1P_JAR
APISID
Google uses these cookies, based on recent searches and interactions, to customise ads on Google websites. Session
2 years
HSID Google security cookie. Up to 2 years
NID User preferences e.g. language, search results per page 6 months
SAPISID, SID Used by Google to store user preferences and information of Google maps 2 years
SIDCC Google tracking cookie Session
SSID Google tracking cookie 2 years

LinkedIn

Name Purpose Expiration
BizoID, UserMatchHistory Used for LinkedIn Ad analytics 6 months
lang Remembers the user's selected language version of a web site Session
bcookie Used by LinkedIn for tracking the use of embedded services 2 years
lidc Used by LinkedIn for tracking the use of embedded services Session

Twitter

Name Purpose Expiration
guest_id Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, and average time spent on the web site, with the purpose of personalising and improving the Twitter service. 2 years
personalization_id Allows the sharing of content on Twitter. 2 years

Marketing

Marketo 

Name Purpose Expiration
Munchkin cookie (_mkto_trk) Allows website to track visitor behaviour on sites and to link a visitor to the recipient of an email marketing campaign, to measure campaign effectiveness. 2 years

How do I change my cookie settings?

You can control the use of cookies using the Cookie Control feature on this website, which works with most browsers and devices.

Cookie Control uses a cookie to remember your preferences. If you clear any cookies from your browser or device then you may need to reset your Cookie preferences when you next visit.

Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings.

To opt out of Google Analytics on all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Cookies updates

This cookies policy may be amended by us at any time.

Contact us

For any information on our cookies, please contact: Customer Enquiries or 0345 279 1000 or write to: The Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow, G2 8DQ.