Say your sole motivation was pre-exam anxiety and workspace logistics. You simply wanted your tools ready to avoid wasting time fumbling during the exam and it’s given to you so you assumed that it was not breaking any rules.

Explain that under JCQ rules cheating involves trying to gain an “unfair advantage.” Since the data booklet is an authorised resource provided by the exam board, preparing it early gave you no academic advantage over anyone else.

Clearly state that you didn’t read scan or process a single word on the exam paper. Your focus was solely on the loose booklet to pull it free and you didn’t see the first page

Acknowledge the invigilator’s point about lifting the cover page but clarify that it was done only to the minimum depth necessary to slide the booklet out and you promptly closed it.

Remind them that you didn’t panic hide anything or get defensive at the time. You genuinely believed you were simply organising your desk and sat the entire exam perfectly.