Examination Access Arrangements
We are committed to ensuring that all students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills without unnecessary barriers.
What are access arrangements?
Access arrangements are adjustments that enable students with particular needs, such as special educational needs, disabilities, or short‑term injuries, to take assessments in a way that lets them demonstrate their knowledge and skills without changing the demands of the assessment itself.
They exist to support an individual learner’s needs while protecting the overall fairness, standards, and integrity of the assessment.
What Access Arrangements are available?
- 25% Extra Time
- Supervised Rest Breaks
- Use of a Word Processor
- Modified Papers
What do access arrangements depend on?
- The student’s circumstances
- Their normal way of working
- The subject and the nature of the assessment
- The supporting evidence available
Frequently asked questions
Can word processors be provided?
Word processors can be provided where supporting evidence demonstrates that this adjustment is required. For example, where a student’s handwriting is illegible. Availability is extremely limited, and word processors are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that word processors are not available at our centre for Maths or Science examinations.
Can you provide modified papers?
Can you provide small rooms or home invigilation?
Due to limited capacity and available examination facilities, we are unfortunately unable to accept requests for home invigilation, private or small examination rooms.
What supporting evidence is required?
The following section outlines how students, parents, and guardians can request exam access arrangements and what documentation is needed to support an application.
1. Submit a Request
- A formal request must be made at the time of registration when completing the relevant exam entry form. Requests received after registration may not be considered.
- Due to extremely high demand in the May/June examination series, the number of access arrangements places available at our centre is capped. Spaces are therefore limited, and we strongly advise students, parents and guardians to submit requests as early as possible. Once our capacity has been reached, we will no longer be able to accept further access arrangement requests.
- The deadline for submitting an access arrangements request for the May/June examination series is 14th January. Applications received after this date will not be accepted. We strongly recommend applying as soon as possible, as available capacity may already have been reached before the deadline.
2. Provide Supporting Documentation
- A suitable portfolio of core and supplementary evidence must be provided.
- Required evidence must be supplied before an application can be submitted. Documentation can be submitted via email or post.
- Documents previously used for access arrangements may no longer be suitable, so students, parents and guardians should ensure that current and relevant evidence is provided.
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To ensure applications can be processed in time, all documentation should be submitted as early as possible. The latest submission dates are:
- October examinations – September 14th
- November examinations – October 14th
- January examinations – December 14th
- May/June examinations – March 14th
3. Application Submission
- Once all required evidence has been received, we will submit the application through the appropriate awarding organisation system.
- All applications are processed in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
4. Application Outcome
- Applications are assessed by the relevant awarding body.
- Students will be informed by email whether their application has been approved or declined.
- Once approved, an access arrangement is normally valid for up to two calendar years, although further documentation may need to be provided if the student continues to sit examinations at our centre.
Assessments for Specific Learning Difficulties.
Private candidates who need an assessment for specific learning difficulties can request one from an assessor from our centre.
Please contact us for further information.
Exam access arrangements
If you have a query about exam access arrangements, please fill in the form below.