Exam Access Arrangements

Examination access arrangements are made to provide a level playing field during an exam. They aim to adjust the exam situation so that a learner who has a specific disability can still show what they know and have learned about the material being examined without compromising the integrity of the exam.

For example a reader may be suitable for a candidate to understand questions in a maths or history exam but it would not be appropriate in an exam that was designed to assess the candidate’s ability to read and write the English language.

Examples of examination access arrangements for dyslexic people are: extra time, a reader, a scribe, use of a word processor, use of a coloured overlay, coloured or enlarged papers, supervised rest breaks.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) awarding bodies and the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) have agreed the following definition of Access Arrangements:

‘Access arrangements are agreed before an assessment. They allow candidate/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment. 
Access arrangements allow candidates/learners to show what they know and can do without changing the demands of the assessment: for example, readers, scribes, word processors and Braille question papers.
An access arrangement which meets the needs of a disabled candidate/learner would be a ‘reasonable adjustment’ for that particular candidate.’

The JCQ require a Form 8 to be completed both by the school or college and signed by a ‘named assessor’ who will have qualified either as an educational psychologist or a specialist teacher for Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).

If you require a named assessor for your school or college please contact Toni Johnson. I will be happy to discuss with you how I can help. 
If you are an individual and you believe you should have access arrangements then you should contact your teachers/tutors in the first instance.

Further Sources of Information

www.jcq.org.uk/faqs/access_arrangements/