HARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL
Exam Access Arrangements – a Guide for Parents and Students
Access Arrangements is the name given to exam concessions and it covers all sorts of procedures e.g.: additional time, rest breaks, readers, scribes etc.
These procedures are designed to help students with genuine needs to access exams. The awarding of Access Arrangements is governed by strict regulations as set out by the JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications, see http://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-system/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration for more information)
There are a number of arrangements we can apply for in order to help students with exams if they have a need, if it is their normal way of working in the classroom and if we can provide evidence of such need. We will ask a Specialist Assessor to produce a report for us which will include the results of a range of assessments and tests. We will also ask classroom teachers for evidence of need in the classroom (copies of past papers, and other written work for example). If the access arrangement is for medical reasons (e.g. dyspraxia, visual impairment) a medical report specifying the need for access arrangements needs to be provided.
Your child will have been awarded one or more of the following:
Smaller Room
Some students will need to sit their exams in a smaller room. This will be decided on a case by case basis, based on the evidence that we have (including medical evidence where relevant). Rooms for all exams will be listed on a student’s individual exam timetable.
Supervised Rest Breaks
Rest breaks (RB) are awarded where there are needs for students to stop during an exam to take a break for various factors such as medical, emotional and social, physical or psychological reasons. The student needs to put their hand up and let the invigilator know that they need a break. The exam is paused and the re-started when the student is ready to begin again. If the student needs to leave, they must be supervised at all times.
Extra Time of up to 25%
Students are awarded 25% extra time (ET) if they need longer to process information and/or longer to read and write. We have to provide evidence that the student has needed extra time to complete written work and exams and that it is their normal way of working. They will start exams at the same time as everyone else and the exam will take a little longer, for example a 1 hour exam will last for 1 hour 15 minutes, a 1 hour 50 minutes exam will last 2 hours and 13 minutes.
In exceptional circumstances we can apply for extra time of up to and over 50%.
Reader
Students awarded a Reader (R) will take their exams in a separate room where invigilators will be advised to read questions to students as needed in the exam. Students who are granted a Reader can put up their hand in an exam and ask invigilators to read single words, sentences, labels on diagrams etc. Readers may not re-word or elaborate questions in any way. (This could be a Computer Reader or a human Reader).
Computer Reader
To increase student independence we encourage them to use a Computer Reader (CR). This is a piece of software which reads text to the student in an exam. They can highlight the text as many times as they like and listen to it through headphones.
Read Aloud
Some students may benefit from being able to read the questions out loud. They will be in a room on their own, and this will have been their normal way of working in the classroom.
Word Processor
A Word Processor (WP) is awarded if it is the student’s normal way of working and if it significantly improves the quality of language written down, due to a learning difficulty, a medical condition, a physical or sensory impairment, organisational difficulties or very poor handwriting. They will take the exam in a computer room.
Scribe
A scribe (S) writes down the dictated answers to the questions on behalf of a student. This can include voice activated (Speech to Text) software as well. The student will not have access to the marks awarded for spelling and punctuation. They are not permitted in Modern Foreign Language exams. These exams will take place in a smaller room.
Prompter
These are awarded where a candidate has little or no sense of time, loses concentration easily or has another condition that may well lead to them revisiting questions rather than moving on. The prompt can keep the student focussed and move them on to the next question.
Sign Language Interpreter
For students with a Hearing Impairment, for whom it is their normal way of working.
If you have any further question please contact Mrs G Billin, Deputy Headteacher (Acting SENDCo)