JCQ-Approved Access Arrangement Assessments
Access Arrangements are pre-examination adjustments for candidates based on evidence of need and normal way of working. Access Arrangements fall into two distinct categories: some arrangements are delegated to centres, others require prior JCQ awarding body approval.
Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment. For example, readers, scribes and Braille question papers. In this way Awarding Bodies will comply with the duty of the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.
Access arrangement can include the following:
Extra time
A reader
A scribe
The use of an exam reading pen, a word processor or assistive software (screen reader/voice recognition)
Exam papers printed on coloured paper
Supervised rest breaks
A separate room to take the test in
Special Consideration - Special Consideration is a post examination adjustment to a candidate’s mark or grade to reflect temporary injury, illness or other indisposition at the time of the examination/assessment.
Additional information
National Curriculum tests & Phonics test (Year 1)
Few children with dyslexia will have been diagnosed at this stage and this test may help to identify those at risk. Schools can adapt the test materials for pupils who cannot access the check, for example, changing the font or font size. Using coloured overlays, having rest breaks or rephrasing instructions are allowed if this is the pupil’s normal way of working.
For children who are working well below the level of the screening check (for example, if they have shown no understanding of letter-sound correspondences), there will be a disapplication process so they do not have to take part. Parents should be informed if a child is disapplied.
Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6)
National Curriculum Tests (known informally as SATs) are administered at the end of Key Stage 2 at 11 years. Permission to use some Access Arrangements, for example, extra time, must be granted by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). Schools can decide on using other Access Arrangements such as a reader, prompt or rest breaks without applying to the STA.