Exam Access Arrangments

EXAM ACCESS ARRANGMENTS

Your child may be entitled to extra time or other support when completing their GCSE exam papers. This can include taking exams in a quieter room instead of the main hall, or being allowed rest breaks. Exam Access Arrangements (EAAs) are reasonable adjustments approved by exam boards on an individual basis for each candidate.

If you believe your child would benefit from these arrangements, or if you’d like to check that they are already in place, please contact your school’s SEND department and get the arrangements in writing (email is fine). The SEND team may consult with your child's teachers to confirm whether there is a genuine need for access arrangements.

A good time to request or confirm access arrangements is in Year 9 or 10. However, many schools only implement them during mock exams in Year 10 or 11, so it's important to check the school’s policy.

Please contact the school to discuss any arrangements that you feel your child is entitled to and follow up if you do not receive a response. If you need support, feel free to get in touch with JEMS Online School to discuss the next steps.

Here is a list of common access arrangements:

- Extra time – Additional time to complete the exam, usually 25% more.

- A reader – An adult reads the exam questions aloud to the student.

- A scribe – An adult writes down the student's answers as they say them.

- Modified papers – Exam papers that are adapted, e.g., larger print or different colours.

- Assistive technology – Using tools like a computer, screen reader, or voice-to-text software.

- A separate room – Taking the exam away from the main hall, in a quieter setting.

- Rest breaks – Short breaks during the exam without losing any time.