Exam Access Arrangements
Thinking Ahead around Exam Access with Maureen De Longhi, Advisory Teacher
Recorded: Thursday 21st September 2023
During exams, organising access arrangements can be a nightmare. Throw Assistive Technology into the mix and there is the potential for some students to miss out on arrangements that may better support their needs, because their teachers are either unaware of what assistive technologies are available or unsure of whether they would contravene the rules.
The aims of this session are to:
- Outline the role of AT to improve the ability of students to communicate, learn and achieve as a usual way of working and explore some of the technology available
- Look at JCQ guidance to schools and colleges with regard to the use of assistive technology for access arrangements and identify the key points
- Consider how to make the necessary applications to enable students to use AT in exams.
Additional Arrangements for Examinations
Download documents
JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications
Adjustments for candidates with disabilities and learning difficulties
Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024
This document covers the following qualifications:
AQA Applied General qualifications, AQA Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Technical qualifications, AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Maths, AQA Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies, BTEC Firsts, BTEC Nationals, BTEC Tech Awards, Cambridge Nationals, Cambridge Technicals, CCEA Key Skills qualifications, City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 Technical qualifications, ELC, FSMQ, GCE, GCSE, OCR Level 3 Certificates, Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ), WJEC Level 1 and Level 2 General qualifications, WJEC Level 1 and Level 2 Vocational qualifications, WJEC Level 1 and Level 2 Vocational Awards (Technical Awards), WJEC Level 3 Applied qualifications.
Gov.UK – Key stage 1 tests: access arrangements
(Please note: This guidance will be updated in October 2023 for the 2024 tests)
Guidance for schools about access arrangements available for pupils participating in 2023 key stage 1 national curriculum tests (commonly called SATs).
Gov.UK – Key stage 2 tests: access arrangements
(Please note: This guidance will be updated in October 2023 for the 2024 tests)
Guidance for schools about access arrangements available for pupils participating in 2023 key stage 2 national curriculum tests (commonly called SATs).
> Primary Assessment Gateway for KS2 SATS
Word Q Exam Access Arrangements
Exam Mode turns off WordQ features that may not be allowed during exams/assessments. In particular, those features that may be deemed unfair or allow “cheating.”
A teacher or exam supervisor typically initiates this mode and chooses the time limit.
Prior to starting Exam Mode it is important that the user loads their personal vocabulary and configures their desired usability features, such as Voice, Word List display, and Selection settings.
Useful information for students with vision impairment
UK Association for Accessible formats (UKAAF)
The Examination Subject Group meets to work on specific projects. The group holds responsibility for the Best Practice Guidance Document For Producers and Modifiers and publishes this document annually in consultation with the awarding organisations and OFQUAL.
Notably, the group has recently advised OFQUAL on standards and best practices for the development of modified papers. Members are either Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (QTVI’s), VI professionals or exam modifiers.
RNIB Access to exams and tests
Key information to consider when preparing a young person with vision impairment for external exams.
Useful Websites
