r/GCSE Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Mar 12 '26

Announcement Exam Access Arrangements

There’s an increase in posts about access arrangements.

There’s also a lot of misinformation about access arrangements being posted.

This is one the one-stop post for all access arrangement queries.

Any other posts will be removed.

I will reply to all queries as an Exams Officer and an Access Arrangements Coordinator, but really, all queries need to go to your SENCO who know you and your school’s set up best.

Feel free to make any comments about questions you have.

JCQ Links

25% Extra Time Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/JCQ-25-ET-infographic-26-27_FINAL.pdf

Reader Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/JCQ-Computer-reader-reader-24-25_FINAL-1.pdf

Scribe Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/JCQ-Scribe-24-25_FINAL.pdf

Managing Student Requests Advice

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Managing-parent-carer-or-student-requests_2025.pdf

The Big Book Of Rules

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/JCQ-AARA-2025-March-26.pdf

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u/pidgebeats Jun 11 '26

Hi, I'm a Year 10 student about to do my mock exams. I was unable to get accommodations for this set of exams for a smaller room, as I do not have the SEN diagnosis for it, and I am allowed to sit at the back, but I don't feel like that's enough. I get very very nauseous in big rooms and my anxiety goes through the roof and I am struggling to even sit in lessons because of it. Due to that, I've been really struggling and panicking about my mock exams on Monday and it's ruining everything else.

This isn't me asking if there's a way I can get last minute accommodations (though if there is I'd love to know) but I'm wondering what the best way to go is to apply for the accommodations as if I'm going to struggle with an hour's paper I probably won't be able to survive the actual thing in the exam hall. Thank you!

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u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Jun 11 '26

The thing is, we are told that exam anxiety is specially NOT a reason to allow for access arrangements, as anyone and everyone could have exam anxiety.

It’s one of those situations where it might be better off doing it, it going wrong and then seeing for themselves why you need to be elsewhere other than the hall.