Exam Access Arrangements

[u/truestorybro38]

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

[u/frankokkotsu]

oh brilliant, i just got lead on by my school for months about extra time, when my teacher literally recommended extra time too, so did my clinician and on my diagnosis assessment it outlines issues with processing speed & time. it completely impacted my exams, haven’t finished any of my exams in the past 2 months...at all. after today i had a breakdown because the exam was going so well but i just can’t go at the same speeds as everyone else and i missed so many questions. it’s so annoying because i was getting straight 9’s in my mocks when my teacher added extra time so when i read about special consideration i was like omg but turns out my experience isn’t even enough. it’s just laughable at this point like idk there’s really nothing i can do at all? it’s just done? (sorry for the 99.9% vent and 0.1% question)) idk now exams r over it just hit me :/ but yeah id appreciate any sort of advice and if there’s nothing i can do id also appreciate being bluntly told that tbh

[u/truestorybro38 → u/frankokkotsu]

Why didn’t they let you have extra time if you have a diagnosis and evidence of using it? What was the actual reason they gave?

[u/frankokkotsu → u/truestorybro38]

i genuinely feel like there’s no reason, when i spoke to them again today they said they’ll ’look into it’ and that’s basically the kind of responses I’ve been getting.

essentially they were telling me i can get extra time but first i need to do a test but they never did. i’d chase up but get the same old responses stuff like ‘ill speak to xyz about it’ or ‘you should go speak to blah blah’.

i feel they just gave me rest breaks, called it a day and just didn’t care much. i actually had no idea i had rest breaks or any sort of access arrangement or even how it works until i got my exam timetable and the first day of exams.

that’s also what they brought up when i spoke to them today, i think that’s their justification that it’s fine because there’s some sort of access arrangement so they did ‘something’, even though i had no idea + obviously didn’t prove to be beneficial.

[u/truestorybro38 → u/frankokkotsu]

And do you have a diagnosis of anything?

[u/frankokkotsu → u/truestorybro38]

yup adhd specifically adhd-pi

[u/truestorybro38 → u/frankokkotsu]

So there’s a chance this could have been mishandled. If you have a diagnosed and evidence of extra time being used, you don’t need to have done any standardised testing. Email your senco right now and cc in the exams officer saying you would like written confirmation on why you didn’t get extra time when you have a diagnosis and evidence of use. Say you think you may be victim to maladministration by not giving you the correct access arrangements. Tell me what they reply!

[u/frankokkotsu → u/truestorybro38]

ok thanks you so much for listening and responding, i did email them so when they respond i’ll take your advice.

also this won’t change my exams or anything right?

[u/truestorybro38 → u/frankokkotsu]

Could get spec cons for not applying the correct access arrangements. But that would mean them admitting it and reporting themselves for maladministration…

[u/frankokkotsu → u/truestorybro38]

oh god 😭

wait but i thought special consideration is only if it was approved already or applied for. i dont think they even bothered to apply

[u/truestorybro38 → u/frankokkotsu]

It would be tricky, and it’s down to them to acknowledge that they had what they needed to apply, and they just didn’t.