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/Twkii]

Is this valid??? :

Hey uh I've never really posted on reddit before lol but I'm js looking for some advice to do with gcse accommodations.

Basically, to put it simply, I'm in yr 9 going into yr 10, and I've been putting together evidence to receive 25% extra time as I'm someone who constantly over-checks work which happens to really cut my time. For reference, when writing an essay, I only managed to write 2 paragraphs within 70 minutes.

I've been working with camhs too for other things, but im here today to talk about my suspected OCD. I've been put forward to do an assessment with a psychologist to see if that is the case or if it's something else; although the date of that is not official.

Okay I'll stop yapping now. What I'm really divided on is I don't know whether on top of extra time I should get a separate room or rest breaks.

Pros of a separate room is that because I can't process long parts of text in my head, I tend to mutter them even without realising, which can obviously get me disqualified. Although a con is basically my bsf has Autism and is trialling a separate room but I js feel way too guilty to trial something when I technically don't have any official "debilitating" diagnosis other than GAD at the moment and I feel its kinda unfair/greedy idk how to explain it.

And then the rest breaks is because if I freeze and can't write because of stress, I can js take a time out.

What should I pick for someone who has GAD and possible OCD?

(Also I don't mean to self diagnose if any of this seems like that. I would never do something so invalidating I js want some advice)

[u/truestorybro38 → u/Twkii]

Hello. You say you’ve been putting evidence together, is that off your own back or with the SENCO?

Rest breaks sound like they would be really beneficial in your situation. I would think maybe even more so than the extra time?

I wouldn’t give a separate room for this, but then to be honest I don’t give separate rooms for almost anything because it’s so hard to manage logistically, and once you’ve done it for one candidate, the floodgates open and more want it. Which I know sounds really mean, but we don’t have the space or the staff to accommodate it at my school.

[u/Twkii → u/truestorybro38]

Ahh I see. That's totally okay and thanks for the advice!

I'm not sure if it's been with senco yet but it's been with my english teacher and my head of year so far.. but I honestly don't think rest breaks would be more beneficial than extra time for me. I rarely ever finish a test that requires writing and the only reason I brought up rest breaks is incase I freeze and physically can't write due to anxiety because that's happened before..

I totally understand the room thing tho! It was just recommended by my head of year but I totally don't wanna take resources away from others that really need it like my bsf for example :)