Exam Access Arrangements Assessments

An exam access arrangements assessment assesses how a learner with a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, may be affected in exams. Each individual has a different profile.

The assessment provides formal recommendations for reasonable adjustments such as extra time, a reader, a scribe, rest breaks or assistive technology.

Yes. Schools and colleges must follow the regulations set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).

Assessments must be completed by a suitably qualified assessor and include the specific testing and evidence required for the school to complete Form 8 and apply for arrangements. It is vital that the assessor and the school have a working relationship for the evidence to be accepted by the JCQ.

Our assessments are fully JCQ-compliant and suitable for submission through your SENCo or learning support department.

No. Under JCQ regulations, access arrangements are based on evidence of need and the normal way of working, rather than a diagnosis. An individual does, however, need evidence of tests completed within 26 months of their examinations, covering cognitive areas such as working and short-term memory, reading, writing, and spelling.

Yes. External specialists can carry out the assessment and provide the required report and test scores. Schools then use this evidence, along with their own information, to process the application. However, a school must have an “established working relationship” with the assessor, and they will have provided a completed Form 8 Part 1 to the assessor before the assessment can take place. They will have a copy of the assessor’s qualifications on file for inspection.

A full diagnostic assessment report is typically required to access exam adjustments and to apply for funding, such as Disabled Students’ Allowance, through Student Finance England (or the equivalent body in your region). However, each university has different requirements, so it is vital that a student contact the disability support department at their university.

Not always; each institution has different rules regarding exam access arrangements. Many universities require a full diagnostic report completed in adulthood. If your previous assessment was carried out at school or many years ago, an updated assessment may be needed.

Students are advised to contact the disability support department at their university to confirm what evidence is needed.

Yes. Many professional bodies, apprenticeship providers and awarding organisations offer exam adjustments where there is appropriate evidence of need.

Requirements vary between organisations, so it is important to check what documentation they require before booking an assessment.

Some require a full diagnostic assessment with standardised scores, while others may accept a screening or workplace evidence. We can advise on the most appropriate assessment once you provide details of your exam and awarding body.

Most assessments involve a confidential one-to-one session lasting 1-3 hours, depending on the type of assessment. For exam access arrangements assessments, we are able to return the completed Form 8 Part 2 usually within a couple of days. For full diagnostic assessments, verbal feedback is usually provided during the assessment, and a written report is issued within 7-10 working days.

This depends on the setting:

Schools/colleges: must meet current JCQ requirements, which is typically 26 months maximum before the exam that is being sat.

Universities/DSA: usually require adult diagnostic evidence

Professional bodies: often ask for recent reports (typically within 3–5 years)

If you are unsure, we can advise before booking.

Yes. Requirements vary across schools, universities, and professional organisations, so we are happy to discuss your situation and recommend the most appropriate assessment pathway before you book.

Not usually, an EHCP combined with the appropriate forms completed by the school should be sufficient to access reasonable adjustments in exams following JCQ regulations. There is, however, a time limit on an EHCP. Mature students may need additional evidence to apply for exam access arrangements.

The DVLA do offer reasonable adjustments for candidates. These include evidence from a full diagnostic assessment or a screener completed by a qualified professional. Ask us for more information.

A Form 8 is the document that an exam centre must complete for an individual with a specific learning difficulty (SpLD). The JCQ produces the form, which has two main sections. The first section (Part 1) is completed by the school or exam centre and provides a brief educational history and the individual’s normal way of working. The second section (Part 2) is completed by a qualified assessor after the individual has been tested. Areas tested may include reading and writing speed, working memory and short-term memory, reading efficiency, spelling, and processing speed. At My Kind of Thinking, the assessor uses their professional judgement and experience to select the most appropriate tests for the individual.

Once the Form 8 is fully completed, it is used by the school/college, or institution to apply for reasonable adjustments to exams. There are clear application deadlines throughout the year, listed on the JCQ website.

You would need to initially speak to your exam centre where you will be sitting your exams. It is their responsibility to collect the information for the Form 8 and apply to the JCQ. We cannot complete an assessment without the Form 8, but we are happy to liaise with your exam centre once you have talked to them about your challenges. If they are happy for us to carry out the assessment and complete Part 2 of the Form 8, then we can make the necessary arrangements to carry out the testing required. With their agreement we are able to provide the centre with the necessary paperwork and form a working relationship to satisfy JCQ regulations.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is the body that sets the regulations for access arrangements in GCSE, A Level and other regulated qualifications in the UK. Schools and colleges must follow current JCQ guidelines when applying for exam access arrangements.

JCQ assessments must be carried out by a suitably qualified assessor who meets current JCQ requirements. This typically includes specialist teachers with an approved qualification or appropriately qualified assessors with a current practising certificate.
Schools are responsible for ensuring that assessment evidence meets JCQ standards before submitting applications.

“Normal way of working” refers to the support a student regularly receives in the classroom and in internal assessments.
JCQ requires schools to show that any access arrangement requested for formal exams reflects the student’s usual support in day-to-day learning.