Exam Access Arrangements
Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) are put in place to ensure a ‘level playing field’ for all students – they are there to remove barriers to learning and access to examinations.
This is often because of a disability as defined in the 2010 Disability Act. They are not there to add knowledge or give an advantage to any student.
Who is eligible?
- Students with a medically diagnosed condition (e.g. ASD, dyspraxia, visual impairment) for which the school has the formal diagnosis paperwork
OR
-
Students who have been identified as having slow processing by teachers and have been tested by the SEN team or external assessor (Years 10 – 13).
If a student is eligible they will have the arrangements in all internal tests and exams. If you believe that your child should be eligible for Exam Access Arrangements, please contact Mrs Day, our SENCO.
Exam Board delegated:
- Extra time (25%, 50%...)
- Reader
- Scribe
- Enlarged papers
Centre (school) delegated:
- Rest breaks
- Word processor
- Read aloud
- Own room
- Reader pen
- Prompt
- Practical assistant
All exam board delegated arrangements can only be given once a student has been formally assessed by the SEN team in school.
The practical application of these arrangements are detailed below:
|
Access Arrangement |
Application in exams/ assessments |
|
25% extra time |
Student will have 25% of the time given for the examination added to the end of their exam. |
|
Rest/movement Breaks |
Rest breaks are most commonly awarded for 10 minutes per hour of an exam. As students are concentrating and managing their own time during exams we allow students to determine when they take this break. Therefore they must raise their hand to speak to an invigilator if they wish to take a break. This can be either at their desk, in which case the paper will be closed by the invigilator, or outside the exam room/hall. The provision of these breaks is personal to the student’s condition and the invigilators will know their requirements. The length of the break will be supervised and noted and this time added to the end of the exam. Students who receive breaks will be spoken to about their individual arrangement. |
|
Separate room |
Students will be in a small room with other students. An invigilator will be present. |
|
Own room |
Students will be in a room of their own with an invigilator present. |
|
Reader |
Student will be in a small room with an invigilator who will read the examination questions on demand. |
|
Scribe |
Student will be in their own room with an invigilator who will write down exactly what the student dictates as the answer to the questions. The student needs to punctuate and spell subject specific words. |
|
Colour overlays/ reading rulers |
Students will be permitted to use a coloured overlay to assist with reading the exam paper. They must bring the overlay that has been provided for them to the exam. |
|
Modified (enlarged) papers |
Student has a paper that has been enlarged by the exam board due to a visual impairment. |
|
Seating (at front/ back) |
Student will be sat in a particular area of the exam hall for specific reasons. |
|
Laptop |
Student is permitted to use a laptop to write their exams. This is only if a student uses a laptop in class as their normal way of working. The laptop will be provided by the exams department. |
|
Read aloud |
Student will be in their own room and is permitted to read the questions and their answers out loud to themselves. |
If you would like more information on Exam Access Arrangements, or believe that your child should be eligible for these arrangements, please contact our SENCO – Ms Day.