Navigating exams and access arrangements can feel overwhelming - but it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you're following JCQ or Qualifications Scotland guidance, digital tools can help make exams more accessible for all learners.
Exam access arrangements are adjustments to standard exam conditions. They are not an advantage. They are there to remove barriers so that students' results reflect what they actually know, not how well they cope with conditions that do not suit them.
Arrangements are agreed before the exams and need to reflect the way a student already works day to day. A school or college puts the right support in place on the students’ behalf.
For further guidance, read the UK government's advice on accessible assessments.
Support is available for students with a condition that affects how they work in exams. We see this most commonly for students who need:
Usually 25% additional time on top of the standard exam length. This is one of the most common arrangements for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and processing difficulties.
If handwriting is difficult, typing answers is an option. This needs to be the normal way of working in school.
Software that reads the exam paper aloud. Tools like Read&Write do this in full compliance with JCQ guidelines.
Someone who writes answers as they are spoken. Software such as Read&Write can also fulfil this role digitally.
A person or piece of software that reads the paper aloud.
Scheduled breaks that do not count toward exam time.
Sitting the exam in a smaller room away from the main hall.
Large print, coloured paper, or Braille versions of the exam paper.
Our assistive technology helps schools deliver access arrangements. This gives students a familiar, independent way of working in the exam room, without relying on another person being present. Together, these tools cover word processing, reading and writing needs in a single, compliant setup.
ExamWritePad is a secure word processor built specifically for exams. It is fully compliant with JCQ, Qualifications Scotland and Cambridge requirements and supports students who use a word processor as their normal way of working.
Read&Write can act as a computer reader or digital scribe during exams, reading questions aloud or transcribing spoken answers, all in line with JCQ guidelines.
Exam access arrangements follow different guidelines depending on where you are in the UK. Here is a quick overview of the two main frameworks, with links to more detailed guidance.
If you are studying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, your school follows guidelines set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). Your school handles the application on your behalf.
Find up-to-date Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidelines and access arrangement resources. Learn how to apply, the benefits of switching to technology, and discover digital tools that meet JCQ guidelines.
If you are studying in Scotland, arrangements are managed through the Qualifications Scotland. The process works in a similar way, with your school applying on your behalf.
Get the latest guidance from the Qualifications Scotland on assessment arrangements and available support. Discover how to use ICT in line with Qualifications Scotland guidance, from word processors to assistive tech that supports learner independence.
Exam access arrangements are adjustments to standard exam conditions for students with disabilities or additional learning needs. They are there to make exams fair, not easier. Common arrangements include extra time, word processor use, a computer reader, and a scribe.
Available arrangements include extra time, word processor use, computer reader, scribe, reader, rest breaks, separate invigilation, and modified papers. What is available depends on individual need and the evidence held by the school.
Students with a disability, learning difficulty, or condition that affects how they work in exams can qualify. This includes dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, and mental health conditions. The arrangement needs to reflect the normal way of working in school.
Students cannot apply directly. The school applies on the student's behalf through the relevant awarding body. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland this is through JCQ. In Scotland it is through Qualifications Scotland. The first step is to speak to a SENCO or learning support team, who will guide through what is needed.
It depends on the arrangement. For word processor use, the school needs to show it is already the normal way of working in lessons. To get extra time in exams, a formal assessment from a qualified specialist is needed. The school guides students through what is required.
Several digital tools are available to support students with disabilities in exams. ExamWritePad is a secure word processor built specifically for exam conditions, used by thousands of UK schools. Read&Write can act as a computer reader or digital scribe, reading exam questions aloud or transcribing spoken answers. Both tools are fully compliant with JCQ and Qualifications Scotland guidelines.
A computer reader is exam reader software that reads the exam paper aloud. It is an alternative to having a human reader present. Tools like Read&Write do this in line with JCQ guidelines, giving students independence during the exam.
A scribe writes answers on behalf of a student as they speak them. This is available for students who have difficulty writing by hand. A digital scribe, using software like Read&Write or ClaroRead, can be used as an alternative to a human scribe.