How do I apply for exam access arrangements?

Exam access arrangements are put in place by your school or college, not applied for directly by students or parents.

How the process works

• Speak to your school or college
  Start by contacting your SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), teacher, or exams officer to discuss your needs.

• Assessment of need
  The school will assess whether you require support. This may include:

• • Evidence from teachers
  • Previous support used in class
  • Formal assessments (e.g. for dyslexia or other needs)
  • Medical or diagnostic reports
  • Reports showing how your condition affects learning
  • Examples of your normal way of working

• Provide supporting evidence
  You may need to share:

• Application submitted by the school
  The school then applies to the exam board (or approves internally where allowed) in line with JCQ regulations.

• Access arrangement agreed
  If approved, your support (e.g. extra time, reader, or a C‑Pen Exam Reader) will be put in place for exams.

Important to know

• Many arrangements (like an exam reading pen) are centre‑delegated, meaning the school can approve them without a formal application—as long as it’s your normal way of working
• Support must reflect what you regularly use in lessons, not something new just for exams
• The goal is to ensure a fair exam experience, not to give an advantage

Key takeaway

You don’t apply on your own, your school manages the process, supported by evidence of your needs and how you usually work in class.