Exam access arrangements

Are you worried your deaf child might find it difficult to access their exams and assessments?

Getting access arrangements

Schools, colleges, universities and awarding bodies are legally required to make access arrangements and reasonable adjustments to help deaf students access tests, assessments and exams fairly.

Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning, have more information about exam access arrangements.

Support in exams

Access arrangements could involve reasonable adjustments such as extra time, readers, scribes or British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters.

Access arrangements are not automatically permitted by exam boards – a school or college will need to show that they were part of a ‘normal way of working’ for a student. If you feel your child will require access arrangements you should discuss this with their Additional Support for Learning Coordinator or Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) well in advance of any exams or assessments.

Co-ordinated support plans (CSPs)

If your child has a co-ordinated support plan (CSP) access arrangements should be discussed at their annual review before the start of courses in which your child will be examined.

More information

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has detailed information and official guidance on exam access arrangements and reasonable adjustments, and you can also find deaf-specific information in Access Arrangements for Your Child's Examinations.