Exams and Reasonable Adjustments 2025

Did you know that schools can apply to exam boards to make access arrangements for students with learning difficulties and disabilities in public exams

This is the time to check that your child’s school has applied for those arrangements, if your child will be sitting GCSE’s, A-Levels, Key Stage 1 assessment or Key Stage 2 SATS.

IPSEA have prepared some guidance. Help in exams for children and young people with SEND (ipsea.org.uk)

How will the school or college decide who qualifies for help? 

The process of applying for permission for GCSE’s and A-Levels includes reviewing the rules laid down by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) on behalf of the exam boards which is overseen by Ofqual.

For Key Stage 1 and 2 assessments, the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) oversees access arrangements.

GCSE’s and A-Levels:

In line with JCQ deadlines, this should be done before the pupil starts the exam course.

Deadlines:
For exams in June 2025, the deadline for applying for modified papers was 31st January 2025 and the deadline for all other arrangements is 21st March 2025.

Key Stage 1 assessment and Key Stage 2 SATS:

There are certain deadlines by which applications must be made by schools for assessments in 2024.

There is different guidance for adjustments for the Key Stage 1 and 2 SATS.

Deadlines:

Applications for additional time must be made from Monday 10 February to Thursday 17 April 2025. 

Applications for early opening of papers must be made from Monday 10 February to Friday 7 March. 

Applications for compensatory marks for spelling must be made from Monday 10 February to Thursday 17 April. 

In addition, there are certain other adjustments that schools won’t need to apply for in advance, but they must notify the STA about their use once all tests have been taken.