Special Arrangements

A number of students across the University qualify for special examination and assessment arrangements, either due to disability, medical or personal problems.

Examples of such arrangements include:

Being allowed extra time in which to complete examinations and timed assessments;
Being allowed to take rest breaks or toilet breaks during examinations and timed assessments;
Not being penalised for poor spelling, grammar or awkward sentence structure in examinations and in coursework;
Being allowed to use a computer in examinations and timed assessments;
Being allowed to use a scribe or reader in examinations and timed assessments;
Being provided with examination question papers in large print or on coloured paper;
Being allowed to sit examinations in an alternative venue;

If you need special examination and/or assessment arrangements to be made for you, please read the information below. You should note that to ensure fairness to all candidates, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation to confirm why special arrangements are required.

Exam timetable and location of exams

If you have special arrangements that were approved or updated during the creation of the exam timetable, the location of your in-person examination as shown on the timetable may not have updated to reflect these and so may no longer be correct. If the location has changed you will have received an email from our Special Arrangements examination team, confirming your new details.

If you have special arrangements for your examinations, you will sit your in-person examinations in a dedicated special arrangements examination venue;
If your special arrangements include the use of a computer, you will sit your in-person examinations in a dedicated computer room. This is set up with standard university PCs that are isolated from the university network to ensure that students cannot access saved work, email or internet during their examinations. Printing facilities are provided free of charge;
If it is recommended that you should have a scribe or reader in your examinations, you will sit your in-person examinations in a separate room with individual invigilation.

If you are unsure whether your exam location has changed, please contact the Exams Team to check this.

Students with specific learning differences (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia)

Students with specific learning differences (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia) often qualify for extra time in which to complete examinations and timed assessments. Such students are often entitled not to be penalised for poor spelling, grammar or awkward sentence structure in examinations and in coursework, where appropriate. In some cases, students with specific learning differences are also allowed to use a computer, scribe or reader in examinations.

Further Information for students with specific learning requirements on our specific learning differences page

Students with disabilities other than specific learning difficulties

If you need special examination and assessment arrangements to be made because of a disability other than dyslexia or dyspraxia, please register with the Disability Advisory Service as soon as possible, preferably before you start your course. You should also contact your Academic Tutor to discuss your requirements as soon as possible after commencing your programme of study. If you have very specific needs, we encourage you to discuss these with your course team prior to commencing your course, to ensure reasonable adjustments options are discussed.

Your School or the Disability Advisory Service will then liaise with the Exams Team to ensure that appropriate provision is made for your University examinations and assessments.

Students with medical or personal problems

If you suffer from medical or personal problems that mean you need special examination and/or assessment arrangements, please discuss your requirements with your Academic Tutor, the Disability Advisory Service or the Exams Team as soon as possible. Problems for which special arrangements in examinations can be made include:

- Medical conditions whereby students need to take rest breaks and/or stretch/move around;

- Medical conditions whereby students are unable to write their examination answers by hand (and so need to use a computer or scribe);

- Medical conditions whereby students need to use the bathroom frequently;

- Panic attacks;

- Depression.

Please note, however, that space is very limited in our special examination centre(s), and we are only able to accommodate students with the greatest need.

Retrospective Allowance

The policy on Retrospective allowance for students diagnosed with a disability during their programme of study is available on the retrospective allowance page.

Further Information

For further information about special arrangements, please contact examinations@reading.ac.uk

If you wish to get in touch with the Disability Advisory Service, please email disability@reading.ac.uk, or visit them in the Carrington Building.