Special examination arrangements
A number of students across the University qualify for special examination and assessment arrangements, either due to disability, medical or personal problems, or religious observance.
Examples of such arrangements include:
- Being allowed extra time in which to complete examinations and timed assessments;
- Being allowed to take rest 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 an amanuensis (scribe) or reader in examinations and timed assessments;
- Being provided with examination question papers in large print;
- Being allowed to sit examinations in an alternative venue;
- Adjusting a student's examination timetable to accommodate religious observance.
If you need special examination and/or assessment arrangements to be made for you, then 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.
1. Students with specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia)
Students with specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia) often qualify for extra time in which to complete examinations and timed assessments. Such students are also commonly entitled to not be penalised for poor spelling, grammar or awkward sentence structure in examinations and in coursework, where appropriate. In some cases, students with specific learning difficulties are also allowed to use a computer or amanuensis (scribe) in examinations.
If you have already been formally diagnosed as having specific learning difficulties, then please provide a copy of your Psychologist's assessment report to the Disability Advisory Service in the Carrington Building. The University Study Advisers will review your assessment report. Providing your report is sufficiently recent and contains enough information, the Study Advisers will make recommendations for your University examinations and assessments based upon it.
If your report is more than three years old, or does not contain enough detail, then the Study Advisers may ask you to make an appointment with them for a new assessment.
An assessment or re-assessment for specific learning difficulties is charged at £150 for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students. This amount will be waived for students in receipt of a University bursary and is not applicable to postgraduate research students. If you are studying at the Greenlands campus or the College of Estate Management you will be charged a separate fee - please contact the Study Advisers for further details. Students who wish to be assessed but are concerned about the charge are invited to discuss this with a Study Adviser.
If you think you may have specific learning difficulties, but have not yet been formally assessed, then you may wish to discuss your concerns with your Personal Tutor or School Disability Representative in the first instance. You may also refer yourself to the Study Advisers for a full assessment for specific learning difficulties.
2. Students with disabilities other than dyslexia or dyspraxia
If you need special examination and assessment arrangements to be made because of a disability other than dyslexia or dyspraxia, then please contact your Personal Tutor or School Disability Representative to discuss your requirements as soon as possible after commencing your programme of study.
If special arrangements were made for previous examinations you have taken (e.g. at school or college), then it would be helpful if you could provide documentation giving details of the arrangements that were put in place.
Your School will then liase with the Examinations Office to ensure that appropriate provision is made for your University examinations and assessments.
3. Students with medical or personal problems
If you suffer from medical or personal problems which mean that you need special examination and/or assessment arrangements, then please discuss your requirements with your Personal Tutor or directly with the Examinations Office 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 amanuensis);
- 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.
4. Students who are unable to sit examinations on a particular day/during a particular period for religious reasons
If you are unable, for religious reasons, to sit examinations on a particular day or during a particular period, then you should contact the Examinations Office as soon as possible after commencing your programme of study. Providing the examination timetable has not been produced, it may be possible for us to schedule your examinations to accommodate your religious observance.
Please note that you will be asked to provide evidence (usually in the form of a letter from your religious leader) to confirm that you are unable to sit examinations on a particular day/during a particular period.
5. Students who suffer unexpected problems immediately before or during their examinations
In the unfortunate event that you suffer unexpected medical or other problems immediately before or during your examinations, then please alert both your Personal Tutor and the Examinations Office as soon as possible. If you are still able to sit your examinations, then we will endeavour to make special arrangements so that your needs can be accommodated.
If you discover at the last minute that you are unable to sit an examination at a particular time, then we may be able to arrange for you to sit the examination earlier or later than scheduled. However, it will not normally be possible to move the examination to a different day.
If you fall ill on the day of an examination, then you should first seek medical help. If you recover sufficiently, we may be able to arrange for you to take the paper later the same day.
If your problem means that you would either be unable to sit your examination(s), or that your performance would be or has been badly affected, then you should complete an Extenuating Circumstances Form as soon as you are well enough to do so, and before the published deadline.
Once complete, this form should be returned to your School Office, with the appropriate documentation attached. Further information is given in the booklet entitled 'Examination Arrangements: What you Need to Know', enclosed with your personal examination timetable.
Where special arrangements are set-up in advance for your centrally timetabled examinations, then we will write to you about a month or so before they begin to confirm the practical arrangements.
6. 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.
7. Further Information
For further information about special arrangements, please contact Colin Baker in the Exams Office.
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.
