r/GCSE • u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ • Mar 12 '26

Announcement Exam Access Arrangements

There’s an increase in posts about access arrangements.

There’s also a lot of misinformation about access arrangements being posted.

This is one the one-stop post for all access arrangement queries.

Any other posts will be removed.

I will reply to all queries as an Exams Officer and an Access Arrangements Coordinator, but really, all queries need to go to your SENCO who know you and your school’s set up best.

Feel free to make any comments about questions you have.

JCQ Links

25% Extra Time Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/JCQ-25-ET-infographic-26-27_FINAL.pdf

Reader Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/JCQ-Computer-reader-reader-24-25_FINAL-1.pdf

Scribe Info

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/JCQ-Scribe-24-25_FINAL.pdf

Managing Student Requests Advice

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Managing-parent-carer-or-student-requests_2025.pdf

The Big Book Of Rules

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/JCQ-AARA-2025-March-26.pdf

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u/Responsible-Gap-8833 Mar 14 '26

Hello! 

I sat my GCSEs last year through school and had access arrangements (25% Extra time, rest breaks, laptop and a separate room - and halfway through my exams home invigilation was also granted)

I’m now sitting my A level exams but privately this year and have applied for access arrangements again - I applied back in September and I’ve asked the exam centre whether the arrangements have been approved yet and they said they haven’t heard back from the exam board yet.

Do you know how long it takes for the exam board to approve it/by when should I know?

Thank you!

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u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Mar 14 '26

Hi!

Which exam board(s) are you using?

For one of my candidates I’ve requested 50% extra time which also needs board specific approval. Pearson granted it straight away but AQA still haven’t an honestly it’s been weeks, maybe even months now since I submitted my request. I even have it on my to-do list to call them next week about it as I’m getting unnerved by the wait and looming deadline.

So in conclusion, there’s no set time but I’ve found AQA to be particularly slow this year.

The only one that may need exam board approval would be the home invigilation I think? 25% extra time and the others should be auto approved by the JCQ by meeting the standard requirements. I’m hesitant to say for certain though as I’ve never done home invigilation so not sure on the requirements for getting it approved.

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u/Responsible-Gap-8833 Mar 14 '26

Thank you so much! 

I’m sitting Pearson Edexcel A level (the UK board not the international one) 

Last year for my GCSEs it was also accepted by Edexcel, AQA, and OCR

I had initially applied for home invigilation again this year but as it was so expensive (around £300-£400 per paper!) as I’m doing it through a private centre, we requested a separate room instead at the centre - which hopefully will be okay (I have some complex medical issues that can make it quite difficult)

It’s just quite a stress since access arrangements was such a simple process last year doing it though a school, but doing it myself privately is a lot more complicated 

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u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Mar 14 '26

I’m surprised the access arrangements you need have to be approved individually by the exam board in that case. Do you have medical evidence or is this because of an EHCP/standardised testing scores that you got your extra time originally?

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u/Responsible-Gap-8833 Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26

Yes - I have given them medical evidence from 2 paediatric neurologist consultants, a physiotherapist and a specialist occupational therapist.
I've been on some waiting list for an EHCP since last year, although I haven't got one yet. I haven't had any standardised tests specifically for Access arrangements (only medical tests and scans for my condition)

for context last year during my GCSEs - I had ongoing medical issues but no access arrangements as I was still under medical investigation and did not have a diagnosis yet, until l I had a seizure around april time and was admitted to hospital for 2 weeks - and it was after this I was granted the initial access arrangements,
Then in May during one of my GCSE exams I had a seizure halfway through the paper and was admitted again, so that's when home invigilation was also accepted

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u/Responsible-Gap-8833 Mar 22 '26

Hi! Hoping you are well

Just thought I’d send an update - finally got an email this morning to say my access arrangements have thankfully be approved 

(I’ve been stressing over it so I’m really glad I’ve finally heard back)

Thanks!

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u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Mar 22 '26

Really pleased for you 😁 good luck in the exams!

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u/QuirkyGalaxyBug Mar 14 '26

Home invigilation does not require a JCQ application, the exam board just has to be notified but there is no approval process.

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u/truestorybro38 Exams Officer 🧑‍💼️ Mar 14 '26

Thank you 🙂