Access Arrangements

Key Information about Access Arrangements

Access arrangements are available if you have a learning difficulty, a physical or mental disability, sensory impairment or other medical condition that might otherwise impact your ability to sit your test. UAT-UK’s full access arrangements policy can be viewed here.

You will need to make these arrangements in advance of your test. Please be advised to book your test as early as possible as the later in the registration window you book, the less chance there is that it will be possible to accommodate your access arrangements at your preferred time, day or test centre.

Requests for most access arrangements can take up to ten working days for UAT-UK to review. Requests for non-standard accommodations (see below) can take longer. It is your responsibility to apply for access arrangements with enough time for them to be approved before you make your booking. You are advised to apply at least 10 working days before you intend to book your test.

Please refer to Pearson VUE’s list of Permitted Comfort Aids for items that you can take into the test centre without approval. In some cases, they may be visually inspected before you sit your test. Although earplugs can be provided by some test centres as a permitted comfort aid, you should let us know if you will require these during your test.

Wheelchair Access at your Test Centre

If you require wheelchair access at your test centre, this is not something that you need to seek approval for. However, you should contact Pearson Customer Services ahead of your booking, to ensure they are aware ahead of time and can confirm that wheelchair access is available your preferred test location.

Access Arrangements that require UAT-UK approval

The following arrangements will require you to get approval from the UAT-UK office in advance of your test:

• Extra time –This may be applied if you require more time to read or process test information due to a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical or mental health condition. Extra time is normally awarded as 25% of the test duration. Extra test time will not normally be approved if you are applying for additional time because English is not your first language or because of handwriting issues.
• Rest breaks / pause the clock – Rest breaks are approved if needed to manage a disability during testing or a candidate needs to take certain medication or use comfort aids not permitted in the test room.
• Separate room – this might be for the use of a reader/recorder (see below) or for another reason which justifies separate invigilation. This must be evidenced in the documentation you supply to UAT-UK. Separate rooms are also subject to availability at your preferred test centre.
• Reader/Recorder – this is a person who reads the questions to you and/or types in your responses and can be offered in cases where your ability to read the test or use the computer to input your answers is impaired.
• Access to medicine or other non-permitted comfort aids from your desk – this can be offered where there in an immediate need to access these items from your desk.
• Use of a coloured overlay – this must be supplied by the candidates and will be approved where the standard adjustments to background colour, available to all candidates during their test, are not suitable. Please refer to our Access Arrangements Policy for more information about coloured overlays.
• Use of an adjustable height desk – use of these desks can be arranged, subject to test centre availability. Candidates will need to let us know ahead of time that this will be needed so we can reserve one for your booking.
• Other non-standard accommodations not listed here

The UAT-UK Access Arrangements Policy is aligned to the regulations set out by the UK Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). If you are currently in receipt of, or apply for, access arrangements outside of these regulations, you will normally be offered the equivalent UK reasonable adjustments for your disability.

Supporting Evidence

Please note that the UAT-UK office may request additional evidence if, in our view, the initial supporting documentation is not considered sufficient or in line with the requirements outlined here.

Candidates currently in education (or left education after 2021)

If you are currently in education (or left education after 2021) we require a signed letter (usually dated 2024) on headed paper from your current or most recent school/college or university, which should (as appropriate) confirm:

• your disability.
• the amount of extra time you require in public exams (e.g. 25%).
• the amount of time for any rest breaks.
• if you require separate invigilation.
• any other accommodations you require in public examinations.
• on what basis this has been agreed, for example a diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner or an assessment by a registered psychologist or specialist teacher assessor.

In place of a letter, a copy of one of the following JCQ forms (all pages) usually not completed earlier than the start of Year 9 (the school year in which pupils become 14 years old) or equivalent and signed by the Head of Centre/SENCo/Assessor would be acceptable:

• Form 8: Application for Access Arrangements – Profile of learning difficulties
• Form 9: Profile of need

If you left education after 2021 but you are unable to get the required evidence from your most recent school/college or university, or you have been diagnosed since leaving, you can alternatively provide the evidence under the following section.

Candidates who left education before 2022

Learning difficulties – you must provide a full, post-16 diagnostic assessment report of that specific learning difficulty from a specialist teacher assessor or registered psychologist. It must explicitly recommend a specific amount of extra exam time (e.g. 25%) and/or other accommodations in public examinations.

Physical disabilities, medical conditions and/or sensory impairments – you must provide a recent letter (dated 2024) from your usual GP Practice or a specialist (e.g. a consultant or psychiatrist) which must (as appropriate):

• include a clear outline of your disability.
• explain how your disability would have an effect on your ability to sit a time-restricted, multiple choice, computer-based exam.
• A recommendation for rest breaks or extra time (anything over 25% of the test duration must be strongly justified)
• Any other accommodations required.