JCQ Exam Access Arrangements
25/26 Advice : English Curriculum

Don’t Know If This Is the Service You Need? Book a Free Advice Session with Louise

Update for 2025-26

Louise has been implementing JCQ Exam Access Arrangements for more than twenty years and has been a qualified assessor since 2020. You can check her certificate and qualifications here: https://realtraining.co.uk/cpt3a-validator Certificate Number N012558.

If you would like a student assessed please read here: https://louisedawson.com/assessments
If you would like training or guidance on implementation please let me know here: Enquiry Form (training starts at 500 Aed)

Here a couple of update courses for your interest.

*Free* Real Training

85 GBP Communicate-Ed

top 10 Errors in EAA 25/26 from 650 Inspections

Personal Data Consent Form not completed
Issues with Form 9 – Part 1 and insufficient information (how does the condition impact the classroom and teacher feedback)
Form 8 – not completed properly, or signed
Evidence is not avaiable
No Word Processor Policy (senior leader responsibility – unique to the school/college)
Assessor’s Qualification was not available for inspection or doesn’t meet the regulations – Chapter 7
Principal Impairment – select one category of the impairment
Form 8 RF – not completed between Year 11 and Year 12
Applications not processed at the time of the Inspector’s visit (must apply online for ASC/ADHD etc)
Standardised Scores: Part 2: 25% time and reader (2 x scores related to writing & cognitive processing or 2 x cognitive processing

2025/26 Changes and Updates - JCQ Exam Access Arrangements

Additional Qualifications: Camridge Advanced Nationals, Essential Skills, NCFE Vocational & TEch Quals (for 25/26 not on AAO so follow processing for NCFE as they stipulate until 26/27)
Start to implement arrangements that prepare children for the workpalce (i.e. won’t get 25% time in work, text to speech)
25% time may not be most appropriate
Signed Personal Data consent form and data protection confirmation is no required
Students must still be informed that an applicationis made online – do comply with UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018
Consider rest breaks instead of time for conditions such as ADHD, anxiedty, mental health, fatigue etc
Part 1, 2 and 3 flow – skeleton information in Part 1 is no longer sufficient
Comments from parents are not to be included in Part 1
Statements on Form 8 Part 1 must be implemented before Assessment for the Assessor
Must have a sample of internal school test/mock exam papers across relevant subjects
Example : google form, survey monkey etc can be used for teacher feedback
25% instead of Supervised Rest Breaks must be tried and exhausted
Part 1 of Form 9 should also include a ‘candidate story’ (no parent comment, sample of tests/mocks, showing application and how they are using it.
If a child progresses to another school/college Form 8 and 9 should be shared with information abou the assessosr/certificate`
Readers should be applied when reading skills are poort, otherwise reader pen
Communication Professional has been renamed Sign Language Assistant
Doodling paper is now allowed – no application online – include it in with the answer sheet in case there are answers on it
Bilingual Dictionary with 25% Time – revised – canbe used til the end of the Exam Series
Remote invigilation does not mean going to another location – that would be alternative site arrangement – it means the candidate and invigilator are in different places. Such as Zoom, Teams etc – maybe due to medical condition
Timetable variation for overnight supervision –

7.0 Responsibility

The Heads of Centre (Head Teachers / Principals) have overall responsibility for Exam Access Arrangements and this chapter is worth reading.

7.3 Time Allocation

The Head of Centre (Principal/Headteacher) must ensure that Exam Access Assessors / SENCos or Heads of Inclusion must have time to:

Manage the arrangements
Familiarise themselves with changes to regulations (both the AARA and ICE)

7.4.1 Assessor Qualification

SENCos must hold on file for inspection purposes evidence that the assessor(s) is/
are suitably qualified. This can be drawn from websites (examples are given in the AARP)