Exam Access Arrangements and Accommodations for Online Students

JCQ access arrangements — such as 25% extra time, a reader or rest breaks — are available to online students who meet the evidence criteria where the arrangement reflects their normal way of working. Because formal exams are sat in person at approved exam centres, an online student accesses these arrangements at the centre.

Step 1: How do exam access arrangements work for online students?

Access arrangements are adjustments that let a student access an exam and show what they know, without changing the demands of the qualification — and they work the same way for online students as for anyone else. The two governing principles, set by the JCQ (the Joint Council for Qualifications, which regulates access arrangements for GCSEs, International GCSEs and A Levels), are the same regardless of how a student studied:

• The arrangement must reflect the student's normal way of working. An access arrangement should be how the student already works day to day — not something introduced only for the exam. A student who normally uses extra time, a reader or rest breaks in their learning is the student for whom that arrangement is appropriate in the exam.

• The arrangement must be evidenced. JCQ criteria establish genuine need—typically involving assessment and a history of the arrangement being the student's normal practice—rather than granting an arrangement simply on request.

Because these principles turn on the student's needs and normal practice, not their mode of schooling, an online student who genuinely needs and normally uses an arrangement is entitled to it just as a physical-school student would be. The key implication is that a good online school supports a student's needs throughout their learning, so that an access arrangement genuinely is their normal way of working by the time exams come. Read how flexible online school is.

Step 2: Applying for extra time and other arrangements

The most common access arrangement is 25% extra time, but the process is similar for other arrangements too. Families typically don't apply alone — a school or exam centre handles it with the necessary evidence ahead of the exams.

In broad terms, the process involves: identifying that a student may need an arrangement (often flagged through their learning, where a difficulty is apparent); gathering the required evidence to meet the JCQ criteria (which can include specialist assessment and evidence that the arrangement is the student's normal way of working); and the school or centre applying for the arrangement through the proper process, in good time before the exams. The specifics and evidence required depend on the arrangement, so raise this early — well before exam season — rather than at the last minute. A good school's exams officer or learning-support team guides families on what their child needs. Read about the flexibility and accommodations of online school.

Step 3: How online students get exam access arrangements

For an online student, access arrangements work through the school and the exam centre together, and understanding their roles helps. The online school knows the student, supports their needs day to day (so the arrangement is genuinely their normal way of working), and helps identify and evidence the need. The exam centre — where the student sits their papers — is where the arrangement is actually put in place on the day, and applications for arrangements are made through the appropriate channel for that centre.

The practical point for families is that an online student is not disadvantaged in accessing arrangements — the same routes are open to them — but it does involve coordinating between the school and the exam centre, and doing so in good time. This is exactly the kind of thing to discuss with an online school early: how they support students who need access arrangements, how the evidence is gathered, and how it works with the exam centre. A good school will have a clear, reassuring answer, because supporting students with access arrangements is a normal part of what they do. Speak to the admissions team about exam access arrangements.

Step 4: Rest breaks, readers, scribes and other arrangements

Extra time is the best-known arrangement, but several others are available where a student meets the criteria and the arrangement reflects their normal way of working:

• A reader (or reading software) — for a student who struggles to read exam text accurately.

• A scribe (or speech-to-text) — for a student who cannot write their answers themselves, for example because of a physical difficulty.

• Rest breaks — supervised breaks during the exam, for a student who needs to pause, for example because of a medical, attention-related or anxiety-related need. The exam time is effectively paused during the break.

• A separate room or small-group setting — for a student who needs to sit away from the main hall, which can help an anxious student.

• Modified papers — such as enlarged print or other formats, for students with visual or other specific needs.

Which of these a student may access depends on their individual needs and the evidence, and each has its own JCQ criteria. The common thread is the same: the arrangement must be genuinely needed, evidenced, and the student's normal way of working. For a family whose child needs any of these, the arrangement they rely on day to day is exactly what should be in place for the exam. Read about the assistive technology and accessibility built into online school.

Step 5: Where do online school students sit their exams?

This is one of the most important practical points for online-school families to understand: formal examinations — International GCSEs, GCSEs, A Levels — are sat in person, at approved examination centres, not online. Studying online does not change this; the qualification is the same recognised qualification, examined in the same way, which is part of why it is fully recognised.

So an online student attends a physical exam centre to sit their papers, and it is at that centre that their access arrangements are put in place on the day — the extra time, the reader, the rest breaks. Some online schools help students arrange a centre, or have arrangements with centres; others leave families to find a local centre (often a school or college that accepts external candidates). It is worth asking an online school how exams and exam centres work for their students, and how access arrangements are coordinated with the centre — a good school will explain the process clearly. The reassurance is that sitting exams in person, with the arrangements a student needs, is a well-established, routine part of online schooling. Read who online school is for.

Frequently asked questions

How do exam access arrangements work for online students?

The same way as for any student. JCQ access arrangements (extra time, a reader, a scribe, rest breaks) are available where the student meets the evidence criteria and the arrangement reflects their normal way of working. Because formal exams are sat in person at approved centres, an online student accesses their arrangements at the centre where they sit their papers.

How do I apply for extra time in GCSE exams for an online student?

Applications are handled through the school or exam centre with the required evidence, ahead of the exams — not by a family alone. The need is identified (often through the student's learning), evidence is gathered to meet the JCQ criteria (including that it is the student's normal way of working), and the arrangement is applied for in good time. Raise it early.

How does an online student get access arrangements in place?

Through the online school and the exam centre together: the school knows and supports the student day to day (so the arrangement is their normal way of working) and helps evidence the need; the exam centre is where the arrangement is put in place on the day. It is not disadvantaged, but it involves coordinating between school and centre, in good time.

What access arrangements are available — rest breaks, readers, scribes?

Where a student meets the criteria and it reflects their normal way of working: 25% extra time, a reader (or reading software), a scribe (or speech-to-text), supervised rest breaks, a separate room, and modified papers such as enlarged print. Each has its own JCQ criteria and must be genuinely needed and evidenced.

Where do online school students sit their exams?

In person, at approved examination centres — not online. Studying online does not change this; the qualification is examined the same way as for any student. The student attends a physical centre to sit their papers, where their access arrangements are put in place. Ask an online school how it helps with exam centres and coordinating arrangements.

Is an online student disadvantaged in getting exam accommodations?

No — the same access arrangements are available to an online student who qualifies, on the same JCQ basis. It does involve coordinating between the school and the exam centre, and applying in good time with the right evidence, but a good online school supports students through this as a normal part of what it does.

Exam access arrangements are fully available to online students who need them — extra time, readers, scribes, rest breaks — arranged through the school and the exam centre where papers are sat. To understand how this would work for your child, read about the flexibility and accommodations of online school, read who online school is for, or speak to the admissions team.

This guide offers general information. Access arrangements are governed by JCQ criteria and can be updated, and the specifics depend on a student's individual needs and evidence — confirm the current requirements and process with the school and exam centre.