Assessment Arrangements

Assessment arrangements provide learners with a level playing field throughout a learner’s educational journey. The purpose of assessment arrangements is to provide learners with an equal opportunity to demonstrate their achievements, attainment and ability without compromising the integrity of the assessment.

Scottish Qualifications Authority Assessment Arrangements for course work and exams.

In line with the Equality Act 2010) the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will, as far as possible, ensure that barriers to internal and external assessment are avoided in the specifications for qualifications. The SQA will allow reasonable adjustments/ assessment arrangements for learners who require additional support.

A formal diagnosis/identification is not required for a learner to be provided with SQA Assessment Arrangements.

Assessment arrangements are adjustments to the published arrangements and are intended for young people who can achieve the national standards but cannot do so by the published assessment arrangements – the reason for this might be a physical disability, a sensory impairment, a specific learning difference e.g. dyslexia or dyscalculia or it could be a temporary problem at the time of the assessment.

In school settings a ‘formal’ or independently provided identification of need is not required for a learner to be provided with appropriate assessment arrangements. The determining factor is providing evidence that the candidate has been identified as having a particular difficulty and that support in accessing the assessment and demonstrating attainment is needed. The collaborative identification process for dyslexia supports this approach.

Examples of assessment arrangements:

  • Adapted question papers
  • Assistance in aural assessments
  • Extra time may be permitted in any timed assessments
  • Extension to deadlines
  • Use of ICT or digital question papers
  • Numerical support in mathematics assessments
  • Practical assistant
  • Prompters
  • Reader
  • Referral of a candidate’s scripts to the principal assessor
  • Scribe
  • Using sign language in SQA assessments
  • Supervised breaks or rest periods in a timed assessment
  • Transcription with correction of spelling and punctuation
  • Transcription without correction of spelling and punctuation

Further information on SQA Assessment Arrangements is available on their website.