ICAEW wants to assess your knowledge and skills transparently and fairly. We appreciate that exam conditions may be difficult for some students with a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
ICAEW takes its responsibilities under the Equality Act seriously and aims to put reasonable adjustments in place to support you in your student journey. This guidance is to support students with (SpLD) to apply for access arrangements.
If you intend to apply for access arrangements for a short-term or long-term impairment, including disability, health condition, pregnancy, breastfeeding or need to observe daily prayers, please refer to the access arrangements section of our website.
As a professional body ICAEW relies on SASC compliant reports to provide reasonable adjustments. Reports must comply with the SASC / SpLD Working Group Guidelines for Assessment of SpLDs in Higher Education and include a statement confirming that it adheres to the Working Group guidelines.
ICAEW accepts a pre-16 or JCQ reports provided at any age regarding a specific learning difficulty (SpLD). You will receive 25% extra time as the maximum support whilst you continue your ACA or CFAB studies. If you require more time or additional arrangements, you must obtain a SASC diagnostic report.
What access arrangements are available?
Access arrangements can be permanent or temporary arrangements. Common arrangements include:
- Extra time;
- Stop the clock rest breaks (if recommended in a full SASC report);
- Use of a reader and/or scribe (writer) (if recommended in a full SASC report).
- Sole occupancy arrangement – you may have two invigilators present (if recommended in a full SASC report).
How do I apply for access arrangements?
Students can apply for access arrangements online via my.icaew.com/examsonline, and the application deadlines vary depending on the exam level.
You will be required to upload the below information:
- a covering letter for your access arrangements application including any passwords
- a formal diagnostic report relating to your (SpLD), this can be either a;
- a pre-16 or JCQ report and or;
- a full adult (post-16) SASC compliant diagnostic report; top-up reports, updated reports will
not be accepted. - any additional supporting evidence that will help us consider your application.
Reports must clearly diagnose a SpLD and contain a page setting out the individual test scores. We will not accept reports which suggest a ‘possible’ diagnosis or indicate specific difficulties which do not amount to a diagnosis of an SpLD.