Exam Arrangements

Students with specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia) often qualify for extra time in which to complete examinations and timed assessments. In some cases, students with specific learning difficulties are also allowed to use a computer, scribe or reader in examinations.

If you've already been formally diagnosed as having specific learning difficulties, please let us know and send a copy of your Educational Psychologist or Specialist Teacher Assessor's assessment report to studentwellbeing@bathspa.ac.uk. Provided that your report is sufficiently recent and contains enough information, they'll make recommendations for your University examinations and assessments based upon it.

If your report is more than three years old, or doesn't contain enough detail, you may be asked to make an appointment for a new assessment. We're able to refer you to an Educational Psychologist and ask you for a contribution of £50 towards an assessment or re-assessment for specific learning difficulties if you're an undergraduate or taught postgraduate student. Students who wish to be assessed but are concerned about the charge are invited to discuss this with Student Wellbeing Services.

If you think you may have a specific learning difference, but haven't yet been formally assessed, you may wish to discuss this with an Accessibility Advisor. You can access Dyslexia Screening at Newton Park and Sion Hill campuses.

If you need special examination and assessment arrangements because of a disability or health condition other than dyslexia or dyspraxia, please contact Student Wellbeing Services to discuss your requirements as soon as possible after commencing your programme of study.

If special arrangements were made for previous examinations you've taken (for example, at school or college), it's helpful if you can provide documentation giving details of the arrangements that were put in place.

Student Wellbeing Services will liaise with the Examinations Office to ensure that appropriate provision is made for your University examinations and assessments.

If you have medical or personal issues that mean you may need special examination and/or assessment arrangements, please discuss your requirements with Student Wellbeing Services as soon as possible.

Issues for which special arrangements in examinations can be made include:

• Medical conditions whereby students need to take rest breaks and/or stretch or move around
• Medical conditions whereby students are unable to write their examination answers by hand (and so need to use a computer or scribe)
• Medical conditions whereby students need to use the bathroom frequently
• Panic attacks/anxiety.

In the unfortunate event that you experience unexpected medical or other issues immediately before or during your examinations, please alert both Student Wellbeing Services and the Examinations Office as soon as possible. If you're still able to sit your examinations, we'll try to make special arrangements so that your needs can be accommodated. All requests will be subject to approval by the Head of Student and Registry Services.

If you fall ill on the day of an examination, you should first seek medical help. If your issue means that you're unable to sit your examination(s), or that your performance is badly affected, you should complete an application for exceptional circumstances as soon as you're well enough to do so, and before the published deadline.

Once complete, this form should be returned to the Student Information Desk via MyServices, with the appropriate documentation attached.

Where special arrangements are set up in advance for your centrally timetabled examinations, we'll write to you about a month before they begin to confirm the practical arrangements.

Student Wellbeing Services: studentwellbeing@bathspa.ac.uk
Exam Office: exams@bathspa.ac.uk