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The University recognises that you may not be able to sit your examinations in standard conditions, and allows examination arrangements to be tailored to suit your individual needs. You can ask for examination conditions that will compensate for any disadvantage caused by a disability. To ensure that work is assessed solely on merit, no information about a student’s disability or illness is passed on to the academic staff who mark examination scripts.
There is a good summary of additional requirements here: Examination arrangements we can make.
This page summarises general exam arrangements: General examination arrangements booklets, timetables and info
If the University is unable to meet a particular exam-related cost, DSAs may be able to meet it.
If you need to use a word processor rather than writing the answers out by hand, the University will provide one to use at the Regional Centre. If you are dyslexic you may use the spellchecker on the machine.
If you require speech input facilities, you will normally be offered a home exam with an invigilator. The use of Dragon Naturally Speaking in exams is now permitted. Students must demonstrate their need for this software and ensure appropriate safeguards are put in place. If you use Dragon software for your studies please contact The Yorkshire Regional Centre for how to apply to use Dragon software in your exam. If your application to use Dragon software is declined then you may be asked to use an amanuensis (human note-taker) instead. You would be offered the opportunity to practice with an amanuensis beforehand (on a separate occasion) if required.
Whatever assistive technology is used during an exam, it will need to be inspected beforehand to ensure there are no resources installed which may afford an advantage.
‘TMAs under exam conditions’. Students normally do these at home. You may be asked to sign a statement saying that you worked within the specified guidelines. If you need to take extra time because of your medical condition or you have other additional requirements, you should ask the relevant Faculty for permission (telephone Yorkshire Region: 0113 244 4431). You will probably be asked to mention this in your statement. You may also be asked to provide medical evidence (though this is less common for TMAs under exam conditions).
Please note, prior to a formal exam your medical evidence will always need to be considered by your Region before extra time is granted. It is not guaranteed.
Meeting Your Assessment Needs Booklet
Special examination arrangements can be requested by filling in the Facilities Request Form 3 (FRF3). This will give us some basic information about the kind of arrangements we are likely to need to make. An advisor will then make contact to discuss your request.
topSpelling, grammar and legibility may be difficult due to visual impairment, hearing, language, dexterity or learning disabilities.
The person who marks your work should be aware of your disability. For work submitted by dyslexic students, University guidelines advise tutors to consider the impact of dyslexia and provide guidance on how to mark effectively. The focus is on maintaining academic standards whilst avoiding penalising the student for dyslexic type difficulties such as spelling inaccuracies and weakness in presentation, where these skills do not form part of the assessment criteria. Module teams are encouraged to review assessment criteria to ensure their relevance to the qualification sought.
However, it is important to make sure that your additional requirements are fully met beforehand. Word processors, assistive technology and software programs can help with spelling, grammar and legibility. For example, if you are a student who is blind, you can use screen reading programs and speech output systems to complete written assignments. Students with dyslexia can benefit from programs that assist with and support spelling, grammar, and writing organization.
Very occasionally an assignment may be impossible because of your disability (for example, if you have been blind from birth and asked to discuss details about a complex graph or diagram). An alternative assignment is sometimes possible, for example it may be helpful to submit your assignments on audio cassette. You can ask your Regional Centre staff for guidance about submitting assignments and tutors for marking assignments submitted in this way.
Find out about the different types of Assessment used at the OU. Download relevant forms and read commonly asked questions about assessment.
