Special Examination Arrangements for External Examinations

The VCAA recognises that some students with a disability/illness may require Special Examination Arrangements to enable them to access the examination questions and communicate their responses in a timed examination.

Students who think they might be eligible for this Special Provision must apply to their VCE Coordinator. The school must apply to the VCAA by completing the application form and include the appropriate supporting medical, psychological and educational documentation. If students have a long-term impairment, their school needs to provide details of the arrangements which have been provided for them at school. The VCAA will not grant Special Examination Arrangements to students who have long-term impairments where there has been no demonstrated requirement for the arrangements at school.

Special Examination Arrangements may include:

• rest breaks
• extra reading time in addition to the official reading time
  (if extra reading time is approved by the VCAA it will be incorporated into the student’s examination writing time)
• extra writing time in addition to the official writing time.

VCE Coordinators are aware of other available options for Special Examination Arrangements.

Students who have been granted EAL status on the basis of unfamiliarity with the English language (but not because of a hearing impairment) are not eligible for Special Examination Arrangements on this reason alone.

Applications

Applications for Special Examination Arrangements for all VCE examinations will close the first week of March of each year.

All Special Examination Arrangements for a student must be approved by the VCAA upon application from the school.

The VCAA does not accept applications made directly by students, parents/guardians or independent professionals.