How to Get Extra Time
If your child regularly leaves exam papers half-finished, panics under time constraints, or struggles to read and process questions quickly enough, they may be eligible for extra time formally known as Access Arrangements.
This comprehensive guide walks you through exactly how to secure extra time for your child, what the requirements are, and the crucial first steps you need to take if you suspect an underlying learning difference like dyslexia or dyscalculia.
1. What is “Extra Time” (Access Arrangements)?
In the education system, exams are meant to test a student’s knowledge and skill not their speed or their disability.
Access Arrangements are pre-exam adjustments approved reflects a student’s true ability rather than their structural learning difficulties. The most common arrangement requested by parents is 25% extra time, meaning a two-hour exam becomes two and a half hours. In rarer, more severe cases, up to 50% extra time can be awarded.
Other common accommodations include:
- A Reader: A person or computer software that reads the questions aloud.
- A Scribe: Someone who writes down the student’s dictated answers.
- A Scribe or Laptop: Allowing a child to type if their handwriting speed is significantly impaired.
- Supervised Rest Breaks: Pausing the exam clock to let the child rest or refocus without losing test time.
2. Who Qualifies for Extra Exam Time?
Extra time is not handed out casually just because a child finds exams stressful. To keep things fair, exam boards require strict proof of what they call a “substantial impairment.”
Generally, children who qualify fall into one of these categories:
- Learning Difficulties: Conditions that affect processing speed, reading comprehension, or working memory (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dyspraxia).
- Medical Conditions: Chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, or fatigue-related conditions.
- Mental Health Conditions: Severe, diagnosed anxiety or panic disorders that actively impede cognitive performance under timed pressure.
- Neurodivergence: ADHD or Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) that impact focus, executive functioning, or processing speeds.
3. The Golden Rule: It Must Be Their “Normal Way of Working”
If there is one thing you take away from this article, let it be this: An exam board will not grant extra time if the student only uses it during final exams.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and equivalent regulatory bodies state that any accommodation must reflect the child’s “normal way of working.” This means your child should already be using extra time for standard classroom tests, mock exams, homework assignments, and timed essays throughout the school year.
If the school isn’t actively giving them extra time during ordinary weeks, the exam boards will reject the application, viewing it as an unfair advantage rather than an equalizer.
4. Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Extra Exam Time
Securing access arrangements requires team effort between you, your child’s teachers, and the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). Here is the exact roadmap to follow:
Step 1: Gather Your Own Observations
Before speaking to the school, compile a log of your observations at home. Note down:
- How long it takes your child to finish homework compared to peers.
- If they read a sentence multiple times to grasp its meaning.
- Visible signs of distress, tears, or panic when facing timed tasks.
Step 2: Book a Formal Meeting with the SENCo
Do not just mention this casually at a parent-teacher evening. Request a dedicated meeting with the school’s SENCo. Present your observations and ask the teachers for theirs. Ask explicitly: “Is my child finishing their mock tests, or are they leaving blanks at the end?”
Step 3: School-Led Assessments
If the SENCo agrees there is a visible gap between your child’s capability and their processing speed, the school will conduct internal standardized testing. These assessments measure things like phonological awareness, reading speed, and cognitive processing. If your child scores below a certain threshold (usually a standardized score of 84 or lower), the school can gather evidence for the exam board.
5. What If You Suspect Dyslexia or Dyscalculia? (The Vital First Step)
For many children, a hidden learning difference is the root cause of their time struggles. If your child struggles specifically with reading fluency, spelling, and writing, they may have dyslexia. If their bottleneck happens around numbers, mental math, and interpreting charts under pressure, it could be dyscalculia.
Schools are often stretched thin, and waiting for an internal school assessment can take months sometimes too long if major exams are fast approaching.
If you suspect your child is struggling with a specific learning difficulty, the most effective first step is to seek a professional Dyslexia or Dyscalculia Screening.
Why Start with a Screening?
A screening is a comprehensive, targeted evaluation that maps out your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Specialized clinical providers, such as the Indigo Dyslexia Centre, offer specialized screenings designed to spot these exact neurodiverse traits early.
Getting a screening done by an established expert provider gives you:
- Immediate Clarity: You stop guessing and uncover exactly why your child is falling behind the clock.
- Leverage: You receive an objective, formal results that you can bring directly to your school’s SENCo to kickstart the official accommodations process.
- Action Plan: Beyond just extra time, a professional screening provides strategies to help your child learn, study, and thrive tailored to their unique brain.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start this process?
The earlier, the better. Ideally, you should begin building evidence at the start of Key Stage 3 (Year 7 or 8) or at the very beginning of GCSE courses (Year 10). Applying just a few weeks before GCSEs or A-Levels begin is usually too late for the paperwork to be cleared.
Does an external report guarantee extra time?
No. The final decision rests on the school’s ability to prove it is the student’s “normal way of working.” However, an external professional screening acts as a powerful catalyst, forcing the school to pay attention, run its own confirming checks, and implement classroom accommodations immediately.
Will “Extra Time” be noted on my child’s exam certificates?
No. Exam certificates do not show whether a student had extra time, a reader, or a separate room. Their results look exactly the same as everyone else’s, protecting their privacy and ensuring a level playing field for future university applications or jobs.
Summary Checklist for Parents
- Log homework and reading struggles at home.
- Schedule a professional Dyslexia/Dyscalculia screening (e.g., via the Indigo Dyslexia Centre) if you suspect an underlying learning difference.
- Hand the report to your school’s SENCo and request a formal review.
- Ensure the school implements extra time in everyday classroom work so it becomes their “normal way of working.”
- Confirm the school submits Form 8 to the exam boards well ahead of the application deadline.
Giving your child extra time isn’t about giving them an advantage it’s about removing an invisible hurdle so their intelligence, effort, and knowledge can finally shine through. Give them the support they need today.
