JCQ regulations

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, applications for access arrangements for GCSE and GCE examinations are now made online using the Access Arrangements Online (AAO) tool. Centres are required to record assessment information on the Joint Council for Qualifications’ Form 8 (available at www.jcq.org.uk).

This section is specifically aimed at helping assessors to complete the sections of this form that are relevant to students with difficulties in reading speed and comprehension, spelling and handwriting. Please also refer to the guidance notes in Section 7 of the JCQ AARA when completing Form 8.

All evidence for use in completing Form 8 must be drawn from assessments conducted no earlier than the start of Year 9, or Year 10 in Northern Ireland (JCQ AARA 2021/22, Section 5.2.2). In order to confer eligibility for access arrangements, the evidence must demonstrate difficulties that have a “substantial and long-term adverse effect” (JCQ AARA 2021/22, Section 5.2.2).

Note that Section 1 (on page 5) of the current JCQ Form 8 cannot be completed using Exact because it does not include an “untimed test of single word reading” as currently required by JCQ (see Section 7.5.10 of the JCQ AARA 2021/22).