How do I get extra time in exams for my child with ADHD?

What “extra time” actually is

For GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, and most regulated exams in England, extra time is granted through Access Arrangements administered under the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) rules. JCQ sets out a small range of arrangements: extra time (typically 25%, sometimes more), a reader, a scribe, prompter, separate room, supervised rest breaks, and a few others.

For internal school tests (end-of-term, mock GCSEs run by the school's own arrangements), the SENDCO can usually grant extra time without an external assessment. For external exams sat under JCQ, the rules are stricter and the school must hold the evidence on file in case of audit.

The three things JCQ wants to see

1. Evidence of need: a diagnosis or recognised difficulty (ADHD diagnosed by NHS or Right-to-Choose provider; or, for cognitive difficulties, a learning-support assessment). The diagnosis itself isn't the access arrangement; it's evidence that one of the rules applies.
2. A normal way of working: the child must already be receiving the arrangement in school on a regular basis. JCQ specifically rejects requests where the arrangement is only used for exams. If your child needs extra time in May, they need to be using extra time in class throughout the academic year.
3. A qualified assessor's report (for some arrangements). This is the JCQ Form 8 (or 1A), completed by a specialist teacher or psychologist with the appropriate qualification (e.g. AMBDA, CPT3A). The school's own SENDCO often holds these qualifications; if not, the school can commission externally.

How to start

• Talk to your child's SENDCO at least one full term before the exams (earlier for GCSEs). Ask specifically whether the school can apply for Access Arrangements and what evidence they need from you.
• If your child doesn't yet have an ADHD diagnosis or formal assessment record, that's the first piece to put in place. NHS or Right-to-Choose assessment can take 6–12 months; private assessment is faster.
• Make sure the school is genuinely using the arrangement in lessons and internal tests. Without the normal way of working evidence, the JCQ application will fail.

If the school says no

Schools occasionally decline to apply because they believe the evidence doesn't meet JCQ thresholds. Steps to take:

• Ask for the reason in writing and the specific JCQ rule they're relying on. Some schools confuse the rules; the SENDCO may not be the JCQ Exams Officer.
• If your child has an EHCP, the Section F provision may include extra time as a reasonable adjustment; the school is then bound to apply.
• Consider a private specialist teacher assessment if the school lacks an in-house assessor. The assessment costs £200–£500 typically.
• The school's decision is appealable through the school's complaints procedure if you believe it's wrong; the Equality Act 2010 reasonable adjustments duty also applies.

This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.