- Special Consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate's mark.
- The Special consideration process is intended to address accidental and unforeseen circumstances, not to make adjustments for long standing impairments.
- Requesting special consideration after an examination should in no way be seen as an alternative to requesting and implementing appropriate access arrangements.
Special Consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a candidate's mark or grade to reflect temporary injury, illness or other indisposition at the time of the examination/assessment, which has had, or is reasonably likely to have had, a material effect on a candidate's ability to take an assessment or demonstrate his or her normal level of attainment in an assessment.
Special consideration can only seek to go some way to assist a candidate affected by a potentially wide range of difficulties, emotional or physical, which may influence performance in examinations. It cannot remove the difficulty faced by the candidate.
There will be situations where candidates should not be entered for an examination.
Only minor adjustments can be made to the mark awarded because to do more than this would jeopardise the standard of the examination and integrity of the qualification.
Process
JCQ produces a specific annual document 'A guide to the special consideration process', which can be downloaded from their website.
Application for special consideration is made online. The centre may be asked for supporting documented evidence of the indisposition.
Relevant circumstances
Candidates are only eligible for special consideration where their performance in an examination or assessment is materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control. The guidance provides more detail and some useful examples.
Which of these circumstances do you think would warrant 'Special consideration'?
Select the statements where the candidate would be eligible.
Eligibility
It is important to note that for a candidate to be eligible for special consideration, they must have completed the whole course and have been fully prepared for an examination. They must also have completed a significant percentage of the assessment.
It is worth noting that the number of extra marks that can be awarded is relatively small.
Requesting special consideration after an examination should in no way be seen as an alternative to requesting appropriate access arrangements in advance and implementing them in the examination itself.