Sometimes candidates are affected by circumstances beyond their control when taking an assessment. 

Special consideration is a post-assessment adjustment that compensates candidates who experience a temporary illness or condition or who were otherwise disadvantaged at the time of the assessment. 

Exams officers apply for special consideration on a candidate’s behalf.

You should read this page alongside the JCQ A guide to the special consideration process, available from the JCQ website.

Although mainly used to support students with timetabled exams, special consideration can apply to both exams and non-exam assessment (NEA).

There are two standard categories of special consideration:

• Present but disadvantaged – This applies where a candidate was present for the assessment but was disadvantaged at the time, for example because of illness or injury. In these cases, a mark adjustment may be awarded. The maximum adjustment is 5% of the total raw marks available for the affected component or unit. The size of any adjustment depends on the timing, nature and extent of the adverse circumstances.
• Absent for an acceptable reason – This applies where a candidate was absent from an assessment for reasons that meet the JCQ eligibility criteria. In these cases, enhanced grading can be given. This is where we calculate an assessed grade based on the student's marks in the other exams or assessments for the subject and their performance compared to all other students (see our FAQs for more details).  

In addition, it is possible to apply for:

• Lost, partially lost or damaged internally assessed work – When all or part of a candidate’s work is lost or damaged through no fault of the candidate. If the work was fully completed and marked before it was lost, you submit the marks to us in the normal way. If the work was either partially completed or not marked, we will calculate an assessed grade. In all cases, you need to submit an application.

Deadlines for submitting special consideration requests are published in the key dates spreadsheet. 

We recommend submitting applications as follows: 

• Timetabled exams – Within seven days of the last exam in the series in that subject. 
• Non-exam assessments – As soon as Special consideration online opens for the series in which the candidate is certificating.

Late applications

If you miss the deadline, a member of the senior leadership team must provide compelling evidence to support a late application. 

After results are published, we will only accept applications in exceptional circumstances. These must be submitted before the deadline for reviews of results for the relevant examination series. 

You cannot submit an application for special consideration after a review of results has been completed.

You apply for special consideration using our Special consideration online service, which is accessed via Interchange. 

See our step-by-step guidance:

Candidate sits the wrong paper

• Apply for special consideration as ‘absent’ for the paper they missed. 
• The candidate must be certificating in the same series as the missed exam and must meet the minimum requirements for enhanced grading. 
• If the original entry was correct, do not amend the entry to match the wrong paper. 
• Please do not send the wrong paper to us – keep it in an envelope in your secure storage in case we need to request it later. 

Candidate leaves the exam early

• If you are applying for special consideration, apply for 'Present but disadvantaged'. Select ‘Disadvantage caused by illness or injury at time of exam’ then ‘Candidate became unwell during the exam and was unable to complete it’. 
• In the application, let us know how long the candidate was present and the overall duration of the exam. 
• If the application is accepted, we will determine which special consideration category (present but disadvantaged or absent) is the most appropriate for your candidate.

Candidate is not able to complete their non-exam assessment

• If the candidate has been fully prepared but extraordinary circumstances mean they are not able to complete the assessment, it is possible to apply for special consideration. 
• The candidate must be certificating in the same series as the missed assessment and meet the minimum requirements for enhanced grading. 
• When applying for special consideration, choose  'Coursework' and then 'Lost coursework'. 
• If the application is accepted, we will calculate an assessed grade for the candidate.

Candidate is not able to complete all their activities in their GCSE Physical Education Practical Performance

• If a GCSE Physical Education candidate is not able to complete all their practical activities, it is possible to apply for special consideration.
• Apply for 'Lost coursework' and then 'Coursework shortfall'.
• If the application is accepted, we will calculate a mark for the whole component based on the marks of the completed activities.

Where a student has been fully prepared and entered for one of our qualifications but has encountered exceptional mitigating circumstances beyond their control and is unable to sit any of our set examinations/assessments, we may be able to issue a statement of recognition. This is a letter confirming the student’s predicted grades. 

The statement of recognition is designed to support the candidate’s progression to the next stage of education, training, or employment. It can inform discussions with Further Education/Higher Education institutions, other education providers, and employers, to facilitate progression. 

The statement of recognition is provided based on the information supplied by the centre and is not a qualification certificate. This is different to an honorary certificate.  

How to apply

If you want to apply for a statement of recognition, please email the special requirements team at srteam@ocr.org.uk with the following details: 

• Candidate name 
• Candidate number 
• Entry codes (including tiers and options) 
• Predicted grades for all subjects 

A brief explanation as to why the student did not sit exams.