Access arrangements

Access arrangements are made before an examination series to enable a candidate with particular requirements to demonstrate attainment.

For most qualifications, detailed information can be found in the JCQ Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments document. Please see the current academic year’s document to keep up to date with any changes.

Apply for access arrangements as soon as possible after the course has begun.

For GCSEs, AS and A Levels you must submit applications using the online tool, Access Arrangements Online via Interchange (see below) by the published deadlines for the appropriate series.

Contact the special requirements team at srteam@ocr.org.uk if you have concerns about meeting a published deadline.

For general qualifications use the online tool, Access Arrangements Online, accessed via Interchange. See the JCQ website for more information. You must record whether the candidate has a medical condition or a temporary injury.

In all cases, consider the nature of the assessment being undertaken. For example, marks cannot be awarded to a candidate for work undertaken by a scribe or practical assistant in the realisation of design, performance and artwork.

Similarly, a human reader is not allowed to read questions testing reading in GCSE English Language papers (although a computer reader is permitted).

Further restrictions can be found in the JCQ Access Arrangements document.

Most blank cover sheets can be downloaded from the JCQ website.

The following are no longer available on the JCQ website:

Ensure candidates add their full name, candidate and centre number, unit/component code plus the page number, in each header or footer of any separate word-processed pages.

Emergency access arrangements can be made for unforeseen circumstances arising at the time of the examination by applying online or via the appropriate forms as described above. 

If you have missed a published deadline, please contact the special requirements team for advice at srteam@ocr.org.uk.

Download the latest key dates information from the key dates and timetables page for details of final order dates for modified papers.

For AS and A Levels, GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals timetabled assessments use the ‘Order Modified Paper’ section of Access Arrangements Online (via Interchange) to request modified papers. These must be ordered separately in the relevant section of Access Arrangements Online and not as part of other access arrangement applications.

The majority of question papers are already modified for language and you do not need to request these separately.

The standard formats available are:

• A4 modified 18 point bold
• A4 modified 24 point bold
• A3 modified 24 point bold
• A3 modified 36 point bold
• Braille papers (SEB and UEB) and tactile diagrams with braille labels
• Modified language (where available)
• Non-interactive electronic (PDF) question paper
• Tactile diagrams with print labels
• Transcript of listening test/video

Where a candidate requires a question paper on coloured paper and/or enlarged from A4 to A3, or has been granted approval by Access Arrangements Online for a computer reader, it is strongly recommended that an electronic copy of the standard question paper is used.

In order to access our standard electronic question papers, you need to place an order for non-interactive question papers using Access Arrangements Online (AAO) by the deadline (approximately one week before the exam series starts). 

For the November 2023 series, question papers will be available to download from our secure site, Kiteworks, 45 minutes before the published starting time for the exam – at 8.15am or 12.45pm for morning and afternoon sessions respectively.

The question papers are in PDF format. They can be read on-screen but cannot be typed into. If you are printing the PDFs on to coloured paper, please staple the sheets together before giving them to your candidate.