Where a candidate is entitled to extra time, this must be used to write or dictate their answer. 

Extra time must not be used to replay the extract or provide additional listening opportunities. 

If a candidate has approved extra time, their listening exam must be delivered in a separate room or (subject to continuous supervision) at a different time from other candidates. You may need an additional device to run the exam simultaneously in different rooms. 

All candidates allocated 25% extra time may sit in the same room to take their exam. 

The only exception is where a candidate requires a reader. In this instance, they need to sit the exam in a room on their own to avoid disturbing others. 

Please see the guidance below on allocating extra time for GCSE listening exams. Please also see our guidance on listening tests.

To support your students with extra time we produce a track timings document each summer series for the GCSE (J536/05) listening and appraising test. Recordings from previous series are available to download from Teach Cambridge.

Updated 4 June 2026:

During the exam, the audio track may be paused during the silences. The exact pausing of the track will depend on the needs of the candidate. Options include: 

• Dividing extra time equally across the pauses after the last repeat of the extract at the end of each question 
• Dividing extra time equally across the pauses after each repeat of each extract 
• Dividing extra time across the pauses after each repeat of each extract with more time given to longer answer questions 
• Adding extra time only to questions the student needs it for and adding the remaining time at the end 
• Adding all the extra time at the end – students take notes throughout and complete the answer paper at the end. 

Concentrated listening is taxing for candidates so the extra time may also be used to read ahead and prepare for the next question.

When deciding how to allocate extra time, the exam format may influence which approach is most helpful:

• All questions require some candidates to write and/or notate music and could require extra time. 
• Part of one question will require a piece of extended writing. This part-question will be identified by an asterisk at the beginning of the question. 
• One question will require the candidate to notate some music onto an adjacent skeleton score. 
• One question will require the candidate to compare two pieces of music and may require the responses to be tabulated.

When deciding how to allocate extra time, we recommend agreeing the approach in advance with the subject team and the SENDCo, supported by the exams officer. This should include: 

• Practising the agreed approach in lessons with the class and relevant support staff 
• Establishing how extra time works best for individual students (for example, how they manage listening tasks during normal lesson time) 
• Making sure mock exams replicate approved arrangements, including extra time where applicable.

When extra time has been approved and determined, invigilators will need to know how and when to pause the test for each candidate. 

We recommend invigilators have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the listening test format so they fully understand the requirements.