About assessment arrangements
Assessment arrangements for 2020-21
The Assessment Arrangements Request (AAR) system is closed due to the cancellation of the 2021 National Qualification examinations. Centres do not need to submit assessment arrangement requests to SQA for National Qualifications in 2020-21.
You should continue to use the same assessment arrangements processes already in place in your centre to support candidates requiring an assessment arrangement for an internal assessment.
Please be aware of the following when considering assessment arrangements:
- That you comply with the most up-to-date-guidance on COVID-19 from your local authority and Scottish government.
- Where an arrangement is not possible, wherever possible, try an alternative. For example, if a candidate uses a human reader but this is not possible, consider whether a computer reader would suffice. The candidate may need extra time to practice this.
- Where candidates are unable to come into the centre, internal assessments can be conducted remotely provided appropriate authentication measures are in place, which for some assessments will require online supervision.
Guidance for centres on remote assessment.
If any of your candidates are disabled, or have additional support needs, and have been identified as needing assessment arrangements, please ensure that these are in place for each assessment and/or assignment. Where possible, you should follow your normal internal process for requesting assessment arrangements.
You should keep a record of your decisions and any evidence that supports them.
If you are in any doubt about whether a candidate is eligible for a particular assessment arrangement, or whether the assessment arrangement compromises the assessment or competence standards, your SQA co-ordinator should contact us as soon as possible. This will allow SQA sufficient time to give consideration to your request before the candidate undertakes the assessment. You should provide full details of the:
- candidate's difficulty in accessing the assessment
- proposed assessment arrangement
- specific assessment being undertaken.
Contact: Assessment Arrangements Team.
Digital question papers
For session 2020-21, we are publishing digital question papers for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher on the SQA Secure website for all centres that need them (arrange access through your SQA Co-ordinator). These will be available by the end of April 2021.
Find out more about digital question papers.
What are assessment arrangements
Assessment arrangements allow candidates who are disabled, and/or have been identified as having additional support needs, access to appropriate arrangements to complete the assessment without compromising its integrity.
Principles and procedures you must follow when providing assessment arrangements:
Further guidance
- Additional Guidance for use when requesting Adapted Question Papers and Artwork (3.08 MB)
- Using a scribe in the assessment of writing in Modern Languages and Gaelic (Learners) (18 KB)
- Information on the appropriate use of Speech Recognition Software in SQA's external examinations (43 KB)
- Use of a bilingual dictionary for English as an Additional Language (EAL) candidates (173 KB)
A comprehensive school describes how they approached supporting candidates with mental health difficulties in SQA's National Qualifications.
Case Study on Mental Health (210 KB)