Special Examination Provisions for the School Certificate tests and Higher School Certificate examinations
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Special Examination Provisions are granted by the Board of Studies to students sitting the School Certificate tests and Higher School Certificate examinations in order to address the effects of a special need on examination performance.
Regardless of the nature of the special need, the provisions granted are solely determined by the implications of that need on examination performance. Provisions include braille papers, large print papers, use of a reader and or awriter, extra time, rest breaks, etc.
Applying for Special Examination Provisions
Special Examination Provision Application forms and Information Guides are available in schools, colleges and Institutes of TAFE from August each year for students in Year 9 or in Year 11 who intend to sit for the School Certificate tests or Higher School Certificate examinations in the following year.
Students who wish to apply for special examination provisions should see the Year Adviser or School Counsellor. The Year Adviser, School Counsellor or other nominated teacher should complete the application form. In doing so, he or she should take the following steps:
- indicate the provisions for which the student is applying. In doing this, it is important to refer to the Information Guide, which gives examples of the provisions that the Board considers most appropriate for a particular special examination need;
- indicate how the special examination need affects the student's work in the classroom and in examination situations;
- supply evidence of the student's special examination need. A guide to the various types of evidence required is provided in the application form and Information Guide.
It is important that the school return the completed application form to the Board of Studies by the due date. The due date is always the last day of Term 1, except for applications based on chronic fatigue syndrome, post-viral syndrome, Ross river fever or glandular fever, which should be submitted in July of the examination year, with teacher comments and medical documentation also dated July.
If all the necessary information is not provided, the Board of Studies will need to contact the school to request this information. This will delay the process of considering the application and of advising the student of the approved special examination provisions.
How does the process work?
Once the the Board of Studies has received the application, a letter acknowledging receipt is sent to the school, and to the student through the school. The application is then forwarded to a specialist. These specialists include Medical Practitioners, Educational Psychologists and consultants for the visually impaired or hearing impaired.
The specialist makes a recommendation to the Board of Studies based on the evidence provided in your application form. The Board then makes a final decision on the case, ensuring that it is in keeping with the established guidelines.
When a final decision has been made, written notification of the approved and/or declined provisions is sent to the principal, and to the student through the principal.
Appeal procedures
Should a student wish to appeal the decision to decline a provision, the appeal must be submitted through the school within 14 days of receiving the special examination provisions decision letter. The appeal must state the reason why the decision is considered unacceptable, making reference to the evidence supplied in the original application.
The appeal must include new supportive evidence, such as a further medical report, which clearly states why the student needs the provision, or additional reading, writing or spelling test results.
The Board of Studies will conduct an independent review and a decision will be made within twenty-one (21) days. A letter advising the outcome of the appeal will be sent to the school and to the student.
A note to parents
If you are concerned about whether special examination provisions apply for your child, you should contact the school Year Adviser or Counsellor.
The application form must be submitted by your child's school as it requires specific information regarding the difficulties your child may experience in a classroom or examination situation. This does not mean, however, that you should not be involved in the application process.
For further information, contact the Student Examination Support Section Section at the Office of the Board of Studies on:
- email:
- specprovs@boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
- Tel.
- (02) 9367 8325
- (02) 9367 8381
- (02) 9367 8117
- Fax
- (02) 9367 8482
- Address:
- Office of the Board of Studies NSW
- GPO Box 5300
- SYDNEY NSW 2001