Access Arrangements

All candidates are assessed according to the same marking criteria, to ensure that the grades and examination certificates have the same validity for all candidates.

AA must not provide candidates with an advantage over others and compromise the assessment objectives. For example, in Mathematics and Science examinations, human Readers may be approved for candidates with dyslexia to enable them to demonstrate problem-solving skills when reading difficulties impede access to these competencies. However, Readers are not allowed for Language papers, as language examinations inherently assess reading comprehension and language processing skills, and human intonation would fundamentally alter what is being assessed.

When evaluating AA applications, the primary considerations are the candidate's diagnosed conditions, and the school's observations of how the candidate typically learns and functions in the classroom. Additional inputs such as recommendations from qualified professionals will be considered during the review. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and SEAB work closely with schools, parents, and qualified professionals to monitor and review candidates' needs, with the goal of providing appropriate support to candidates to demonstrate their learning mastery fairly while maintaining the integrity of the certification.

Examples of common types of AA administered for the national examinations are:

Please refer to the submission deadline section. Late applications will not be accepted.

If you are a school candidate, you must submit your AA application(s) through your school. Please approach your school’s designated Special Educational Needs officers, AA coordinators and/or form teachers for assistance. AA applications by school candidates can be submitted one year ahead of the national examinations.

If you are a private candidate for the GCE-Level examinations, you must submit your AA applications via SEAB’s Candidates Portal after your examination registration. More information on examination registration can be found in the registration information for private candidates.

AA applications require the following supporting documents:

If you are a school candidate, you may approach your Special Educational Needs (SEN) officers, AA coordinators and/or form teachers for more information on the required supporting documents for your AA application.

If you are a private candidate, you can write to SEAB_CS_Admin@seab.gov.sg for more information.

All AA applications must be submitted by the following stipulated deadlines in the year of your national examinations:

• School candidates:
  PSLE: Mid-February
  GCE-Level: End February

• Private candidates: End April

While we recognise that late applications or amendments to applications do occur, applications for Learning Disabilities or Permanent Physical Disabilities submitted less than two months before the national examinations (including Oral/listening comprehension/Science practical/Written papers) will not be accepted.

SEAB will only accept AA applications for physical injuries sustained just before or during the national examinations, and for learning or permanent physical disabilities that were triggered by the onset of these physical injuries.

Important Note:

• If your AA application is submitted late and/or rejected by SEAB, you cannot apply for special consideration (SC) for the same medical condition.

• If you have received AA for an examination paper due to a medical condition, you will not be eligible to apply for special consideration (SC) for sitting the paper with that same condition.

If your AA application is accepted for processing, it will be subjected to a rigorous review by a panel and will be considered based on its circumstances. The processing time depends on multiple factors including the complexity of the AA requested and the timely submission of all supporting documents. AA requests such as the use of a Reader, Practical Assistant, Scribe, or Word Processor may take longer to process.

Your AA application outcome will be released via the following platforms:

• If you are a school candidate, your school will inform you of the outcome. If your AA application is submitted by the deadline, your outcome will usually be released by April of your examination year.
  
  Following the release of your AA application outcome, your school may work with you to trial your approved accommodations during your daily learning sessions to better prepare you for your national examinations.

• If you are a private candidate, please access the Candidates Portal to view your outcome. If your AA application is submitted by the deadline, your outcome will usually be released by June of your examination year.
  
  Following the release of your outcome, you and/or your parents may consider trialing the approved AAs where feasible, to enhance your examination preparation. Please make your own arrangements if you would like to trial.

If the AA for your examinations result in significant modifications from the standardised conditions, your examination certificates and result slips will have either of these annotation symbols printed next to the subject(s) with the approved AA:

i.               Exemption Symbol (#) - Approval has been given for you to be exempted from satisfying the full range of assessment objectives in the papers sat for this subject.

ii.               Access Arrangement Symbol (+) - You have sat for the paper under access arrangements (see next paragraph).

The following AAs will be annotated:

• Exemption from satisfying the full range of assessment objectives in a subject (e.g. exemption from oral, listening comprehension examinations);

• Extra time allowance (including silent reading / preparation for oral examination);

• Modification of examination papers;

• Use of word processor facilities and other computer aids;

• Use of Reader or Reader Pen or Scribe; and

• Practical assistance in areas such as handling apparatus and instruments or graph plotting for GCE-level subjects.

The annotations are necessary to indicate factually that you took the national examinations under conditions that are different from the standard prescribed conditions. This is intended to be fair to all candidates who have obtained the qualification and to uphold the integrity and fairness of the examination without discrimination.  Details of the AA provisions and the related medical conditions are not indicated on your examination result documents, and SEAB will not share them with members of the public.

You can request to withdraw any approved AA by submitting a request within the stipulated timelines (see section below). Otherwise, your examination certificates and result slips will be annotated, even if you do not utilise the approved AA during your coursework or examinations.

If you are a school candidate, please approach your school for assistance. Withdrawal requests must be submitted by your school through SEAB’s examination system at least five working days before the commencement of your coursework or examinations.

If you are a private candidate, you should submit your withdrawal requests via email to SEAB_CS_Admin@seab.gov.sg at least five working days before your examinations start.

Once SEAB has approved a withdrawal request, the AA cannot be reinstated.