Special assessment conditions - Applications

Preparing an Application

Specific Learning Disability (non manifest conditions)

Before making an application for special assessment conditions, the school should consider each candidate's record. The school must have independent evidence from a registered professional that candidates require special assessment conditions to mitigate their significant learning disabilities along with standardised norm-referenced data on cognitive and academic abilities . If not, an external advisory service will need to be consulted in order to identify the significant learning disability and to provide specific evidence.

A school must have been providing ongoing support and have further developed a profile of the candidate's learning disability and response to interventions. This evidence must be retained in the school as the Qualifications Authority may request this evidence as a part of an audit.

Applications should only be made where the school has already trialed or provided such assistance. Confirmation is required that special assessment conditions already have been provided for the candidate in the school's internal assessments throughout the year. Applications should also detail candidates' history of in-school support prior to entry for the national external assessment.

Special assessment conditions must not give the candidate an unfair advantage over other candidates. For example, the fact that a candidate is a 'slow reader' or a 'poor speller' does not, in itself, justify special assessment conditions assistance. In such circumstances there will usually be some underlying cause for the candidate's difficulty.

It may be more appropriate for candidates exhibiting ‘slow processing' to enter a reduced number of standards to complete within one examination session.

The reason for applying for special assessment conditions must be specified. Detailed information is required to support the application for the special assessment condition being sought. Without this information, the application will not be accepted.

The type of evidence required in support of an application ranges from medical diagnosis (for psychiatric conditions) and/or professional testing and evidence that the school has also recognised that a candidate has a significant learning disability, and has been providing learning assistance and special assessment conditions all year. The Qualifications Authority will only accept psychological testing from a suitably qualified independent registered professional or, in extenuating circumstances, alternative documentary evidence held by the school where the school is unable to provide evidence from a suitably qualified registered professional. All independent evidence in support of an application must have been recorded within three years of the year of examination and relate to the candidate's record at secondary school.

All candidates for special assessment will have been identified by the school at the start of each year and have supporting evidence from a registered professional such as an NZCER Level C assessor, or, in extenuating circumstances, alternative documentary evidence held by the school. Where a candidate is a recent arrival at a school, the previous school should provide this evidence. This should be requested upon enrolment.

Note:

1. Special assessment conditions are not available to candidates for whom English is a second language simply on the basis that they have difficulty with reading and writing English.
2. No English and/or translation dictionaries (including electronic dictionaries and translators) are permitted in Qualifications Authority examinations.
3. Special assessment conditions will not be granted to candidates with short-term disabilities such as an illness or an accident suffered immediately prior to the external assessment. The option available to these candidates is to apply for compassionate consideration, either on the grounds of impaired performance or because they were unable to sit the examination at all. For example, a writer will not be provided for a candidate who breaks an arm in an accident. Working with a writer is a skill that candidates need to develop and they may in fact be disadvantaged by not having previously worked under special assessment conditions.
4. In extenuating circumstances alternative documentary evidence held by the school may be submitted to NZQA for consideration before applications close.

Medical conditions (manifest conditions)

Before making an application for special assessment conditions, the school should consider each candidate's record. The school must have independent evidence from a medical professional that candidates require special assessment conditions to mitigate their medical condition (eg blindness, deafness, arthritis, cerebral palsy etc).

A school must have been providing ongoing support and have further developed a profile of the candidate's response to interventions. This evidence must be retained in the school as the Qualifications Authority may request this evidence as a part of an audit.

Completing an Application Online

All applications are to be made online by the school. Applications must reach the Qualifications Authority by the date notified each year. Any changes or additions to applications after the close of applications online may generate a charge against the school. All specific inquiries and requests for advice for special assessment conditions must be sent to the Qualifications Authority.

Applications not supported by the school must not be submitted.

Note:

The name and contact details of readers, writers, reader/writers and other examination assistants are not required when applications are made. Schools must provide this information directly to their Examination Centre Manager early in term 4.

Although applications for special assessment conditions are made at the level of the individual standard, the provision of the conditions is collated into examination sessions. For example, a reader/writer approved for one external standard is provided for the entire examination session, irrespective of the number of standards entered, but is available to assist only with the standard applied for.

Return to Rules and Procedures, 6.1.3 Special Assessment Conditions.

Last updated: 27 January 2009