Access arrangements

Access arrangements are made before an examination series to enable a candidate with particular requirements to demonstrate attainment. 

For most qualifications, detailed information can be found in the JCQ Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments document. Please see the current academic year’s document to keep up to date with any changes.

Apply for access arrangements as soon as possible after the course has begun.

For GCSEs, AS and A Levels you must submit applications using the online tool, Access Arrangements Online via Interchange (see below) by the published deadlines for the appropriate series.

Contact the special requirements team at srteam@ocr.org.uk if you have concerns about meeting a published deadline.

For general qualifications use the online tool, Access Arrangements Online, accessed via Interchange. See the JCQ website for more information. You must record whether the candidate has a medical condition or a temporary injury.

In all cases, consider the nature of the assessment being undertaken. For example, marks cannot be awarded to a candidate for work undertaken by a scribe or practical assistant in the realisation of design, performance and artwork.

Similarly, a human reader is not allowed to read questions testing reading in GCSE English Language papers (although a computer reader is permitted).

Further restrictions can be found in the JCQ Access Arrangements document.

Cover sheets can be downloaded from Access Arrangements Online, accessed via Interchange; blank cover sheets can also be downloaded from the JCQ website.

We can confirm you no longer need to use a word processor cover sheet to return word processed scripts to OCR. However, if you would like to use one, we have provided one for you:

Ensure candidates add their full name, candidate and centre number, unit/component code plus the page number, in each header or footer of any separate word-processed pages.

Emergency access arrangements can be made for unforeseen circumstances arising at the time of the examination by applying online or via the appropriate forms as described above. 

If you have missed a published deadline, please contact the special requirements team for advice at srteam@ocr.org.uk.

Download the latest key dates information from the key dates and timetables page for details of final order dates for modified papers.

For AS and A Levels, GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals timetabled assessments use the ‘Order Modified Paper’ section of Access Arrangements Online (via Interchange) to request modified papers. These must be ordered separately in the relevant section of Access Arrangements Online and not as part of other access arrangement applications.

The majority of question papers are already modified for language and you do not need to request these separately.

The standard formats available are:

• A4 modified 18 point bold
• A4 modified 24 point bold
• A3 modified 24 point bold
• A3 modified 36 point bold
• Braille papers (SEB and UEB) and tactile diagrams with braille labels
• Modified language (where available)
• Non-interactive electronic (PDF) question paper
• Tactile diagrams with print labels
• Transcript of listening test/video

If you placed an order for non-interactive electronic question papers using Access Arrangements Online (AAO), the PDFs will be available to download from our secure system, Digital File Despatch, at 7.30am or noon for morning and afternoon sessions respectively. (They are no longer available via Interchange.)

If you have not used Digital File Despatch before, once we receive your order, we will create a Digital File Despatch account for you. You will receive an email with a link to click to activate your account. 

Once they have been prepared, your files will be available to view as scheduled on the system home page. As soon as they are available to download, you will receive an automatically generated email and the links will be live on the home page. 

To access these PDFs, log into Digital File Despatch. The question papers are in PDF format. They can be read on-screen but cannot be typed into.