A Level PE – additional time in the EAPI task for students with special needs

Nick Butt, OCR Compliance Officer

The EAPI (Evaluation and Analysis of Performance for Improvement) is a key component of our AS and A Level PE specification. Students are required to observe a live or recorded performance of a peer in either their own assessed performance activity or another activity from the DfE approved list. (The list of approved activities can be found in section 2e of the guide to non-exam assessment.) Students are assessed in their ability to evaluate an individual’s performance (rather than that of a team) and propose a viable action plan (AS Level) or development plan (A Level) to improve that performance. In previous years, there has been no fixed time limit set for the response element of the EAPI.

What’s changed? 

Since the June 2022 exam series, we’ve changed the way that the EAPI task is administered. As published in the guide to non-exam assessment, students must now deliver their observation response within a maximum time limit – 20 minutes for AS Level, and 30 minutes for A Level. 

What does this mean? 

Now that the response has a fixed time limit, it is possible for an eligible student to have additional time in which to deliver it. 

Can I use a student’s existing approval for extra time? 

That depends on why they are already allowed additional time, as this is not an appropriate adjustment for every assessment. For example, a student with an approved application for extra time based solely on their verbal response speed would not be expected to be given additional time in written examinations. By the same measure, it would not be appropriate to allow a student with an approved application for extra time based solely on their writing speed to have additional time in an oral examination. 

If you have a student with an approved allowance of additional time based in some degree on their verbal response speeds, whether that is a verbal tic or a phonological issue, then it would be appropriate to allow the same percentage of extra time for their verbal response task. Please make sure you email us at srteam@ocr.org.uk to let us know of any of your students to whom this applies, as we will be advising moderators to ensure that candidates are not penalised for exceeding the maximum allowed time where they have permission to do so.

If, however, you have a student with an issue that adversely affects the way they communicate verbally, and who does not yet have an approved arrangement for extra time in place, the next step would be to talk to the student and their teachers to establish a “picture of need” that justifies a request for additional time in the EAPI. 

Can a student have additional time for the observation task? 

If you have a student with an approved allowance of additional time because of their writing or phonological processing speeds, then it would be appropriate to allow them additional time to complete their note-taking. This element of the EAPI does not have a fixed duration (it will vary depending on the sport being observed), so it is not possible to add a percentage of extra time to that element. As there is no defined time limit, candidates can be given sufficient time according to their needs. Timings on these parts are for guidance and are not absolute maximums. 

How do I apply for extra time in the EAPI? 

You should apply for this via Access arrangements online, accessed via Interchange. Choose the access arrangement category of ‘Other’ and use the free text box to let us have further information and evidence for the extra time request. The application will be automatically rejected by the online system (as all applications in the category of ‘Other’ are), but can then be referred to us for review by clicking the blue ‘Send to Awarding Body’ button within the application. 

For more information on access arrangements, see the JCQ website and the JCQ Access Arrangements document.

Stay connected

If you have any questions about access arrangements, you can email us the Special Requirements team at srteam@ocr.org.uk. You can contact the PE team at PE@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us @OCR_PhysEd. You can also sign up to PE subject updates for information about resources and support.

About the author

Nick started working as a Compliance Officer in the Regulation & Business Performance team in 2018, specialising in access arrangements and special consideration. Outside of work, Nick co-presents a show on community radio and dreams of a quiet life.