Alternative Arrangements, Extra Time and Special Consideration

The ATT recognises that some candidates may sit their online (May/November) exams in difficult circumstances.  We have processes in place which enable you to request special consideration, additional time or alternative arrangements. 

Extra Time and Alternative Arrangements

If you have specific requirements or need alternative arrangements to sit your examinations, you can apply to ATT for alternative arrangements by completing and returning this form

The second page of your application form must be completed by a medical practitioner, educational psychologist or GP. You will need to submit supporting medical documentation (as up to date as possible) along with your form before the closing date of the examination you intend to sit.

If your alternative arrangement is of a long-term nature, you do not need to apply again for each examination. We keep your arrangements on file, allowing your examinations to automatically be granted the awarded extra time for your tax papers. If you need to apply for an additional alternative arrangement, then we would need to be told about this prior to any exam and you must follow the application process.

However, if you intend to take a CBE, please let us know before you book your exam as this will need to be arranged with Prometric.

Special Consideration

You can apply for special consideration if you feel that your performance was affected by serious personal circumstances (such as illness or close bereavement over, or immediately preceding, the exam period or if you experienced a particular problem on the day) or technical issues during your exam.

In instances where an occurrence is known to have affected all candidates, an acknowledgement email will be sent. These events will automatically be reported to the ATT Examination Steering Group.

Important Information

In the normal course of events, after reviewing special consideration requests, ATT have the capacity to make only limited adjustments. In cases where a candidate has not passed the exam, ATT may be unable to decide whether the result was due to the circumstances outlined in the special consideration or due to the knowledge and skills displayed by the candidate. It is not possible to fully compensate a candidate for what might have been achieved.

Unfortunately, certain situations that you believe affected you might not be considered significant enough to warrant an adjustment to your exam results. Some examples are below:

• Connected to situations where you failed to follow ATT instructions.

• Relating to minor health issues such as common colds.

• Involving minor disturbances such as outside noises.

• Where the evidence supplied is a statutory sick note, which does not have sufficient medical detail.

• Where the request is supported by evidence from family or friends.

• Where you request ATT to gather personal evidence on your behalf.

How to apply*

You must apply within two weeks of sitting your exam. You must submit an application form and ensure you have the correct details when applying including:

  • Your unique five digit candidate number

  • Evidence to upload for serious personal circumstances, for example recent, relevant medical documentation** 

  • Any relevant evidence if you experience technical issues during your exam

  • Explanation drafted of the issues (maximum of 500 words)

Note that under no circumstances will applications submitted after the publication of exam results be considered.

* Applications based on issues that occurred but where no proven contact was made to the ATT to resolve beforehand or at the time may be rejected.

**Applications where supporting evidence is not provided will not be accepted.  

What happens next

  • You will receive an acknowledgement of your application within 14 days of submission (this may be after the application deadline). 
  • Students will not be notified of any decision made by the ATT Steering Group and any consideration will have been applied when results are released.
  • Acceptance of your application does not automatically mean a passing exam result will be awarded.
  • All scripts are marked as normal and are identified by candidate number only. Our examiners are not informed of special consideration requests and have no prior knowledge of candidates circumstances.
  • The ATT Examination Steering Group will review accepted applications (identified by candidate number only), all decisions are discretionary and cannot be appealed.
  • You will receive your exam results as normal on results day, you will not be informed of the outcome of the meeting or if consideration was applied to your result.

Your mark is final, however you may apply for a marks breakdown or recheck (this is not a remark), within 21 working days of the publication of results.