Exam Support Information for Students

Students who require exam support is advised to book a Needs Assessment appointment by Week 6 (17th October 2025) of the current trimester. Please note that appointment availability may be limited after this date, however we encourage you to contact us to book a Needs Assessment. Students who contact us after this date cannot be guaranteed their support in the end-of-trimester exams. Please check your UCD Connect email regularly for updates in regards to exam support.

For locally arranged exams (class tests, online exams and midterms) you must contact your module coordinator/lecturer to arrange support and email them your Certificate of Disability Support, as soon as possible to allow time for arrangements to be made. 

Student's responsibility 

Students are instructed to request their support as far in advance as possible to allow time for module coordinators/lecturers to organise the accommodations. It is the responsibility of the module coordinator/lecturer to arrange exam support for local exams outside the end-of-trimester exams. 

Module coordinator's responsibility 

If a student has been approved to use Assistive Technology (AT) such as a laptop, electronic pen or similar tools, and they wish to avail of any AT for local exams, it is the responsibility of the module coordinator/lecturer to ensure the necessary arrangements are made. For Assistive Technology related requests, please contact us at (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie.

Online Exams

Online exams are a new feature of UCD Assessment. In previous years you may have had none or very few online exams. Exam support is still applicable to online exams, but you may find some are no longer required due to the nature of online assessments. Some key exam supports which are still applicable online are:

• Extra time for timed online exams:If you have been granted extra time as a reasonable accommodation, it can still be applied to timed online exams. You should contact your module coordinator/lecturer at least one week before the exam. You should request the extra time to be applied to your online exams and attach a copy of their Certificate of Disability Support. 

Extra time can only applies to timed exams. Two examples of different timing procedures are illustrated below:

• Timed Exam (Extra Time Applies): A two-hour exam that can be taken anytime during the week, but must be completed within 2 hours once started. This exam would include extra time for students with the reasonable accommodation of extra time.
• Not Timed Exam (Extra Time Not Applied): An exam which is available over a 48 hour period, and students are not expected to spend more than 2 hours on the exam but they can if they wish. Extra time would not be applied to these exams. 

Spelling and Grammar Consideration support can be used for online timed exams only. Students entitled to this support will receive a piece of text to copy and paste at the beginning of their exam script. Module coordinators/lecturers can confirm that students are entitled to this support by checking the Module Class List on Infohub. This support cannot be applied for language exams where the student is being examined on their knowledge of a foreign language itself.

For other assessments students should use proofreading software to proofread their work prior to submission. Students can also attend one-to-one and/or group sessions with the Writing Centre.  

Readersupport for online exams is now provided through the Read and Write browser which is a text to speech tool. We recommend to install the (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)Read and Write and practice using it before your exam. On the day of the exam, access Brightspace in Google Chrome browser and use the 'Hover Speech' function to have text read aloud.

Scribe support may no longer be required during online exams. However, if you still would like to work with a Scribe for an online exam, please email us at (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie to arrange it.

Examples of exam supports include but are not limited to:

Alternative Exam Location - Students with disabilities receiving reasonable accommodations normally sit their examinations in a different venue to their peer group. These venues are normally shared with other students who also require this support. The alternative exam location allows for use of extra time and other supports. It is also provided to students who have a particular difficulty with sitting their exam in a large group setting. Students who have been allocated an alternative exam location can be accommodated in a shared exam venue with others who have also been allocated this support for exams including locally arranged exams. Only when the specific support of ‘Separate Room’ is listed should a student be accommodated in an individual exam venue.

Brailled Paper - A student with a visual impairment who is a fluent braille reader may require an exam paper in braille format. Please email (opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie for assistance with this.

Close to Bathroom - Many students due to the nature of their disability, often a Significant Ongoing Illness, may need to use the bathroom at frequent intervals. Therefore preferential seating as close to these facilities as possible is required. Additional time of ten minutes per hour is also provided for students using this support.

Colour Blindness Awareness - For students with colour blindness some exam formats need to be adjusted. Meaning should not be provided with colour alone – use of a pattern as well as colour can assist in this matter. Exam papers should be checked in advance to ensure there is no instance of meaning being provided through colour alone.

Diabetes Awareness - Students with diabetes may require use of equipment to monitor their blood sugar in an exam setting. They may also need to bring food and/or drinks with them to the exam. Students are informed that they should bring items which do not cause undue disruption to others in the exam. Students who use electronic devices, which may be their mobile phone, to monitor blood sugars should show their device to the invigilator before the exam starts to avoid disruption during the exam.

Computer - Students whose ability to write is significantly impaired may require a computer during examinations. A basic word processing package (WordPad) should be available on computers used in examinations. Students may wish to use a combination of typing and handwriting to complete the exam. For locally arranged exams module coordinators can borrow an exam ready laptop from Access & Lifelong Learning by emailing disability@ucd.ie to arrange this in advance. It is usual practice for the student’s answers to be printed at the end of the exam and shown to the student for confirmation.

Digital Dictaphone Recorder - Digital Dictaphone Recorders may be granted for students who cannot handwrite or use a computer due to the nature of their disability. Students would be offered a scribe but may prefer to use a recorder if this is the support they used for exams before coming to UCD. The audio should be dictated so a written paper can be graded and stored as necessary.

Enlarged Paper - Students with visual impairments may require their exam paper in an enlarged format. This could be provided in A3 or in A4 with an increased font size e.g. 18pt. Individual students will be able to advise regarding their precise requirements.

Epilepsy Awareness - This support is provided to make invigilation staff aware if a student has epilepsy and therefore may be at risk of a seizure in an exam. Should a student have a seizure during an exam a staff member should call the UCD emergency number – 7999. This is the case should any student become suddenly unwell.

Digital Exam Paper - Students with visual impairments who use screen readers on a computer and requires a digital exam paper. The exam paper is required to be accessible prior to submission to UCD Assessment. This is to allow students to use screen reader software to interact with the paper. UCD Access & Lifelong Learning can provide a laptop with screen reader software for exam purposes. This can be arranged by emailing disability@ucd.ie in advance.

Extra Time (10 mins per hour) - Many students with disabilities require extra time in their exams due to the impact of their disability. Many other supports also require that extra time be put in place in order for them to be provided effectively. The national standard for extra time is 10 minutes extra per hour of timed exam. In extremely exceptional circumstances you may see students who have a different amount of extra time. This will be specifically listed. Students with extra time should always be accommodated in an alternative exam location to allow them to use this time without disruption. For shorter exams the extra time should be calculated on a pro rata basis.

Food and Drink - Some students with diabetes and other Significant Ongoing Illnesses may need to bring food and/or drinks with them to the exam. Students are informed that they should bring items which do not cause undue disruption to others in the exam.

Low Distraction Booth - A low distraction booth is provided to students who cannot be accommodated with a group due to the impact of their disability but who do not require a separate room. Low distraction booths are used during the official end of trimester exams only and are created using room dividers or panels which allow the student to be covered on three sides. For in-class tests students with this support should be accommodated in an Alternative Exam Location but a low distraction booth is not essential. Students sitting in a low distraction booth may not use technology e.g. a computer, which could distract other students in the room.

Mobility Difficulty Awareness - This support is provided to students with physical disabilities who require an accessible exam venue but who do not necessarily use a wheelchair. The accessibility of the exam venue for all exams, including mid-trimester exams, should be considered.

Movement During Exams - The student may need to stand up, stretch or move during their exam. The student is aware that they should avoid disturbing other students while moving. Students are permitted to walk around the exam centre, accompanied by an invigilator. Students cannot leave the exam centre fully, in line with examination rules. This support informs the invigilator in the exam centre of the student’s need for movement.

Narcolepsy Awareness - This support is provided so that invigilation staff are aware that the student could fall asleep during an exam so that they can provide assistance if required. Specific details of this would be provided, depending on the needs of the student.

Printed MCQs - Some students find online MCQs challenging due to the impact of their disability. This support requires that MCQs usually administered online or through the VLE should be printed so the student can complete a paper copy of the exam.

Reader - Some students with Specific Learning Difficulties may require a reader for exams. A reader should be available to read out the questions on the exam paper to the student as often as they wish. Readers should be familiar with the terminology/language of the exam paper. Students who use a reader may be accommodated together but care should be taken not to distract other students in the venue when reading. Usually an invigilator acts as reader so an additional staff member is not required, unless multiple students require this support. E-reader pens are provided for use by students for exams scheduled and facilitated by UCD Assessment. The invigilator should act as a reader during locally arranged exams and should inform students before the exam starts that they are available to read if required. Students requiring the invigilator to read are informed to raise their hand and to point at the word/words that they require to be read. Students may not wish to avail of the reader on the day of the exam. For online exams students have been provided with assistive technology which can read the text of the online exam.

Scribe - A scribe may only be granted for students who cannot handwrite or use a computer due to the nature of their disability. Additional time of ten minutes per hour and a separate venue will be provided when using a scribe. Some consideration of assessment will be required where physical forming of characters is a required element of the module (e.g. some languages). Contact Access and Lifelong Learning if you have any queries in relation to organising an amanuensis for locally arranged exams.

Scribe  for MCQs - A scribe may be granted for students who cannot complete multiple choice question exams by hand. This is often due to a difficulty with visual tracking caused by a specific learning difficulty or a visual impairment. The amanuensis will fill in the answers as dictated by the student. Additional time of ten minutes per hour and a separate venue will be provided when using a scribe. Contact ALL if you have any queries in relation to organising an amanuensis for locally arranged exams.

Spelling and Grammar Consideration - Students, due to the nature of their disability, may have a particular difficulty with spelling, grammar and written expression. These students are provided with a ‘Spelling and Grammar Consideration' label, which is attached to their script for the purpose of informing the examiner of these particular difficulties and providing a framework for the marking of their scripts. Marking Guidlines apply to timed examinations only, and should not be considered for continuous assessment. Where a core component of assessment is that of competence in spelling, grammar and written expression, it is not possible to disregard these elements (for example, languages).

Separate Room - A small number of students will require an exam location with no other students present. This is given in exceptional circumstances only and usually when the student is likely to distract other students taking the exam. An invigilator should be present. This support must be provided for all exams, including those arranged locally.

Use of a Service Dog - Students with this support will be accompanied to their exams by a service dog. A separate exam room will be required so as not to distract other students sitting exams.

Wheelchair Access - Students who use a wheelchair will require an accessible venue – lift access, even surfaces etc.