Exam boards to make qualifications more accessible
12 May 2022
Guidance for awarding organisations to make qualifications more accessible for all learners has been published by Ofqual.
Following an earlier consultation, proposals have been finalised to ensure that the design and development of qualifications and assessments are accessible. New statutory guidance says that, in their exams and assessments, awarding organisations should:
- use accessible and appropriate language
- use clear and consistent layout
- use source material, context, images and colour in ways that do not disadvantage students
- consider how Reasonable Adjustments could be made to the exam or assessment to make sure disabled students are not disadvantaged.
The guidance aims to break down potential barriers that could stop young people achieving their potential and also make sure that exams test the things they are designed to test. Where qualifications require candidates to have a command of complex language, they must continue to do so.
Awarding organisations have six months to review their approaches to new assessment materials in line with the guidance. There is no requirement to change assessments that have already been finalised.