Access arrangements

Access arrangements are changes made to exam conditions. These may be necessary in circumstances where candidates:

• are experiencing long or short-term conditions or
• are regarded as disabled in terms of the Equality Act 2010

For further information, candidates must also read the access arrangements policy (PDF, 300 KB).

Recent updates to the access and inclusion policy and procedure

You can request to sit your examination(s) with remote proctoring in our new application form.

Not all arrangements can be supported in our examination centres. More information is available within the policy. 

We have updated our comfort aid list to make is easier to see what is permitted in examinations centres or when remotely proctored.

Access arrangements: key information

You can make an application for a wide range of reasons. These may include but are not limited to:

• specific learning difficulties (for example dyslexia and dyspraxia)
• mental health conditions (for example depression, anxiety, panic attacks and phobias)
• mobility difficulties (for example wheelchair users)
• sensory impairments (for example deafness and hearing and visual impairments)
• autistic spectrum conditions
• long-term health issues (for example diabetes and arthritis)
• progressive conditions (for example motor neurone disease and muscular dystrophy)
• impairments with fluctuations or recurring effects (for example epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, myalgic encephalitis and chronic fatigue syndrome)

There may be items you require in your examination, which you will need approval to use. For more information, please see the comfort aid list (PDF, 250 KB)

If you require a scribe and/or reader, please read guidelines for scribe and reader (PDF, 120 KB)

Inclusion arrangements: key information

Inclusion arrangements include, but are not limited to:  

• declaring a full or partial face covering which could impact exam identification processes
• declaring a visual appearance/identification discrepancy   
• exam re-scheduling when a candidate is unable to sit the exam at the scheduled date and/or time due to a religious observance 

How to apply

To apply:

• complete the application form (PDF, 200 KB)
• submit the application form and supporting evidence to exams@actuaries.org.uk 

For more information, please refer to the access arrangements policy (PDF, 300 KB).

Collecting evidence

To help you collect evidence to support your application, you can use the medical information form for access arrangements (PDF, 200 KB)

If you’re unsure what evidence to provide, then please contact exams@actuaries.org.uk 

If you are waiting for evidence, then inform us of the date you will provide the evidence by, when submitting your application.

Application deadline

You must submit your application by the exam entry closing date if you require the access or inclusion arrangements for the forthcoming exam session.

This is to allow enough time for us to review your application and put in place any approved arrangements.

Where applications are made late, it may not be possible for an arrangement to be granted because there may not be sufficient time to review the application and put the arrangements in place. If this is the case, it may be necessary for you to postpone your exam to a future examination session in accordance with the IFoA Cancellation Policy.

What happens after you apply

Once you apply:

• you will receive an email from exams@actuaries.org.uk to confirm we have received your application
• your application and supporting evidence will be reviewed by the Assessment Delivery Team
• if you have access arrangements that cannot be supported in an examination centre, you will be assigned to sit your examination(s) with remote proctoring 
• you will receive confirmation that we have put the arrangements in place for the exams you have booked (if we approve these arrangements and can put them in place)

You must ensure you have received this confirmation from exams@actuaries.org.uk before sitting your exams.