Exam Arrangements for Students with Special Needs Support Fair and Reliable Assessment

We thank Madam Lee Hong Cheng for her feedback regarding access arrangements (AA) for students with special educational needs (Provide clearer guidance for dyslexic students in language exams, Nov 24).

Students with special educational needs may be granted AA for their school-based and national examinations. Examples of AA include the provision of extra time, use of assistive technology, enlarged print for the examination papers, and exemption from specific components of an examination. These provisions help to reduce barriers for students with special educational needs to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without compromising the assessment objectives and fairness for all students.

Each AA application case is reviewed carefully by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). When evaluating AA applications, the primary considerations are the student's diagnosed conditions, and the school's observations of how the student typically learns and functions in the classroom. Recommendations from qualified professionals are also considered during the review. This approach ensures that the approved AA is both appropriate for the student and fair to all other students.

AA must not compromise the assessment objectives of the subject. For example, in mathematics and science examinations, readers (that is, a person who reads out the exam paper to the candidate) may be approved for students with dyslexia to enable them to demonstrate problem-solving skills when reading difficulties impede access to these competencies.

Language examinations, however, inherently assess reading comprehension and language processing skills. Providing a reader would fundamentally alter what is being assessed as human intonation will interfere with the subjects' assessment objectives. Hence for these language examinations, students with dyslexia may be granted extra time instead, which acknowledges the pace of their processing needs whilst maintaining the assessment's core purpose.

As each case is unique, parents are encouraged to discuss support for their child's special educational needs and AA matters with schools. The guidance for AA provisions and processes has also been communicated to all schools. Parents may refer to the AA guidelines and application requirements for national examinations on SEAB's website.

MOE and SEAB will continue to work closely with schools, parents, medical and/or allied health professionals to monitor and review students' needs. Our goal remains to provide students with appropriate support to demonstrate their learning mastery fairly while maintaining the integrity of the certification.

Yue Lip Sin
Chief Executive
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board

Dayna Chia
Divisional Director, Special Educational Needs Division
Ministry of Education