Access Arrangements FAQs

When you log in to AAO or PAAO, you should be able to search for all students that have an access arrangement or generate a report. If you cannot find the applications, please let us know, and we will be able to point you in the right direction. 

One application can be submitted via AAO for a selection of awarding bodies.

If the candidate has taken a BTEC First and is progressing to a BTEC National, then yes, a new application would need to be made.  

This is dependent upon the qualification:  

• The JCQ Access Arrangements Online portal (AAO) is for GCE & GCSE for UK centres.
• Pearson Access Arrangements Online (PAAO) is for BTEC, Functional Skills, Edexcel Award, GCSE for international centres, GCE for international centres, International GCSE, International A Level, PEIC, L3C, Project and, PLSC. 

This is because BTEC is not on the AAO site, so it would not be covered; therefore, we have our own system PAAO. 

Why must I choose Pearson as the awarding body when on the AAO portal for GCE and GCSEs?   Is there a deadline?  How is the PDF received? 

Emergency Access Arrangements can be put into place on the day prior to submitting an online application.  An Online Application would need to be submitted as soon as possible with evidence of need attached.  You can make a temporary access arrangement on AAO/PAAO if you are unsure please contact us.   

Please consult the Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments Guide.

This is dependent upon the medical condition of the candidate. For a long-term condition we can accept previous medical evidence.  

If you need an interactive PDF, then these can be ordered on the online system, as it is a modified paper the order must be made by the relevant modified paper deadline -31st January for Summer. If you need a non-interactive PDF, please see the following instructions.

BTEC papers: please contact one of our Customer Services Specialists who can arrange with our Question Paper Despatch team for it to be sent electronically. These are then sent by secure file transfer from 8:00 am UK time for morning exams and from 12: 30 pm UK time for afternoon exams.      

GQ papers: please note that you will be able to access these from the Secure Download Service providing you have made your entries at least 24 hours before the test date. The papers will be available 60 minutes before the start of the exam, except for IAL, which will be available from 5 am UK time for morning exams, and 8 am UK time for afternoon exams. 

Please email a completed form 8 to uk.special.requirements@pearson.com. 

If you mean every time an exam is booked then providing that the application is no older than 26 months and the correct Functional Skills is on the application, i.e. On Demand and paper-based, then this will cover all subsequent Functional Skills exams.  

The 21st of March. Applications after this date would be considered but not guaranteed to be processed in time for the exams.  

For International GCSEs, please use PAAO.

The deadlines do not count for FS; however, we advise to have the AA in place 8 weeks in advance of the exam.  

No, a new application would need to be submitted.  

No, Access arrangement applications are not required for Mock examinations. The mocks can be a good way of assessing how the student works and what requirements they have.    

If the arrangements are still valid, you do not need to make new ones; applications are valid for 26 months from approval. 

An application can be applied for as soon as they expire. If the application is for the same arrangements, then the old application would need to be deleted first if it hasn’t expired.  

This would depend on the candidate, and their difficulties. Ideally, we would advise that a new assessment needs to be completed.  

Access Arrangement Applications are NOT required for the use of a mobile device for health reasons, however these must be kept on the invigilators desk. This is a centre delegated arrangement.    

You would not need an application as the arrangement for colour naming is centre delegated providing that this is the candidate's normal way of working.   

The use of a pencil is acceptable however we do recommend attaching a copy of the completed examination paper to the back of the original one should any smudges occur during transportation.

The report will be reviewed however extra time does normally need to be the candidate’s normal way of working.

Providing that the person is trained on the invigilator duties that would be permitted.

All the information should be on the Form 8, Form 9 or Form 8RF or an assessment record.

This information can be found in the JCQ Access Arrangements Regulations. 

The centre will need to have a form 8 and the results of an assessment showing standardised scores, if this is not possible then a statement from the SENCo showing the candidates' normal way of working, a letter from a psychologist would also be considered.

Yes, this can be used for learning difficulties providing this is dated within 26 months of the assessment.  Should this be for a medical condition such as cerebral palsy there is no time limit on the evidence.

Once the centre has an approved application for the qualification then this lasts for 26 months. If the candidate is taking both GCSE and BTEC for example, then an application for each qualification would need to be made.   

No, this would be dependent upon the access arrangement required.

No, this would be dependent upon the access arrangement required.

Extra time is not given just because a candidate has an EHCP; it still needs an approved application. The only subject where 25% extra time is centre delegated is Functional Skills, for all other qualifications this needs applying for.       

You can supply a letter from the candidate's teacher or the SENCo or a letter from a medical professional that will be reviewed as supporting evidence.  

Yes, this is acceptable from any medical professional.  

No, it is not possible to download the approval, there is only the option to print this to keep on file.

BTEC papers: please contact one of our Customer Services Specialists who can arrange with our Question Paper Despatch team for it to be sent electronically. These are then sent by secure file transfer from 8:00 am UK time for morning exams and from 12: 30 pm UK time for afternoon exams.

GQ papers: please note that you will be able to access these from the Secure Download Service providing you have made your entries at least 24 hours before the test date. The papers will be available 60 minutes before the start of the exam, except for IAL, which will be available from 5 am UK time for morning exams, and 8 am UK time for afternoon exams. 

The awarding body makes the decision from the JCQ regulations. The awarding body can be Pearson, AQA, OCR etc. 

Yes there is the option to complete the Form 8 via the online portal. 

An electronic signature is acceptable. 

If the candidate just requires a computer reader or reading pen, then these arrangements do not need to be applied for online if it’s the candidate's normal way of working. A human reader needs to be applied for.  

These do not go through AAO; please contact customer services through the customer support portal who can arrange for a PDF version of the exam to be sent to you on the day of the exam to print.

An application is required for each qualification the candidate is taking i.e., BTEC, Functional Skills, GCE, GCSE etc.  These are not submitted for each subject, just the qualification.

If the application has been submitted then unfortunately not, but please let us know, and we could delete the application to allow you to re-submit if necessary. 

If you encounter any difficulties when accessing PAAO, please contact us, when creating your case please include a screenshot of the error.