Using Assistive Technology in Exams

GCSE, A‑Level and vocational exams play a key role in helping young people shape their future in education, training or employment. To ensure these qualifications reflect each student’s ability, every learner must be assessed fairly and on equal terms. This principle is not only good practice, it is also a legal requirement under the Equality Act (2010).

For students with a vision impairment, fair access often depends on using assistive technology. When the right Access Arrangements are in place and used confidently, students can read, navigate and complete exam papers independently.

This guide gives QTVIs and SENCOs clear, practical information to help support students through the exam process. It explains what’s required when applying for access arrangements, while outlining steps that help each learner use their technology confidently in exams.

With this guide, you can support your vision impaired students with the opportunities to use the tools and support that work for them, ensuring they can access exam papers, complete them independently and achieve the results they deserve.

1. Access arrangements and how to apply for them

2. Making your student's Windows device exam-ready

3. Preparing SuperNova for use in exams

1. Access Arrangements and how to apply for them

Before we explore the set-up of assistive technology for use in exams, it is important to understand the rules for applying for access arrangements for your vision impaired students. This section provides an overview of some of the key guidelines, but it is essential that your SENCO has read the full guidance for applying for access arrangements, available on the JCQ website

Who are JCQ?

JCQ refers to the Joint Council for Qualifications. This is a not-for-profit membership organisation representing the eight largest national examination providers in the UK (AQA, CCEA, City & Guilds, NCFE, OCR, Pearson, SQA, and WJEC). It provides a single voice on exam administration, policy and compliance for GCSEs, A levels and vocational qualifications.

Do JCQ allow assistive technology to be used in exams?

Yes. JCQ do allow assistive technology to be used in exams when they have been approved as part of an access arrangement application for a vision impaired student. Assistive technology can be used in exams, on the provision that it follows three important rules. These are that the assistive technology:

• Must represent the student’s normal way of working
• Must be supported by documented evidence of need
• Must not provide the student with an unfair advantage

Do JCQ allow exam papers to be adapted for exams?

Yes. It is important that as well as providing assistive technology to complete the exam, that the student is also able to access and read the contents of the exam paper.

Arrangements can include the student using their assistive technology to access the exam paper, or providing the exam paper in an alternative format (e.g. large print or braille), ensuring that any images or diagrams have been made accessible for the student as well.

Where adaptations need to be made it is important to specify the requirements in the application for access arrangements for the student.

What evidence do I need to provide to apply for access arrangements?

It can be helpful in terms of resourcing, if a candidate’s assistive technology is mentioned in their Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), though this does not guarantee that permission for the use of the technology in exams will be granted by the JCQ. An application through the Access Arrangements Online system will still need to be made. We recommend you always refer to the current JCQ AARA for up-to-date guidance. 

However, the Royal Society for Blind Children highlight that only 27.3% of young people with a vision impairment have an EHCP.  

Students without an EHCP are also able to benefit from assistive technology in exams. JCQ provide two primary forms as part of the application for access arrangements. This can be used to provide evidence that the assistive technology represents a young person’s normal way of working:

• JCQ/AA Form 9: This form is used predominantly to record evidence of need for candidates with communication and interaction needs, including sensory and/or physical needs such as vision impairment. It allows the school SENCO to provide a profile of the students’ access arrangement needs.
• JCQ/AA/LD Form 8: This form is used to record evidence of need for candidates with learning difficulties. Although it is not required specifically for young people with vision impairments, it is helpful for SENCOs to be aware of it when supporting students with additional needs.
  

There is a variety of evidence that can be provided when completing these forms. This includes teacher reports, specialist assessor reports, mock exam scores using the assistive tech, individual support plans and more. The key is that the evidence provided needs to make it clear that the student has a clear and identified need, and that the assistive technology represents the student’s normal way of working.

When should I apply for access arrangements?

JCQ set a deadline for applications for access arrangements to be made prior to exams each academic year. However the best advice is to gather evidence and make an application for access arrangements as soon as possible after the student’s need is identified.

How long do students need to have been using assistive technology for?

There is no defined amount of time that a student needs to have been using assistive technology for it to be considered their normal way of working. But to be approved for use in exams, assistive technology should be used by the student as their normal way of working for assessments (e.g. class tests, mock exams).  

It is important however, that the student’s first use of assistive technology is not in exam conditions. If the assistive tech is not the student’s normal way of working its use may inadvertently put the student at a disadvantage. The best advice is to introduce assistive technology as soon as the student’s need is identified.

Providing assistive technology earlier ensures your students are more proficient with using the technology independently, which is important not only for use in exams, but for accessing their curriculum materials throughout the school year and developing skills to prepare them for the future.

“Using SuperNova Education Kit in my exams meant I could read, navigate, and analyse my papers independently.  It was the exact same set up I used every day,
and it made all the difference.”

Iona Wilkinson, A level graduate

Where can I get additional help and support to apply for access arrangements?

JCQ provide a range of helpful resources on their website to help schools to apply for access arrangements on behalf of their students: www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-reasonable-adjustments

In addition, organisations such as Communicate-ed provide a selection of training for teachers and SENCOs on applying the rules for access arrangements and ensuring all students in need are provided with the arrangements they need to succeed. 

Visit www.communicate-ed.org.uk to find out more.

2. Making your student’s Windows device exam-ready

Assistive Technology like SuperNova enables vison impaired students to complete their exam using a Windows laptop in a way they find accessible. However, in order to ensure the student is not provided with an unfair advantage, it is important the Windows laptop is prepared by the school’s IT Manager so that certain functions are disabled.

This section provides guidance for IT Managers to ensure the device that your student is using is compliant with requirements for use in exams.

Can students use the same device they use in the classroom?

Your IT Manager has two options. They can either:

• Provide a separate Windows device which has been prepared for the student to use in an exam
• Or add an exam profile to the student’s current device that has been prepared for use in an exam

What needs to be disabled on the Windows device?

It is important that the device is locked down to prevent the student from accessing information or functions that would provide them with an unfair advantage. This includes:

• Connectivity: Students must not be able to access the Internet, connect to any Bluetooth devices, or access any USB ports during the exam unless they are approved for providing access to the exam.
• Applications: Students must be able to access the applications they need to complete the exam only.
• Spelling and grammar:  The options for spell checking, grammar checking and predictive text must be disabled unless it has been approved as part of the application for access arrangements under the ‘scribe’ arrangement.  
• AI tools: Students must not be able to access any AI tools in the exam. This includes AI tools that function with or without an internet connection.
• Files and folders: Students should be able to access the files they need to complete the exam only. They should not be able to access other files and folders on the device.
• System functions: Additional functions which are not permitted include the ability to perform screen captures.
  
  

“All the students love the SuperNova Education Kit!
It provides access to the curriculum and helps them develop the skills
they need to move on to higher education and the workplace”

C Thomas, Specialist Teacher

What needs to be enabled on the device?

The device needs to enable the student to complete the exam. So whilst the IT Manager will need to prevent certain functions from being used, the student needs to be able to:

• Use their approved assistive technology
• Access their exam paper
• Complete their exam
• Save their completed exam for submission

3. Preparing SuperNova for use in exams

When approved by JCQ Access Arrangements Online, vision impaired students can use SuperNova to complete their examinations in a way they find accessible. However, it is important that SuperNova is set-up in line with your student’s normal way of working. In this section, we provide guidance on setting up SuperNova so it is ready for your students to use.

"Supernova has been a game-changer in how I accessed my exams."
Iona Wilkinson, VI student and SuperNova user

Is SuperNova JCQ compliant?

Yes. SuperNova is compliant with JCQ guidelines when it is used on a device which has been correctly prepared for use in exams. SuperNova provides essential accessibility in examinations, allowing vision impaired students to access and complete their examination papers independently in a way that is accessible for them using magnification, screen reading and braille.

JCQ do not approve or endorse any particular assistive technology products. Instead they ask that the assistive technology is compliant with their guidelines by focussing on providing access to examinations and not providing students with an unfair advantage.

Do I need to buy an additional SuperNova licence to use in an exam?

No - SuperNova is licenced per student and each licence comes with three activations. This means your student is able to use their SuperNova licence on up to three separate devices. So, whether your IT team is preparing the student’s classroom device for an exam, or is setting up a separate device for an exam, you will not need to purchase an extra SuperNova licence for use in exams.

"I was worried it would take a bit of getting used to, or if it would look different, but
[the assistive tech on the exam device] was the exact same as mine, and we'd set it up with all the same magnification schemes.
So, I didn't notice any difference in the exams and I could navigate the same."

Iona Wilkinson, Vision Impaired student

How do I apply the accessibility settings that my student uses in the classroom?

To ensure students are not put at a disadvantage, it is important that the student’s required accessibility settings are applied to SuperNova before the exam begins.

Whether your student will be using a new device in their exams, or an exam profile on their classroom device, there is a quick and easy way to import their accessibility settings to your student can put all of their focus and attention on their exam questions. Using the SuperNova control panel, your IT team is able to:

• Export the student’s accessibility settings on their classroom device
• Import them into SuperNova on a different device or Windows profile

Guidance for the IT team to complete this is available on the Dolphin Knowledgebase: Importing and Exporting SuperNova User Settings.

In addition to importing the student’s settings, it is also recommended that your student is able to test the device before the exam to ensure all of their accessibility needs are met. This will help to avoid any technical issues or accessibility changes needing to be made during the exam, so your student can put all of their attention into excelling in their exam.

Can students use SuperNova with a document camera or braille display in exams?

Yes. Students can use connected assistive technology devices such as document cameras and braille displays providing they have been approved in the students application for access arrangements.

SuperNova is compatible with both document cameras and braille displays.

• Document cameras support students with low vision, enabling them to use the ‘Connect & View’ feature in SuperNova to view print-based resources in a way they find accessible. Document cameras are ideal for use in exams, allowing students to view their exam paper using magnification, accessible colours and even have text from the exam paper read back to them. They will also be able to switch on the fly between using the camera to view their exam paper, and a word processor to complete their answers.

• Braille displays support students who are blind by relaying text from the computer screen in braille. Braille displays are ideal to use in examination environments. Students can either use their braille display to read and complete their exam paper, or use their braille display to read the paper while completing their answers using their keyboard.
  

Do any features need to be disabled for SuperNova to be used in an exam?

If the student’s device has been prepared correctly - with access to the Internet, files and folders blocked - there are no features that would need to be disabled to use SuperNova in examinations.

There are a small number of SuperNova features which would not be permitted in examinations. These are:

• Use of Ask AI – which includes AI Help to answer questions about how to use SuperNova, and AI Image Descriptions which provides a description of visual-based content, such as images, charts and diagrams.
• Additional tools – including the Internet Updater, in-product surveys, notifications, options to save scanned text to Google Drive, and entertainment features such as radio stations and podcasts.

Each of these features requires access to the Internet to function. Therefore by preparing the student’s device correctly, students would not be able to make use of these feature in an examination environment.

However, it is advisable for the IT team to disable the use of these options in SuperNova, which can be done quickly and easily using a tool called the ‘Enterprise Config’. Instructions for using this tool are outlined on the Dolphin Knowledgebase: Managing SuperNova Features in Secure Environments.

Can students use EasyReader in an exam?

SuperNova also includes Dolphin’s accessible reading app: EasyReader. This enables students to connect to digital libraries such as RNIB Bookshare, to download and read curriculum titles. EasyReader is an assistive technology that is permitted to use in exams to read the exam paper, but it is important to ensure that students cannot use EasyReader to access any additional content other than is needed to complete the exam.

If your school has an EasyReader Education Plan, you can set EasyReader App for Windows into ‘exam mode’. This enables you to lock down EasyReader so it is suitable for exams, only showing the student’s exam paper during the exam.

More information about how to apply exam mode is available on the Dolphin Learning Zone:
Solutions For Exams and Assessments | Accessible Reading for Educators Course

In conclusion, supporting vision‑impaired students through the exam process starts with thoughtful preparation and a clear understanding of what each learner needs to work independently.

When schools apply JCQ requirements with confidence, configure devices securely and set up SuperNova to reflect a student’s everyday practice, it creates exam environments that feel familiar and fair.

Students who enter the exam room with the right tools and a setup they trust can focus on their work and show what they’re truly capable of. By using the guidance in this document, QTVIs, SENCOs and IT teams work together to remove barriers, champion accessibility and give every learner the opportunity to achieve the results they deserve.

“You have no idea how life changing this software can be!
[My student] is now in control and independent when working.
SuperNova has given him access to his work in ways that are more
suitable for his individual vision needs.”

QTVI, Wolverhampton

Further information

To learn more about SuperNova and other Dolphin assistive technology for young people with vision impairments, dyslexia and other SEND requirements, visit yourdolphin.com

Dolphin offers a range of free resources, information and training which you are welcome to use:

• SuperNova Education Kit: Product information

• QTVI Resources: Information, Impact and Training

• CPD-accredited training course: SuperNova for Educators

• Webinar recording: Building Teacher Confidence in Assistive Tech for SEND

• Article: How SuperNova Education Kit supports the CFVI Framework

• Video: Iona’s Story - Succeeding with SuperNova Education Kit
  

Contact the Dolphin education team directly on 01905 754 577 or email info@yourdolphin.com