Special Considerations Policyfor PeopleCert exams

April 2024
Version 2.0Public© 2017 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
Process: Quality Management & Excellence | ID No: ….ver01.0 / 28.12.17

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 41.1

THIS POLICY OUTLINES:.................................................................................................................................... 41.2

PARTNERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES........................................................................................................................... 41.3

REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 41.4

ARRANGEMENTS NOT COVERED BY THIS POLICY............................................................................................... 41.5

APPEALS.......................................................................................................................................................... 41.6

POLICY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... 42

PROCESS FOR REQUESTING SPECIAL CONSIDERATION ......................................................... 53HOW WE WILL MANAGE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS ........................................... 54DEFINITION OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................ 65CONTACT US ............................................................................................................................... 66MAKING SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................................... 7

APPENDIX 1 – GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................... 8© 2024 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
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ID No: ECS_PO_26-5 Special Considerations Policy for PeopleCert exams ver2.0|08/04/2024
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Document Revision HistoryVersionDate2.01.008/04/2024
05/12/2022

Description of Change
2024 Rebranding
Initial version© 2024 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
Process: Manage and Support Exams
ID No: ECS_PO_26-5 Special Considerations Policy for PeopleCert exams ver2.0|08/04/2024
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This policy is for candidates have taken a PeopleCert examination.
It is also for use by our staff to ensure they deal with all special consideration requests in a consistentmanner.

1.1

This policy outlines:•

Our arrangements for special considerations and how candidates qualify.

•What special considerations will be given to candidates.

1.2

Partners’ responsibilities

Our partners must make sure candidates are fully aware of this policy.

1.3

Review arrangements

We will review the policy annually as part of our self-evaluation arrangements and revise it whennecessary in response to partner and candidate feedback, changes in our practices, or changes inlegislation.
If you would like to provide feedback, please contact quality@peoplecert.org

1.4

Arrangements not covered by this policy

Our partners delivering and candidates taking our languages qualifications should refer to theLanguageCert reasonable adjustments and special consideration policy.

1.5

Appeals

If you wish to appeal against our decision to decline requests for special consideration arrangements,
please refer to our PeopleCert Appeals policy.

1.6

Policy overview

PeopleCert is committed to complying with all current and relevant legislation in relation to thedevelopment and delivery of our qualifications and which at the time of writing includes, but is not limited
to, the Equality Act 2010.
PeopleCert, and its partners, must ensure that all candidates are treated equally, and that noPeopleCert learner or examination candidate is discriminated against in relation to age, disability,
gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief,sex, or sexual orientation.
Assessment should be a fair test of candidates’ knowledge and what they are able to do.
We recognise that special considerations may be required where:•

Candidates have a temporary disability, medical condition or learning needs.

•Candidates are indisposed at the time of the assessment.

The provision special consideration is made to ensure that candidates receive recognition of theirachievement so long as the equity, validity and reliability of the assessments can be assured. Sucharrangements are not concessions to make assessment easier for candidates.

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For a PeopleCert business and IT examination, our candidates may apply directly to us. Our partner
may choose to assist them.
In either case, the candidate, or the partner with the candidate, should complete a ‘Special
Consideration request form’ and in doing so supply relevant supporting information, including:Candidate’s name, the Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) name, and registration number.
Nature of, and rationale for, the request.
Supporting information/evidence (e.g., medical evidence, a statement from the invigilator for a paperbased examination, or any other appropriate information).
Requests for special consideration should be submitted as soon as possible after the exam and nolater than 5 days after the exam. Requests for special consideration may only be accepted after theresults of assessment have been released in the following circumstances:•Application has been overlooked by a partner and the oversight is confirmed by the partner.

•Medical evidence comes to light about a candidate’s condition, which demonstrates that thecandidate must have been affected by the condition at the time of the assessment, even though
the problem revealed itself only after the assessment.

If the application for special consideration is successful, the candidate’s performance will be reviewed
in the light of available evidence. It should be noted that a successful application of special consideration
will not necessarily change a candidate’s result.

We aim to respond to all requests within 48 hours of receipt. If we are unable to respond within thistimeframe for a legitimate reason, we will provide you with an estimated response date.
In considering an application, we will:•

Review the evidence and rationale submitted by the partner/candidate to assess the merits of theclaim and whether the incident is valid and a special consideration should apply.

•Review the examination specifications to determine whether such a consideration can bereasonably applied and to confirm that it will not provide an unfair advantage to the candidate(s).

In all cases, we will communicate our decision to the applicant and in doing so outline the extent towhich a special consideration will be applied. If an application is rejected, we will provide a clear
rationale as to why and in doing so inform the applicant that the candidate or partner have the right toappeal the decision in accordance with the arrangements outlined in our Appeals policy.

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Special consideration can be applied after an assessment if there was a reason the candidate may
have been disadvantaged during the assessment. For example, special consideration could apply to acandidate who had temporarily experienced:•An illness or injury.

•Some other event outside of their control (e.g., exam conditions) which has had, or is reasonably
likely to have had, a material effect on that candidate’s ability to demonstrate their level ofattainment in an assessment.

Special consideration should not give the candidate an unfair advantage; neither should its use cause
the user of the certificate to be misled regarding a candidate’s achievements. The candidate’s resultmust reflect their achievement in the assessment and not necessarily their potential ability.
PeopleCert’s decision to award special consideration will be based on various factors, which may varyfrom candidate to candidate and from one assessment to another. These factors may, for example,
include the severity of the circumstances and the nature of the assessment.
It may not be possible to apply special consideration where:•An assessment requires the candidate to demonstrate practical competence or where criteria haveto be met fully, or in the case of qualifications that confer a ‘Licence to Practise’.

•An assessment has been missed.

In some circumstances, it may be more appropriate to offer the candidate an opportunity to take theassessment at a later date.

For any queries about the contents of the policy, please contact us using the help and support channels
available on our website here:Help and support© 2024 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
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We will review the circumstances and evidence surrounding each request for special consideration toensure that the decision made maintains the equity, validity, and reliability of the assessment for thecandidate and does not give the candidate an unfair advantage.
A candidate who is fully prepared and present for a scheduled assessment may be eligible for special
consideration if:•Part of an assessment has been missed due to circumstances beyond the control of the candidate.

•Performance in the assessment is materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond theircontrol. These include:oTemporary illness or accident/injury at the time of the assessment.

oBereavement at the time of the assessment.

oSerious disturbance during an examination.

oAccidental events at the time of the assessment such as being given the wrong examination,or the failure of a nearly completed examination because of technical issues within our control.

•There is a sufficient difference between the part of the assessment to which special consideration
is applied and other parts of the qualification that have been achieved to infer that the candidate
could have performed more successfully in the assessment.

•Reasonable adjustments that were agreed in advance of the assessment proved inappropriate orinadequate.

A candidate will not be eligible for special consideration if no evidence is supplied to verify that thecandidate has been affected at the time of the assessment by a particular condition.
A candidate will not be eligible for special consideration if performance in the examination is affectedby:•

Domestic inconvenience, such as moving house, taking holidays at the time of the assessment.

•Long-term illness unless the illness manifests at the time of the assessment.

•

The consequences of taking alcohol or recreational drugs.

•

The consequences of disobeying PeopleCert’s online and paper-based examination regulations.

•

The failure of a partner to prepare candidates properly for the examination for whatever reason.

•Preparation for an examination affected by difficulties during the course (e.g., staff shortages,building work or lack of facilities).

•Failing to attend the examination at the right time and/or right place.

•Misreading the instructions of the examination and answering the wrong questions.

•Making personal arrangements, such as a wedding or holiday arrangements, which conflict with theexamination timetable.

•A disability or learning difficulties (diagnosed or undiagnosed) unless illness affects the candidate
at the time of the assessment, or where the disability exacerbates what would otherwise be a minor
issue (difficulties over and above those that previously approved reasonable adjustments wouldhave alleviated).

•

Technical issues within the control of the candidate (such as battery failure or bringing a laptop not
meeting the requirements of our written instructions).

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TermDefinition

AppealA process through which an awarding organisation or centre may bechallenged on the outcome of a decision.

Assessment

The process of making judgments about the extent to which acandidate’s work meets the assessment criteria for a qualification or unit,or part of a unit.

Assessment criteria

The requirements that a candidate needs to meet in order to achieve
success (or a given grade) in a qualification, unit, or part of a unit.

Assessment method

The means by which an individual’s competence is judged.

Assessment task

An activity undertaken by an individual candidate to show that they canmeet the required standard.

Assessor

The person who assesses a candidate’s work.

Competence

The ability to perform to the required standard.

Invigilator

A person who supervises individuals taking an examination orassessment, sometimes called a Proctor.

Learning programme

A course of study.

Malpractice

Actions and practices which threaten the integrity of public qualifications.

ProctorA person who supervises individuals taking an examination orassessment, sometimes called an Invigilator.

Standards

The combination of knowledge, understanding and skills required toperform a job or task to the level of competence required in theworkplace.

Special consideration

Procedures implemented at the time of an examination to allow
attainment to be demonstrated by a candidate who has been
disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury, indisposition, or adverse
circumstances at the time of the examination.

© 2024 PeopleCert | All rights reserved
Process: Manage and Support Exams
ID No: ECS_PO_26-5 Special Considerations Policy for PeopleCert exams ver2.0|08/04/2024
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