You want your child’s grades to show what they know, not how fast they can write. Yet during exams, it’s common to see even well-prepared students struggle to finish on time.
In most cases, it’s not about the ability but the pace.
Some children simply need more time to read questions, organise their thoughts, or put their ideas on paper. Similarly, those with learning differences or slower processing speeds face unnecessary time constraints.
The good news? UK exam boards recognise this and offer adjustments called access arrangements, with extra time being one of the most common.
As SEN specialists, we often hear parents say, “Where do we even start?” Schools have procedures to follow, and assessments are usually needed before extra time can be granted.
Don’t worry.
This guide explains how to get extra time in exams in the UK, qualification criteria, and what you can do to get the right support for your child before the exam season begins.
Extra time is not given automatically.
According to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which oversees exam arrangements across the UK, schools must prove that a child’s difficulty is affecting their ability to complete exams on time. From our experience with special educational needs tutoring, we often encounter the following common profiles that receive extra time.
If your child has dyslexia, you may notice they take longer to read questions or understand instructions. This means they spend more time decoding the paper than actually writing their answers. In these cases, special educational needs tutoring can help them develop practical strategies to process text more efficiently, while schools can apply for extra time to make sure their knowledge is reflected in the results.
Children with attention differences, such as ADHD, often lose time during exams due to lapses in focus or difficulty sustaining concentration. If your child has this, the ADHD
tutoring in London can teach practical techniques to manage distractions and strengthen pace, while extra time will let them complete all questions without the constant pressure.
Dyspraxia can make handwriting slow, tiring, or even painful over long exam papers. A student in this situation can benefit from Dyspraxia tutoring in London, which often recommends using a laptop or extra time so the exam measures what they know rather than their physical speed.
Some children take longer to comprehend information and organise their responses, even when they know the answer. Formal assessments can reveal these differences. By combining individualised SEN tutoring with approved extra time, you can make sure that your child’s pace doesn’t affect their performance.
Other learning difficulties may slow reading, writing, or organisation. You may see this in classroom tasks or mock exams. In this scenario, SEN tutoring for learning difficulties can help your child build their skills and confidence. While schools can provide extra time to make sure assessments reflect ability rather than speed.
Many parents assume that they can request extra time shortly before exams. However, in practice, schools follow a structured process which applies to all.
From our experience supporting families through Individualised SEN tutoring, the outlined steps below reflect the typical approach schools use.
Notice whether your child regularly leaves exam questions unfinished or struggles to complete timed assessments.
Arrange a meeting with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Share your observations and provide any relevant reports.
For extra time to be approved, it must already be part of the student’s usual classroom support. This means your child should regularly use it in school tests and mock exams.
The school may organise an assessment with a specialist teacher or an educational psychologist to measure reading, writing, and processing speed.
If the assessment confirms the need for extra time, the SENCO completes the official application and submits it to the exam board.
Once approved, the arrangement becomes part of your child’s exam profile and will apply to their GCSE, A Level, or IB assessments.
Exam timing can be confusing for parents. Extra time can’t be arranged at the last minute because schools need to show it’s part of your child’s usual way of working.
Therefore, a typical timeline looks like this:
Please note that starting early allows enough time for assessments and consistent support.
The most common arrangement is 25% extra time. However, some students with greater needs may receive additional allowances.
The table below presents how extra time changes the length of common exam papers.
Overall, it’s a good idea for your child to practise past papers under these conditions so they get used to the longer time.
Some schools conduct evaluations internally, but some parents also consider a private option, especially if they want to start the process early.
The table below gives a guide to typical costs you might expect:
These reports show schools why extra time or other support is needed. The right option depends on your child and what your school can provide.
Extra time in exams is only part of the solution. Your child also needs effective strategies to use that time well, stay organised, and answer each question clearly. In such a scenario, working with experienced special educational needs tutors can really help, as they know what exams require and how to support your child’s learning style.
At HRB Education, we create a supportive environment where your child can feel more confident in their learning. Our SEN tutors help students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other learning differences to succeed in GCSE, A Level, and IB exams.
Overall, with the right support, exams can easily represent what your child really knows and what they’re capable of.
Book a consultation with our specialised SEN tutor now.
Your child can get extra time through an assessment by the school’s SENCO or a qualified specialist. The school must show that your child’s learning difficulty affects their exam performance and that extra time is already part of their usual classroom support.
You can increase your child’s preparation during exams through regular practice with timed past papers. Many students also benefit from specialised tutoring to improve their exam technique and time management.
ADHD does not automatically guarantee extra time. However, if assessments show that attention difficulties significantly affect concentration or task completion, schools may apply for access arrangements.
A two-hour exam becomes 150 minutes with 25% extra time, which is equivalent to two hours and thirty minutes.
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