Support for candidates with specific needs taking ABRSM exams

Welcome to the specific needs section of our website.

On these pages, you will find information on the access arrangements and reasonable adjustments we can provide, as well as advice on how to select your candidate’s access options when you make an exam booking. If you require assistance with making your exam booking, please review the guidance and videos on our website.

What we offer

We are committed to providing fair access to our exams for candidates with specific needs. Fair access is our term to cover access arrangements and reasonable adjustments. We offer a wide range of access arrangements and reasonable adjustments for each type of exam. These might include:

• Tests in alternative formats
• Alternative tests and adaptations to standard tests
• Additional time
• The presence of a prompter or chaperone

If you require any advice on what options are most appropriate, please email our Access Coordinator ahead of making your booking.

It is important to note that we are not permitted to make allowances or concessions in the marking on account of your specific needs. All candidates are assessed equally.

Our Access Policy

Our Access Policy explains what we offer candidates with specific needs and how you should note your candidate’s requirements when making an exam booking. It also explains how to send us supporting evidence, how we handle your personal and sensitive data and what to do if your needs change or you amend your exam booking.

We review and update this policy regularly. It's therefore really important you read this policy every time you make a booking for a candidate with specific needs.

You can download the policy as a PDF. The policy is available in alternative formats upon request.

Important things to remember

• All applications for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments must be selected on the online booking form. If you need to select more than one option, please email the Access Coordinator in advance of making your booking.
• Applications for access arrangements and reasonable adjustments must be made each time the candidate is entered for an exam, even if they have entered exams with ABRSM before.
• We are unable to accept any late requests for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments. Please check your candidate’s specific needs before you book their exam.
• If you make changes to an entry after the entry closing date, we will not be able to transfer any Access Arrangement or Reasonable Adjustment to the updated booking.

Fair Access Guidelines

Our Fair Access Guidelines linked below cover Practical face to face exams for a range of specific needs, as well as Digital performance grades and Theory exams.

We constantly review and update these guidelines. We recommend you bookmark this page and refer back to them every time you make a booking for a candidate with specific needs.

• Fair Access Guidelines for Performance Grades
• Fair access guidelines for Theory Exams

Practical face to face exams and diplomas

• Fair access information for candidates with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), including dyslexia and dyspraxia
• Fair access information for candidates with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)
• Fair access information for blind and partially sighted candidates
• Fair access information for deaf and hearing-impaired candidates
• Fair access information for candidates with other health conditions or disabilities
• Fair access information for candidates using an amanuensis
• Fair access guidelines for candidates with physical restrictions or disabilities (new for 2020)