Exam provisions are provided to assist UTS to meet its legislative obligations to reasonably accommodate students with disability. Arrangements must be implemented in a timely way and ensure quality and compliance with TEQSA requirements.
Exam provisions aim to minimise or eliminate the impact of the disability and/or health condition while maintaining academic requirements.
Exam provisions are recommended by the Accessibility Service and approved by the academic liaison officer (ALO) under Rule 8.2.
Faculties are responsible for implementing approved exam provisions for faculty-based exams.
SAU Examinations are responsible for implementing approved exam provisions for centrally conducted exams as per Rule 9.3.
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Exam provisions are applied to the following:
- quizzes, tests, online and computer based exams, timed assessment supervised and unsupervised.
- Take home exams scheduled for less than 48 hours.
- Practical exams / timed assessments such as Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), lab, simulation. An improved process to specify separate exam provisions for these types of exams is in progress. Students in consultation with their Accessibility Consultant currently identify the exam provisions applicable to practical exams which are most commonly extra time and breaks.
Exam provisions are not applied to take home exams scheduled for 48 hours duration or longer. Extended time can be requested using the extension request process.
Exam provision categories and descriptions
Extra time
This is displayed as minutes per hour, for example Exam Provision/Extra Time/Extra Time - 10 mins/hr.
This amount of time is added to the scheduled exam duration on a pro-rata basis, rounded up to the nearest half hour. The minimum amount of extra time applied to exams scheduled for less than 30 minutes is 5 minutes.
Implementation
On-campus exam: Extra time is adjusted and confirmed with the student. Students with extra time will need to sit separately to the main class to ensure that a quiet exam environment is maintained. They can share a room with others who have exam provisions.
Online exams in canvas: These can be adjusted using information for moderating quizzes in Canvas and instructions for extra time and changing the date / start time
Take-home exams (scheduled for less than 48 hours): Extra time is implemented as follows.
- 50% adjustment applied to extra time of 5-30 minutes per hour
- 3-hour window is extended to 4.5 hours
- 6-hour window is extended to 9 hours
- 12-hour window is extended to 24 hours (the 12-hour window has been extended to 24 hours instead of 18 hours to account for exams that may extend into the evening)
- 24-hour window is extended to 36 hours
- 100% adjustment applied to extra time of 35-60 minutes per hour
- 3-hour window is extended to 6 hours
- 6-hour window is extended to 12 hours
- 12-hour window is extended to 24 hours
- 24-hour window is extended to 48 hours
Assistants
Accessibility Assistant: A trained Accessibility Assistant undertakes approved tasks.
Scribe: A trained scribe writes verbatim as instructed by the student.
Reader: A trained reader reads exam paper content only as instructed by the student. Explanation or clarification is not permitted.
Implementation
On campus: Assistants are trained and allocated by Accessibility Service. Scribes and readers are also trained as exam supervisors. A separate room is required so others are not disrupted. The Accessibility Service will need faculty confirmation of exam logistics (via email Accessibility@uts.edu.au), for example, date, time, location and contact person in the faculty, at least one week before the exam date.
Online: Students may use additional extra time in lieu of their scribe / reader, which is set at 20 minutes per hour. This is in addition to the extra time provision amount of time. The Accessibility Consultant can assist with confirming this option, liaising with the student and subject coordinator.
Scribe / reader may not be required by some students for exam formats such as multiple choice / short answer and short quizzes. This can be confirmed by the Accessibility Service.
Scheduling
One exam per calendar day: Only one exam will be scheduled on the same calendar date.
Hours between exams: Exams will be scheduled at least X hours apart, calculated from the start time of the exams. Exceptions may apply for take home exams.
No afternoon exams: Exams will have a start time prior to 12pm.
No morning exams: Exams will have a start time from 12 midday.
No evening exams: Exams will have a start time prior to 4pm.
No weekend exams: Exams will not be scheduled on the weekend.
Implementation
On campus: Scheduling exam provisions are most applicable to the centrally conducted examination period, for most students. It’s best to check case by case for applicability to faculty based exams as no morning / afternoon exam provisions may require implementation, particularly if it is a significantly weighted exam / exam time. Updated exam details should be confirmed with the student one week prior.
Online exams in canvas: Can be adjusted using information for moderating quizzes in Canvas and instructions for changing the date / start time.
Room requirements
Separate room (single use): Student allocated a separate room (not shared with other students)
Exam located close to bathroom: Exam is located on the same floor as a bathroom.
Exam located close to accessible bathroom: Exam is located on the same floor as a bathroom. No stairs are between the exam room and accessible bathroom.
Natural light: Student allocated a room with windows to provide natural light.
Implementation
On campus: Room bookings or liaising with your faculty administrative exam provisions contact can assist to arrange additional room. Accessible bathroom locations can be found at Campus maps
Online: Students will set up their own room requirements.
Equipment
- Ergonomic chair with armrests
- Ergonomic chair without armrests
- Lamp (supplied by Accessibility Service)
- Headphones (supplied by student)
- Adjustable table (supplied by Accessibility Service)
- Slope table (supplied by Accessibility Service)
- Foot rest (supplied by Accessibility Service)
- Yoga mat (supplied by Accessibility Service)
Implementation
On campus: Faculties should be able to provide common furniture such as ergonomic chairs. The Accessibility Service can organise specialised equipment and furniture. The Accessibility Service will need faculty confirmation of exam logistics (via email Accessibility@uts.edu.au), for example, date, time, location and contact person in faculty, at least one week before the exam date.
Online: Students will supply their own equipment.
Assistive technology
Students may require the following to access exam content:
Software:
- Screen readers and magnification such as JAWS, NVDA, Zoomtext, including headphones supplied by student.
- Text to speech such as Dragon, including headset supplied by student.
- Read and Write, Grammarly, MS or Mac Accessibility features, including headphones supplied by student.
Hardware:
- Laptop: PC or Mac computer including external keyboard and mouse.
- Monitor
Implementation
On campus: The Accessibility Service can arrange software and hardware and will need faculty confirmation (via email Accessibility@uts.edu.au) of exam logistics, for example, date, time, location and contact person in faculty, at least one week before the exam date.
Online: Students will supply their own assistive technology software and hardware.
Accessible formats
- Paper in accessible PDF (PDF text not image): Exam paper will be provided in a digital soft copy as a pdf text document
- Font size; style; colour
- Answer booklet enlargement / paper colour
- Unable to access Multiple choice answer sheets: Student will write multiple choice responses on exam paper.
- Notes permitted: Student is permitted to bring approved notes to exam. Notes will be approved in consultation with subject coordinator for each exam.
- Split exam: Exams split into multiple sittings. The division of the paper and time will be confirmed in consultation with subject coordinator and student for each exam.
Implementation
On campus: Exam paper is re-formatted according to the requirements. Assistance can be provided by Accessibility Service.
Online: LX.lab consultation can be booked via Service Connect for assistance and to undertake an accessibility check for online exam content.
Accessibility Consultants will liaise with the subject xoordinator and student to confirm details for split exam and notes permitted.
Accessibility information
Move around/stretch: Student may walk and stretch at the back of the exam room. Best to be seated at the back of the exam room.
Water/food/medications: Student can bring own water, snack foods and medication. Food must not be in noisy packaging or have strong aromas.
Breaks during exams outside exam room: Student may take supervised breaks outside of exam room (corridor). Exam time continues throughout break.
Frequent bathroom breaks: Student may take frequent bathroom breaks. Exam time continues throughout break.
Diabetes: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Diabetes. Student monitors via device or App, set to flight mode.
Epilepsy: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Epilepsy
Hearing / Deaf: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Hearing / Deaf
Mobility: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Mobility
Panic Attacks: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Panic attacks
Seating location: Information provided to the Exam Supervisors: Seating location student to be seated* front/back of room/near the door
Visions / Blind: Information provided to Exam Supervisors: Vision/Blind
Wheelchair user: Information provided to Exam Supervisors: Wheelchair user
Implementation
On campus: Information is supplied to exam supervisors so they have required background information to assist and respond to student throughout exam. If there are any first aid or medical situations that occur, the usual process to contact Security should be followed.
Online: Students will arrange their requirements and support.