Reasonable Adjustments for Exams and Assessments
What are Reasonable Adjustments?
Reasonable adjustments are changes made to exams or assessments to make them fair and accessible for students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or specific learning differences.
If you’re ill or injured before an exam
If you can’t sit an exam because of a short-term illness or injury:
- You’ll usually need to resit in August or in the relevant semester next academic year (unless you've failed more credits than allowed for August resits).
- Other arrangements are only possible in exceptional cases and require medical evidence.
Important: Requests made less than 7 working days before an exam usually cannot be processed.
Long-Term Support and Study Needs Assessments
- If you have a disability or long-term health condition, you can request adjustments.
- Submit your request at least 5 term-time weeks before your exam.
- Adjustments depend on:
- The nature of your request
- How practical it is to implement in time
What You Need to Do
- Gather your evidence:
- Medical evidence for short-term illness, or
- A study needs assessment for long-term support
- Book an appointment with an Accessibility Adviser in Student Services.
- The Adviser will review your evidence and recommend adjustments to the Assistant Registrar.
Our Commitment
The University aims to make assessments accessible for all students. This includes:
​Alternative assessments for students with:
- Disabilities
- Specific learning differences
- Long-term health conditions or impairments
Find Out More
For full details, read the Policy for Making Reasonable Adjustments to Examinations.
What can the Undeb Aber Advice Service do to help?
The Undeb Aber Advice Service is independent from the University and provides a free, confidential and impartial service to all Aberystwyth University students.
The Advice Service can assist you in a range of ways, including:
- Discuss your circumstances in confidence either in person, over the phone or by email.
- Review any draft statements that you prepare and offer suggestions.
- Accompany you to any meetings to provide support and representation.
- Help you to collate appropriate evidence to support your case.
To make an appointment to discuss all your options, including what support is available to you, please contact us.
Contact an Advisor
Remember: We can only help if you tell us what’s going on.
Useful links:
First Produced: October 2025
Reviewed: October 2025