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When it comes to exams, remember that your students are not alone, and the relevant support is out there. The ExamReader has been designed especially for use in exams and is one of the first smart pens to be JCQ approved, giving neurodiverse students a chance to thrive and succeed. The following are all exam boards who have approved the use of smart pens:
JOINT COUNCIL FOR QUALIFICATIONS – JCQ (AQA, OCR, PEARSON, CITY & GUILDS, CEA, WJEC CBAC)
September 2016 - This is a centre delegated arrangement. It must be the candidate's normal way of working in class and/or mock examinations. No evidence required. It can be used in the reading section of English GCSE where a human reader isn't allowed. Click here to read the JCQ Statement
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL
September 2016 - A computer reader or reading pen is a Group 2 AA and is centre delegated. Use Form 4 to notify CIE of students who use the pen. Reading pens are allowed in the English GCSE reading section. A permitted examination reading pen will not have an in-built dictionary or thesaurus, or data storage facility. All pens must be checked before the examination to ensure they comply with these requirements.
STATE EXAMINATIONS COMMISSION - SEC
SEC encourages access to an exam reading pen as an alternative accommodation to a Reader/Reading Assistant for candidates eligible for these.
KEY STAGE 2 SATS
The ExamReader is allowed in to be used in Key Stage 2 SATs, without prior permission, as long as it is: normal classroom practice and schools have evidence to show this the equipment is used on a one-to-one basis, preferably in a separate room to the rest of the cohort it is not allowed for the English Reading section.
SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY - SQA
October 2016 Under current SQA guidance, a centre would need to submit a request to SQA for a candidate to be allowed to use a C-Pen Reader 2 (this is a pen without a dictionary or storage) in an external examination.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
IB March 2017 Apply to IB for authorisation
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE CAREER RELATED PROGRAMME
October 2016 - For the internal assessment 'speech functions' are permitted which can include digital reader pens.
COMMON ENTRANCE CE
Common Entrance recommends JCQ regs are followed, but also asks junior schools to check with the child's potential senior school.
NATIONAL OPEN COLLEGE NETWORK NOCN
December 2015 - NOCN would consider allowing the reader pen to be used if it is the normal way of working for an individual.
CITY & GUILDS
The ExamReader can be used without prior permission from City & Guilds.
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
An ExamReader is permitted without prior approval.