Jcq Special Considerations 2024

Every year, thousands of students across the UK face exams under challenging circumstances. In recognition of this, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) offers a structured process called Special Considerations. For 2024, the JCQ Special Considerations guidelines continue to ensure that students who face temporary illness, injury, or personal misfortunes are fairly supported during exam periods. These provisions aim to uphold both compassion and academic integrity, ensuring no student is unfairly disadvantaged while maintaining consistency across awarding bodies.

Understanding JCQ Special Considerations

What are Special Considerations?

Special considerations are adjustments made to a candidate’s marks or arrangements to account for unexpected circumstances. These adjustments are not intended to compensate for long-term or chronic conditions, but rather for temporary situations that occur at or near the time of an exam. The JCQ’s role is to provide clear guidance to schools and colleges to apply these adjustments fairly and consistently.

Examples of Eligible Situations

• Recent bereavement of a family member or close friend
• Sudden illness or accident shortly before or during an exam
• Hospitalization or surgery
• Family disruption (e.g., divorce or domestic trauma)
• Exams disrupted by natural disasters or serious incidents

JCQ Special Considerations Policy 2024

General Principles

The 2024 JCQ guidelines stress that special consideration is only applied when all of the following are true:

• The candidate has been fully prepared for the exam.
• The difficulty was temporary, unforeseen, and occurred close to the exam period.
• The application is supported by appropriate documentation (e.g., a medical note, police report, or school statement).

Categories of Special Consideration

There are two primary categories recognized by JCQ:

• Access Arrangements: Applied before an exam to accommodate known conditions (e.g., extra time, a scribe).
• Special Consideration: Applied after the exam when an event affected a candidate’s performance.

For Special Consideration specifically, JCQ 2024 outlines both non-exam assessment cases (coursework) and exam-based cases, with each having distinct application procedures.

How to Apply for Special Consideration

Application Process

The application is usually submitted by the exams officer or head of centre at the candidate’s school or college. The deadline is within seven days of the last exam in the affected subject. All applications must be made online through the awarding body’s system.

Required Documentation

Depending on the circumstance, the application must be supported by:

• A medical certificate or letter from a doctor
• A statement from a counselor or therapist
• Evidence of emergency (e.g., accident report, obituary)
• School or centre statement confirming the event’s timing and impact

Automatic Adjustments vs. Re-examination

JCQ does not allow re-sits as the default solution. Instead, they apply small adjustments to the final grade, typically ranging from 1% to 5% depending on severity. The highest adjustment is reserved for the most severe cases where the student was able to attempt the paper despite the hardship.

Scenarios in 2024 Where Special Consideration Might Apply

Mental Health Challenges

JCQ 2024 emphasizes sensitivity to rising cases of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, especially post-pandemic. Students suffering from short-term mental health episodes verified by a professional may be eligible, provided the impact occurred during the exam period.

COVID-19 or Similar Health Disruptions

While COVID-19 is no longer considered an exceptional case, illness from related symptoms or isolation requirements that coincide with exam days can still be grounds for consideration, particularly if medically documented.

Public Transportation Interruptions

In 2024, if a candidate is delayed or misses an exam due to a verified public transport strike or breakdown, schools can apply for special consideration if other criteria are met (such as arriving within the allowable late time).

Limitations and Clarifications

What Does Not Qualify

JCQ explicitly states that the following circumstances typically do not qualify for special consideration:

• Minor illnesses like a cold or headache without medical evidence
• English as an additional language
• Long-term conditions unless a short-term deterioration occurs
• Lack of preparation or exam stress
• Transportation issues without proof

How Much Consideration is Given?

The maximum adjustment is typically:

• 5%for exceptionally severe cases
• 4%for very serious problems
• 3%for clearly evident issues with moderate impact
• 2%for minor events
• 1%for very slight impacts, such as a minor headache

These percentages are applied to the raw score, and awarding bodies will decide the final impact based on submitted evidence.

Roles of Schools and Teachers

Support and Monitoring

Teachers and school staff are often the first to recognize signs of distress or difficulty. It is their responsibility to report concerns to the exams officer and ensure that candidates are informed of their rights under JCQ policy.

Communication with Parents

Schools must communicate clearly with parents or guardians about the application timeline, the need for documentation, and what adjustments to expect. Misunderstandings about outcomes can be avoided by setting realistic expectations early.

Post-Examination Review

When Consideration Is Not Enough

In rare cases, if a candidate believes the special consideration adjustment did not fairly reflect the impact of their situation, schools can request a review or appeal. However, this must be based on new or stronger evidence than originally submitted.

Impact on Results

Most adjustments are subtle and not intended to shift a candidate’s grade drastically unless justified. The aim is fairness, not advantage, ensuring all students are assessed on a level playing field.

JCQ Special Considerations 2024 provide a fair and compassionate system for dealing with unexpected hardships that affect examination performance. By following a clear set of rules and offering modest yet meaningful adjustments, the system respects both the needs of individual students and the integrity of national qualifications. As mental health awareness grows and educational pressures evolve, JCQ’s role in supporting students during exam season is more important than ever. Students, parents, and educators should all be familiar with these policies to ensure that, in times of crisis, academic progress is not unnecessarily hindered.