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Help your students succeed by providing alternative assessments. Learn why a student might need an alternative to exams and what you need to consider.
Why an alternative is needed
An alternative assessment may be requested by a student registered with the Accessibility Service if their ongoing health condition/disability impacts their ability to complete an exam. The time and content pressure of an exam requiring memory, sustained concentration and performance within a specific timeframe can create barriers to demonstrating knowledge.
Alternative assessment process
Find out more about the process in our Alternative assessments resource.
Alternatives to exams vs exam provisions
Exam provisions are adjustments to an exam that aim to help the student attempt the exam in an exam environment. These are approved by Academic Liaison Officers. Examples include: additional time, breaks, use of assistive technology, scribes or readers.
Alternatives to exams are required if a student is unable to complete an exam or adequately demonstrate their knowledge even with exam provisions. These are approved by Subject Coordinators.
Exam provision process
Find out more about the process in our Exam provisions resource.
Alternative options
It’s important to keep in mind that each student’s requirements for alternative assessments might be different, but these are some potential options:
- Alternate take-home exams or assessments with extended time: consider allowing 24 hours to 1 week depending on the task and learning requirements.
- 1:1 viva voce/oral presentation: allow the student to demonstrate their knowledge of the exam content to their teacher.
- Split exams: assist students to manage extended periods of time for exams, or break the task into smaller and more achievable chunks while managing their condition impacts. Be mindful if a student is anxious about the exam environment, this option may not be suitable as they may live the heightened anxiety experience twice for the same task.
- Access to resources/open book: allow students access to notes or other content to assist in reducing the memory aspect for the exam and enable the focus on applying knowledge.
- Re-weighting: remove or reduce the weighting of the exam and onto other assessments to ease the pressure.
What you need to consider
Alternative assessments need to be reasonable, so there are some key questions to ask when considering a request:
- Does the alternative meet the subject learning outcomes?
- Does it adhere to the inherent requirements of a course?
- Is it feasible to implement?
- Are there more authentic ways to demonstrate knowledge and skills?