Guide to taking exams with alternative arrangements

If you are a student who has an Access Plan or Alternative Exam Arrangements, gather around!

The University of Adelaide has a great disability support program, which includes alternative arrangements for exam assessments to suit your individual needs. This is something I have been so grateful for during my university experience which has truly allowed me to excel. It can be hard to take on university without proper support, which can impact not only your ability to succeed but also your confidence. In my personal experience, having alternative arrangements has made me feel ready, confident and even excited to take on exams.

So, if you also have alternative exam arrangements, I just wanted to share some of my experience and tips as someone who has done this for a few years now. In saying that, I know that everyone is different and each situation is completely individual. I hope this helps but I also completely get it may not apply to you!

1. Get into disability support early on to set up your alternative exam arrangements. The earlier you have this ready, the easier it will be when it comes to exam time and you can just sit back and relax. A good example of this is at the start of the academic year. 

2. Make and take a copy of your arrangements with you to the exam. Usually, things are pretty great but occasionally there are mix-ups and it can help to have your documentation with you to help clear anything up. 

3. My exams have typically been on campus - I'm not sure if this applies to everyone - and if yours is too, it's a great idea to check out the room beforehand if you can. Knowing where it is before the day really helps, as well as familiarising yourself with the environment.

4. Establish an exam day routine where you can maximise potential. For me, this means hitting the gym, having a nutritious meal (depending on the time of the exam) and taking some time to read through notes. 

5. Speak to the disability support team if you have any concerns or questions about your arrangements!

I hope this helps as much as it did me. Best of luck with exam season, you got this!