Exam concessions in South Africa can seem confusing at first, especially for parents trying to work out what support is available and how the process actually works. Exam concessions at Newton House School are considered fair and practical means for pupils to demonstrate what they truly know in an assessment environment to support, rather than hinder, their performance. But does your child qualify? Here’s what you need to know.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exam Concessions in South Africa
Q: What are exam concessions?
A: Exam concessions are support measures, like additional time or facilitators acting as readers or scribes. They are designed to reduce any barriers that may affect the outcome of formal assessments. Exam concessions at Newton House are viewed as an important part of creating an equitable assessment environment.
Q: What kinds of assessment accommodations are available?
A: Common assessment accommodations can include:
- Additional time
- A reader
- A scribe
- A prompter
- Spelling concessions
- Handwriting concessions
- Using a computer
Newton House can accommodate these concessions where pupils qualify based on the recommendations of an educational psychologist and where approval has been granted by the Department of Education.
In the prep school, Newton House is also currently implementing additional accommodations such as rest breaks, varied paper colour, and enlarged font to support younger learners in accessing assessments more comfortably.
Q: Who may be eligible for exam concessions in South Africa?
A: Eligibility depends on a pupil’s specific barriers to learning and the supporting evidence provided through professional assessments. A pupil may qualify if there is a significant, documented difficulty affecting their performance in formal assessments.
Concessions are granted once pupils have been assessed and show at least an average intellectual ability and a significant long-term learning disability that will compromise their performance in formal assessments. Professional reports, particularly educational psychologist reports, play an important role because they provide insight into how a pupil processes information and which learning support measures may assist them most effectively.
Q: Can a school simply decide that my child qualifies?
A: No. Teacher observations are vital, but they’re not sufficient on their own for formal approval. Teachers may identify signs that suggest a pupil could need exam concessions, such as a gap between verbal understanding and written performance or difficulty finishing tasks in the allocated time. That can trigger the process of applying for a concession, but formal supporting documentation is still required.
Teachers at Newton House carefully observe classroom performance and help identify pupils who may need specific accommodations.
Q: How does the application process work?
A: We assist in facilitating the entire application process. This includes:
- Gathering the required supporting documentation
- Compiling the necessary information for submission
- Attaching relevant reports and assessments to the application submitted to the Department of Education for formal approval
Q: How does Newton House support pupils with exam concessions?
A: Many Newton House pupils have academic concessions, so these supports are a normal and accepted part of school life. This matters more than some may realise – after all, when exam concessions are common in a school environment, pupils are less likely to feel exposed or singled out.
Those who qualify are supported by trained facilitators who understand both the purpose and limits of the accommodation. A facilitator may read questions or provide prompting, where permitted. Their role is not to help with the content of the exam, but to ensure the pupil can access the assessment fairly.
Q: What should I do next if I think my child may need learning support?
A: Start by speaking to your child’s school and sharing any concerns or existing reports. If your child is at Newton House, we can help guide the process and support the necessary steps toward formal application.
Exam concessions in South Africa exist to create fairness. If your child may benefit from learning support or formal exam concessions, Newton House offers an environment where these accommodations are understood and handled with care.
Join Newton House and give your child the opportunity to be assessed and supported in a school that takes their potential seriously.