Special considerations

In this section you can find everything you need to know about special considerations.

Request for special considerations

Before submitting a request for special considerations, please ensure that you have read the JCQ Guide to the Special Consideration Process (external link):

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Definition

There may be times when a learner is disadvantaged in some way at the time of an assessment for reasons outside of their control. This could include temporary illness, injury, or adverse circumstances which have impacted the learner’s ability to demonstrate their usual level of attainment at the time of the assessment.

A special consideration is a post-assessment adjustment that, where applicable and appropriate, can help to mitigate the impact on a learner. This could include a small mark adjustment for learners who were present for an assessment but disadvantaged, or in some cases may include a mark adjustment made by NCFE if a learner was absent from an assessment for acceptable reasons.

Special consideration requests can only be submitted by a centre, and before submitting any request you must ensure you have reviewed our policy linked above.

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Timescales

For V Cert and T Level external assessments, you must submit any Summer 2026 Special Consideration requests by 1st July 2026. We will only accept requests submitted after this deadline in exceptional circumstances, and this may impact our ability to release results on the advertised results release date.

Timescales for Summer V Cert & T Level external assessment requests vary by series. Please refer to the JCQ guidance for deadlines for each series.

You must submit requests relating to

internal assessment
CACHE external assessment
Functional Skills external assessment.

no later than five working days after the assessment has taken place or the assessment window has closed.

Requests submitted after this deadline will only be accepted in the most exceptional circumstances, and may impact our ability to release results on the advertised results release date.

How to submit

We will aim to review your request within 5 working days of it being received. Please use the following forms to request special considerations:

Special consideration submission form

Lost centre-assessed work