VCAA Special Provisions

Special Provisions may be made to meet the needs of students who have physical or other disabilities and/or illnesses that would prevent them from achieving their best in an examination. There are specific criteria which the student must meet and documentation needs to be submitted to the VCAA. 

Special provisions have been designed to support students who may be experiencing significant hardship. It allows them to more confidently demonstrate what they know, and what they can do. It is important to note that special provisions are not allowances, and the work required by the student remains the same. The main purpose of special provisions is to remove any barriers which prevent the student from demonstrating what they are capable of. 

Eligibility for Special Provision

A student may be eligible for special provisions if they are impacted by:

• acute or chronic illness (physical or psychological)
• an impairment or disability, including learning disabilities
• any factors relating to personal environment

Special provisions will NOT be considered for:

• prolonged absence from school not related to one of the above factors
• teacher absence and other teacher difficulties, or
• unfamiliarity with the English language

The onus is on the student to apply to the VCE Administrator for Special Provision. Students who are eligible for Special Provision are not exempt from meeting the requirements for the satisfactory completion of the VCE or from being assessed against the outcomes for a study.

If a student is granted Special Provision the provision will be an equivalent alternative arrangement. The provision will not give the student an advantage over other students.

Special Provision in Units 1 & 2

The school is responsible for determining eligibility and the nature of any provisions granted at this level. All students applying for special provisions must present documented supporting evidence. The purpose of this is to avoid providing students with provisions in Year 11, which they may become dependent on, and which may not be approved by VCAA the following year. To have internal special provisions approved for Units 1 & 2, students and their parents/carers should contact the Head of Year 11.

Special Provision in Units 3 & 4

Students studying a Unit 3 & 4 subject (including accelerated Year 11 students) who wish to apply for special provisions, must submit an application to the VCAA. The VCAA determines whether a student is eligible for provisions and grants approval in the form of Special Examination Arrangements. All students should contact the Head of Year 12, for further information.  

Special Provision Arrangements may include:

• Rest breaks
• Extra working time
• Separate rooms for individual students
• Use of a computer, tablet or assistive technology
• Readers
• Scribes

Requests for Special Provisions must be submitted by Friday 6 March 2026. VCAA will require recent evidence from a health practitioner or specialist to support an application. 

Despite the March deadline, there remains an opportunity for emergency provisions after this date, with Emergency Examination Arrangements available throughout the year up to the day of an exam. 

Contact the Head of Year 12 as soon as you become aware of any situation, as they facilitate all applications and provide advice.

*NB: Provisions applied for in Years 10 and 11 are used to support applications in Year 12. Provisions are approved in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) in consultation with the relevant Head of Year Level.

VCAA Special Provisions: Summary – 2026 

The following provides an overview of the VCAA’s Special Examination Arrangements (SEAs) policy and process for 2026, supporting equitable access to VCE external assessments.

Special Provision Legislative Context

• SEAs ensure students affected by disability, illness, or other circumstances can fairly demonstrate their capabilities.
• Adjustments must be reasonable, evidence-based, and not solely reliant on diagnosis.
• Schools must comply with the Disability Standards for Education (2005) to make ‘reasonable’ adjustments so that students are not disadvantaged, and the Education and Training Reform Act (2006) to make, approve and grant Special Provision.’

Roles and Responsibilities

Schools

• Identify eligible students and submit SEA applications by the deadline.
• Trial provisions during school-based assessments.
• Communicate approved SEAs to students, staff, and supervisors.
• Implement only VCAA-approved SEAs during exams.

VCAA

• Support schools in applying the policy.
• Process applications and communicate approvals.
• Base decisions on school-observed functional impacts, not diagnosis alone.

Students and Parents

• Actively participate in the SEA process.
• Collect and share relevant information and feedback.
• Advocate and make suggestions based on their day-to-day knowledge of their child’s condition and school/assessment experience.
• Must be consulted, but schools determine what is reasonable.

Application Requirements

• Student Consent Form: Must include correct VCAA number, date, and signature.
• School-Based Evidence Form: 
  • Diagnosis or impairment
  • Functional impact on learning and assessments
  • History of provisions used

  • Rationale for each requested provision

     

• Optional Supporting Documents: Diagnostic reports, treatment plans, ILPs, teacher observations.

Examples of SEA Provisions

• Extra working time 
• Rest breaks
• Separate room (renamed “Separate room – individual student”)
• Use of laptop
• Medication, food/drink, sensory tools

Common Conditions and Functional Impacts

Common Challenges and Misunderstandings

• Submitting provisions not trialled or supported by evidence
• Miscommunication between school, student, and supervisor
• Incorrect implementation of rest breaks and extra time

• Emergency applications used for ongoing conditions

   

**Please note:

• Smaller Group Setting: Most students approved for Special Examination Arrangements will sit their exam in a smaller group setting. 
• Separate Individual Room: A separate individual room is only approved when a student’s documented needs mean they cannot sit an exam in any shared space. This arrangement is reserved for significant medical, psychological, or behavioural circumstances and requires strong supporting evidence.

• Important Note: The VCAA determines the most appropriate setting based on the evidence provided. Schools cannot allocate individual rooms on request. Most students who need a reduced‑distraction environment will be placed in a smaller group, not an individual room.

   

Key Dates for 2026