Adjustments to meet your needs Online invigilation (proctoring)

Even if you haven't needed adjustments previously, you may need them for an invigilated exam. You'll receive emails from us asking if you need any adjustments. Adjustments can include additional breaks or specific equipment that will help you complete your exam.

It's important to discuss any adjustments with us if you have a disability, health condition, are pregnant, a nursing mother, or a carer.

You can also contact us if you have any concerns about online invigilation because of your religious beliefs.

Adjustments will need to be in place if you'll need to move away from your exam before it's completed.

You should complete the form to Request arrangements for your online invigilated exam as soon as possible.

What we need to know

Listed below are some of the adjustments you need to tell us about to support your health, disability, or caring responsibilities during your online invigilated exam.

• Human assistant during the exam such as an oral language modifier, amanuensis, scribe, non-medical helper or medical helper.
• Wearing a watch for medical reasons.
• Background noise such as a radio or television.
• Additional permitted materials (when others are not permitted the same materials) for example fidget spinners, aids to support anxiety, medical detection animals.
• Speaking or reading aloud.
• Food for medical reasons.
• An alternative form of identification.
• Personal external medical devices such as an oxygen device.
• Hearing aids.
• Insulin pump and glucose monitors.
• Speech to text programs.
• Text to speak programs.
• Additional monitor, PC or desk equipment.
• Other external devices including smartphones for medical monitoring.
• Prompt sheet.

Students with a disability

If you have a disability, you may be able to continue using specialist equipment that supports your study, such as a screen reader. If you've shared a disability with us, we’ll contact you a few weeks after your module begins to discuss with you what you need for your exam. The adjustments you need to support you to take an online invigilated exam might be different to those you had in place for previous (non-invigilated) exams at The Open University. For that reason, it’s important you tell us about your needs so we can offer the most appropriate support, go to Exam arrangement for disabled students.

If you haven’t shared a disability and want to now, go to Tell us about your disability.