Special Examination Arrangements for Specific Learning Disorders such as Dyslexia
- Vanessa Gunton

- Apr 28, 2024
- 1 min read
Specific learning disorders can impact a student’s ability to demonstrate their knowledge in timed assessments and to effectively access the curriculum. Students with a diagnosis of a specific learning disorder, such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and/or Dyscalculia, are eligible to receive special examination arrangements such as additional working time. An assessment of a student’s literacy and/or numeracy skills, phonological processing and cognitive ability with a qualified psychologist is required to determine eligibility to receive special examination arrangements.

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) of Western Australia provides Special Examination Arrangements to Year 12 students with a range of medical and psychological conditions, including specific learning disorders. Students applying for special examination arrangements for ATAR require mandatory functional literacy and/or numeracy assessments to be conducted in Year 10 or later. There are assessment tools preferred by SCSA, and the psychologist conducting the assessment needs to be familiar with the tests that will best support the case for an application on the basis of a specific learning disorder.
Butterfly Psychology for Kids Perth conducts psychological and educational assessments to determine if an adolescent meets the diagnostic criteria for a specific learning disorder and evaluates the functional impact and severity of their learning disability. The assessment tools used in our test battery, preferred by SCSA, include the WAIS-IV, WISC-V, WIAT-III, CTOPP-2, and TOWRE-2.
Click here for further information.
Source: School Curriculum and Standards Authority




Your article insightfully details how critical a professional assessment is for students with specific learning disorders like Dyslexia to qualify for essential examination arrangements. It truly underscores the importance of equitable opportunities for students to showcase their abilities. As you mentioned, a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified psychologist, assessing literacy, numeracy, and cognitive ability, forms the foundation for determining eligibility. For parents and educators in Western Australia seeking to understand these diagnostic pathways and secure necessary support, exploring specialised assessment services in WA can be a crucial next step.