Cambridge (IGCSE, AS and A Level) and the IB both give access arrangements such as extra time, a reader, a scribe, a word processor and rest breaks to students with disabilities, learning difficulties or medical conditions. Your child's school applies on their behalf, the arrangement must match how your child normally works in class, and the board decides based on a professional report plus evidence from the school.
The catch for Indian families is the evidence. A CBSE-style disability certificate is usually not enough. Cambridge and the IB both want a recent report with standardised test scores, written in English, and they work to deadlines months before the exam. Start the conversation with the school's exams officer or IB coordinator at least a year ahead.
What access arrangements are, in plain terms
The Cambridge Handbook 2026 describes access arrangements as pre-exam arrangements that reduce barriers for candidates with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries, without changing what the exam is testing. The IB's Access and inclusion policy (published 2022, updated November 2023) takes the same line: arrangements remove or reduce barriers, and must never give an advantage.
Three principles run through both boards:
- Normal way of working. If your child has never used a laptop in class, the board will not expect them to suddenly need one in the exam. The IB says it will only in exceptional cases approve arrangements put in place in the last six months before exams.
- The school applies, not the parent. At Cambridge schools, the exams officer submits the request. At IB schools, the IB coordinator submits it with the support of the head of school.
- Same certificate. Cambridge states that candidates are assessed against the same objectives, so their grades and certificates carry the same validity.
Cambridge IGCSE access arrangements
The Handbook lists arrangements including extra time, a human reader or computer reader, a scribe, a word processor, supervised rest breaks, a prompter, reading pens, voice-activated software and, rarely, exemptions. Modified papers (enlarged print, coloured paper, braille and others) are requested separately.
Extra time on IGCSE papers
- Extra time up to 25% should meet the needs of most candidates.
- Extra time over 25% is only for candidates with very significant and persistent difficulties and a strong justification, such as multiple disabilities or a very severe disability or illness.
- New for 2026: a candidate working with one or two of a computer reader, human reader, scribe or practical assistant for the whole exam can have 25% extra time; with three or more, 50%. The school must still apply.
- Schools must consider supervised rest breaks before extra time. A child who mainly needs a break, for example for ADHD restlessness or a medical need, should usually get rest breaks rather than more time.
Evidence Cambridge asks for
- It must explain how the condition is a barrier in exams.
- It must be dated within four years of the exam and verified by a suitable professional, for example a medical professional, educational or clinical psychologist, or an appropriately qualified specialist teacher, who signs it and lists their qualifications.
- It must be in English. Translations must be signed by the translator, a legal representative, or the head of centre and one other staff member.
- Where relevant, it must include standardised scores showing below average performance: a standard score of 84 or below, a scaled score of 6 or below, a percentile score of 15 or below, or a stanine of 3 or below. Age equivalents and raw scores are not accepted.
- English not being your child's first language is not a valid reason for an access arrangement.
The school keeps this evidence on file. Cambridge can ask to see it at any time until certificates are issued, and missing evidence can be treated as malpractice.
Cambridge deadlines for 2026
| Exam series | Access arrangements deadline | Modified papers deadline |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 21 February 2026 | 21 January 2026 |
| November 2026 | 21 July 2026 (new entries), 10 September 2026 (retakes) | 1 July 2026 |
These are Cambridge's own dates from the 2026 Handbook. Your school will set an earlier internal deadline, and a new application is needed for every exam series. Private candidates follow the same regulations through their exam centre.
IB inclusive access arrangements
For the IB Diploma Programme (and MYP and CP), the coordinator applies with two kinds of evidence: an official report (psychological or medical, or a language test for additional language learners) and educational evidence from the school.
Additional time in IB exams
| Additional time | Typical criterion in the IB policy |
|---|---|
| 10% | Standard score of 90 to 100 on a processing speed, working memory, reading or writing measure |
| 25% | Standard score of 90 or less on such measures, or a physical, sensory or medical challenge |
| 50% | Standard score of 75 or less on a processing measure, among other criteria |
For physical, sensory or medical conditions where scores do not apply, the IB treats 25% as standard and wants school evidence that 25% was tried and was not enough before it considers 50%. Additional time for different reasons never adds up: the largest single amount applies.
What the IB wants in a report
- Written within three years of the exam (the IB can be flexible for permanent sensory or physical conditions).
- By a professional qualified or licensed in their country, on letterhead, signed and dated. A relative of the student cannot write it.
- In English, French or Spanish, or with a translation.
- Scores reported as standard scores with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, not percentiles or age or grade equivalents. Only the areas of difficulty need testing.
Rest breaks do not need IB approval, and the policy suggests about 10 minutes per hour as a general guide. A reader, scribe or extra time does need IB authorisation, and a family member or friend cannot act as the reader. The coordinator works to deadlines in the IB's Assessment procedures, which fall well before the exam session, so ask for the date in Grade 11.
How Indian assessment reports are used, and where they fall short
Many reports written in India are designed for CBSE or the state board. They often give a diagnosis, a disability percentage or a short recommendation like "eligible for extra time". That works for a CBSE disability certificate but often fails for Cambridge and the IB, which want test names and standard scores.
Before your child is assessed, ask the psychologist or assessor whether they write reports for international boards, and request:
- Names of the standardised tests used, with standard scores (not only percentiles or age equivalents).
- Reading speed, reading comprehension, writing speed and processing speed where these are relevant. Cambridge names the DASH handwriting speed test and wants its total standard score.
- A clear statement of how the difficulty affects exams, and which arrangements fit.
- Their full name, qualifications, signature, date and letterhead, in English.
- A date that will still fall inside the window: four years for Cambridge, three years for the IB.
Our guides on reading your child's evaluation report and what a dyslexia assessment in India looks like help you check a report before it goes to school.
IGCSE and IB compared with CBSE provisions
| Point | CBSE | Cambridge | IB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main evidence | Disability certificate from a recognised authority | Professional report within 4 years, with standardised scores where relevant | Report within 3 years with standard scores, plus school evidence |
| Extra time | 60 minutes for a three-hour paper in its consolidated circular | Up to 25% for most; more with strong justification | 10%, 25% or 50% against score criteria |
| Who applies | School to CBSE | School exams officer | IB coordinator |
| Language of documents | As accepted by CBSE | English, or signed translation | English, French or Spanish, or translation |
CBSE's rules are in its consolidated circular for differently abled candidates and explained in our CBSE accommodations guide. If your child is moving boards, plan the evidence early because the requirements are not interchangeable.
A timeline that works
- Grade 8 or 9 (IGCSE) or Grade 10 (IB): notice difficulties, talk to the learning support team, and get an assessment if one is due.
- Through the course: use the arrangement in class tests and mocks so it becomes the normal way of working, and keep timed samples of work.
- Several months before entries: confirm with the school that the report meets the board's criteria and what the internal deadline is.
- After approval: practise with the scribe, reader or laptop in exam conditions. Our post on preparing for board exams with extra time and tools has practice ideas.
When to get professional help
Get an assessment if your child's written work is far below what they can say aloud, they never finish papers, reading is slow and effortful, or anxiety stops them working in exams. Talk to a doctor first if a medical condition, pain or fatigue is involved. A good assessor will tell you honestly when the scores do not meet a board's criteria, which saves a rejected application.
Carely works with families across Bangalore at home, with special educators, psychologists and occupational therapists who help children build the skills and habits behind exam arrangements, such as typing, using a reader, or pacing with rest breaks. Our free School Accommodation Request Letter Generator helps you write to the school's learning support team, and the School Accommodation Rights Finder compares boards.
Related reading: NIOS for Children With Disabilities: A Parent Guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra time can you get in IGCSE?
Up to 25% covers most candidates. More than 25% needs strong evidence of very significant, persistent difficulty, and from 2026 Cambridge allows 50% when a candidate uses three or more of a reader, computer reader, scribe or practical assistant for the whole exam.
Can parents apply directly to Cambridge or the IB?
No. The school's exams officer or IB coordinator applies. Private Cambridge candidates apply through the exam centre they are entered with, which follows the same rules.
Will my child's certificate show they had extra time?
Cambridge says candidates with access arrangements are assessed against the same objectives and their grades and certificates have the same validity. Ask your school how it records arrangements internally if you have concerns.
Is an Indian psychologist's report accepted by the IB?
Yes, if the professional is suitably qualified or licensed in their country, the report is on letterhead, signed and dated within three years of the exam, and it gives standard scores. Reports in languages other than English, French or Spanish need a translation.
Does Cambridge give extra time for ADHD or anxiety?
It can, if evidence shows a barrier, but Cambridge asks schools to consider supervised rest breaks first. Extra time and rest breaks can both be approved when the reasons are different.