Reasonable Adjustments 

Introduction 

WSET Awards seeks to assess all students in a way that puts them at no disadvantage, or advantage, over other students. 

A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the student at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation. Reasonable adjustments are approved by WSET Awards and put in place before the assessment activity takes place; they constitute an arrangement to give the student access to the qualification. The use of a reasonable adjustment is not taken into consideration during the assessment of a student’s work. 

Scope of this policy 

Reasonable adjustments must not give unfair advantage over students for whom reasonable adjustments are not being made or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable specification.

Reasonable adjustments may involve:

  • Changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing students extra time tocomplete the assessment activity
  • Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in large text format,
  • Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or Reader
  • Re-organizing the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic student. 

Applying for a reasonable adjustment 

The Wine Tip must identify at the time of a student’s enrolment any special needs which may require a reasonable adjustment at the time of the examination, and then submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application Form to the WSET Awards at least four weeks before the examination date in the case of WSET qualifications at Levels 1-3. 

It is required that students submit any reasonable adjustment request at least 5 weeks prior to the commencement of the course. 

Supporting evidence must be provided with the completed enrolment form sent after payment for the course has been made.

The specific arrangements for the examination process itself, or for marking, will be agreed in each case between The Wine Tip and WSET Awards, and will vary according to individual circumstances.

WSET Awards reserves the right to seek the advice of independent agencies as appropriate in coming to a decision on specific arrangements.

Please note that The Wine Tip cannot offer reasonable adjustments to any students until this has been agreed with WSET Awards.

Students and their advisors should be aware that it is not appropriate to make requests for reasonable adjustments where the student’s difficulty directly affects performance in the attributes that are the focus of the assessment.

The Wine Tip will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.