Reasonable Adjustments Policy for WSET Qualifications
Introduction
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) seek 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 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 to complete 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 Independent Wine Education Guild (IWEG) 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. IWEG must submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application Form to WSET at least five weeks before the examination date in the case of WSET qualifications at levels 1-3 and at least nine weeks before the examination date in the case of the WSET Level 4 Diploma. Supporting documentation will be shared with WSET and handled in accordance with respective data privacy policies.
The specific arrangements for the examination process itself, or for marking, will be agreed in each case between an IWEG examinations officer and WSET, and will vary according to individual circumstances. WSET reserves the right to seek the advice of independent agencies as appropriate in coming to a decision on specific arrangements. Please note that IWEG cannot offer reasonable adjustments to any students until this has been agreed with WSET.
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.
IWEG will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.