General Accommodation Information

Eligibility for exam accommodations is determined the same way as any other academic accommodation. Exam accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Extra time
• Alternative format, such as an oral exam instead of hand-written
• Assistance from a reader or a scribe
• Allowance made for spelling or grammatical errors
• Reduced distractions, such as writing the exam in a separate room
• Use of a calculator
• Use of a computer for essay exam

Prior to the Start of Classes

Step 1. Meet with a Disability Access Advisor to Determine Your Accommodations

You must contact your Disability Access Advisor at the start of each semester to arrange accommodations, including your exam-specific accommodations. In this meeting, your Disability Access Advisor will send an electronic notification to your instructor(s) that includes all recommended accommodations. You are responsible for submitting online requests for each of your tests and exams in order to write with accommodations at the Centre.

Prior to Each Exam

Step 2. Submit an online exam request for each test you intend to write at the CAL

• If accommodations are required for any mid-term or quiz, the deadline to complete the online request is at least 1 week before the date of the test.
• If accommodations are required for final exams, the deadline to complete the online request is at least 2 weeks before the start of the final examination period.  

Your instructor will receive notification of your request, and will note any specifications, restrictions or allowances (e.g., closed book, use of a cheat sheet, use of calculator) that you must adhere to when writing the exam.

If you miss an exam request deadline, you lose your entitlement to accommodation for that exam. While there is a chance that the Centre may be able to arrange supports, you may be expected to write the exam under standard test conditions.

Step 3. Confirm Exam Date, Time and Locations

Accommodated exams are administered at the Centre for Accessible Learning, which is located at 1250 Maggie Benston Centre on the Burnaby campus. We are pleased to now offer an examination space at SFU Surrey at SRYC 2980. Please note if your course is held in Burnaby, you will be writing your test in Burnaby and if your course is held in Surrey, you will be writing your test in Surrey. Use the "My Upcoming Events" section of the online exam request system to review the date and start time of your upcoming test(s). Always double-check your exam dates, times and location to confirm that all details are correct and all accommodations are in place.  

During an Exam

Step 4. The Day of Quiz/Test/Exam

When you arrive at the Centre, make sure you bring your student ID card and all approved materials you will require during the exam. We ask that you strictly adhere to your exam start time and ensure that you arrive at our offices 15 minutes early for check-in. At the Centre, you will be asked to store all non-approved materials (including backpacks, jackets, hats, etc.) in a locked room for the duration of your exam. Please feel free to review any questions you might have about exam procedures and policies with the Centre's exam assistants.