SQE Reasonable Adjustments and Extra Time: How to Apply in 2026

If you have a disability, a long-term health condition, or a neurodivergent diagnosis, you can apply for reasonable adjustments before sitting your SQE assessments. This guide covers who qualifies, what adjustments are available, and exactly how the application process works.

What Is a Reasonable Adjustment?

Under the Equality Act 2010, the SRA is required to make reasonable adjustments for candidates whose disability or condition would otherwise place them at a disadvantage. The SRA states that it is "committed to making sure no candidate is disadvantaged in demonstrating their competence due to a disability or condition."

In January 2024, the SRA updated its policy to extend this commitment beyond the Equality Act definition of disability. Candidates who are not legally disabled but have conditions that affect their ability to sit assessments are now also eligible to apply. This is a meaningful expansion that covers many candidates who may have previously assumed they did not qualify.

What Adjustments Are Available?

The SRA tailors adjustment plans to individual circumstances. Examples include:

• Extra time: typically 25% to 50% additional time, depending on the condition and supporting evidence
• Rest breaks: additional breaks during the assessment
• Separate room: sitting the exam away from the main hall
• Assistive technology: screen readers (including JAWS), adjustable font sizes, and coloured overlays
• Human support: a reader, recorder, or scribe
• Alternative format: paper-based rather than computer-based assessment, or vice versa
• Accessible venue: wheelchair-accessible test centres

Candidates with chronic pain can take medication during the assessment and may receive additional time. Candidates with visual impairment are eligible for a combination of the above. The SRA publishes example adjustment plans for different conditions on its website.

Who Can Apply?

Any candidate with a disability, physical or mental health condition, or neurodivergent diagnosis that affects their ability to sit the assessment can apply. This includes conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, visual or hearing impairment, and mobility conditions. Since the January 2024 update, temporary conditions such as a broken limb may also qualify with appropriate evidence.

How the Application Process Works

Step 1: Create an SQE candidate account

You must have an SQE candidate account on the SRA website before you can submit an adjustment request. If you have not registered yet, do this first.

Step 2: Submit your application before booking

Your reasonable adjustment application must be submitted before you book onto any assessments. This is a firm requirement: you cannot book first and apply afterwards.

The application involves completing two forms within your SQE account: the Assessment Preferences Form and the Reasonable Adjustment Application Form. You will also need to upload supporting evidence (see below).

Step 3: Wait for acknowledgment

The SRA aims to acknowledge your request within five working days and to assign you a named liaison within five working days of that. Your liaison will be your point of contact throughout the process.

Step 4: Discuss and accept your plan

The SRA may contact you to discuss your request. Once an adjustment plan is agreed, you can accept it through your candidate account and then proceed to book your assessments.

The SRA encourages candidates to submit requests early, even if they are not yet ready to book. This allows time for any back-and-forth before you commit to an exam sitting.

If you cannot access the online process, the SRA can be contacted by telephone on 0203 486 3080.

What Evidence Do You Need?

Evidence must be provided by a qualified professional: a specialist consultant, GP, or occupational health adviser. The SRA publishes separate guidance for disability assessors, which it encourages candidates to share with whoever is providing their evidence, to make sure the report includes everything required.

Your application should cover: a description of your condition and how it affects you in an assessment setting, your preferred test location, and details of the assessments you intend to book.

Do You Need Separate Applications for SQE1 and SQE2?

Yes. Because SQE1 (multiple-choice questions) and SQE2 (written and oral assessments) are very different in format, the adjustments needed for one may not apply to the other. The SRA encourages candidates to submit separate adjustment requests for each, specifying what they need for each type of assessment.

Mitigating Circumstances: A Separate Process

Reasonable adjustments are for known, ongoing conditions. Mitigating circumstances are different: they cover serious, unexpected events that affect your performance on or around the day of an assessment. Examples include sudden illness, a family bereavement, or a significant disruption during the exam itself.

Mitigating circumstances claims are submitted after the assessment, through the SRA's online portal. If accepted, outcomes can include a fee-waived resit or a note on your record. Minor stress or inadequate preparation do not qualify. The SRA reviews claims and supporting evidence on a case-by-case basis.

If you have a known condition, apply for reasonable adjustments in advance rather than relying on mitigating circumstances after the fact. The two routes are not interchangeable.

Can You Track Your Application?

Yes. You can track the progress of your reasonable adjustment request through your SQE candidate account. Processing time depends on the complexity of your request and the completeness of the evidence provided.

Key Points to Remember

• Apply before booking, not after
• Submit early to allow time for discussion and approval
• Evidence must come from a qualified professional
• Submit separate requests for SQE1 and SQE2
• If you cannot access the online portal, call 0203 486 3080
• Mitigating circumstances are a separate process for unexpected events

The SRA publishes its full Reasonable Adjustments Policy on its website, along with example plans for a range of conditions. Reading it before you apply will help you understand what the assessment team is looking for and make your application as straightforward as possible.

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SRA policy and application processes are updated periodically. Always verify current requirements at sra.org.uk before submitting your application.