Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Last updated: February 2026

Only applicable for assessments taken from 1 October 2026.

Earlier version - for assessments taken up to 30 September 2026

1

Introduction

1.1

Scope and purpose

Kaplan SQE Limited (Kaplan SQE) has been appointed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Limited (“SRA”) as the sole provider of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (“the SQE”) and the End Point Assessment Organisation (“EPAO”) for Solicitor Apprentices. Kaplan SQE handles reasonable adjustments in accordance with this Policy as required by the SRA.

We are committed to diversity and making sure our approach to the SQE is inclusive and meets our obligations under the Equality Act 2010. This Policy covers our approach to the provision of:

• Reasonable Adjustments for disabled candidates, within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 (see paragraph 2.3) and
• Accommodations for candidates with a temporary or fluctuating condition, illness, injury or other event outside their control which may impact on their ability to undertake the SQE (see paragraph 2.4).

1.2

Fairness

We are committed to ensuring that this Policy is fair and transparent and is operated in a manner which:

• treats all candidates equally and fairly in the consideration of their requests
• gives reasons for our actions taken and the decision we make
• is free from bias
• has reasonable timescales for both submissions to and responses from us.

1.3

Confidentiality

We will keep the information provided to us confidential and as required by the General Data Protection Regulations 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018. Details of individual arrangements will be shared with those people with whom it is necessary in order to agree and/or implement the reasonable adjustment or accommodation.

1.4

Timescales

Candidates are required to meet the time limits outlined in the Policy.

1.4.1

Where there are exceptional circumstances which mean a candidate cannot reasonably meet such time limits to provide supporting information or to respond, they must communicate this to us at the earliest opportunity and, where relevant, submit evidence to justify the delay.

1.4.2

Where accepted, and where possible, new timescales may be agreed. The deadline to submit an application and the deadlines to accept a Proposal can only be revised in exceptional circumstances, for the reasons set out in paragraph 4.

1.5

Candidates with a disability

Where a candidate has a disability, information will be made available to them in appropriate formats and reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate their needs. For further details see paragraph 6.

1.6

Review of this policy

This Policy and associated practices including the Q&As and information for disability assessors will be monitored on an ongoing basis and any necessary amendments will be made and implemented at the earliest opportunity. Kaplan SQE will review this and all associated policies on a regular basis as part of its quality assurance procedures.

1.7

Associated documents relating to this policy

The FAQs and information for disability assessors set out further information about how this policy is applied.

2

Introduction

2.1

The Statement of Solicitor Competence and the Functioning Legal Knowledge set out in the SQE1 Assessment Specification and the SQE2 Assessment Specification set out the competences and knowledge which all candidates must achieve to demonstrate their ability to practise. The Threshold Standard sets out the standard which must be achieved to qualify as a Solicitor of England and Wales. All candidates must be assessed against the Statement of Solicitor Competence and the Functioning Legal Knowledge and must reach the Threshold Standard to qualify. We recognise that to provide a fair opportunity for all candidates to demonstrate their competence to the required standard we must make arrangements to provide reasonable adjustments.

2.2

We recognise that to provide a fair opportunity for all candidates to demonstrate their competence to the required standard we must make arrangements to provide reasonable adjustments.

2.3

Our approach to developing assessments is to anticipate candidate requests for reasonable adjustments and where possible make assessment arrangements which minimise the necessity for adjustments to be made.

2.4

We will make reasonable adjustments where a candidate, who is disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, would be at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment in comparison to someone who is not disabled.

2.4.1

Pursuant to the Equality Act a person (P) has a disability if

• P has a physical or mental impairment, and
• the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on P's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (section 6 of the Equality Act 2010).

We will take reasonable steps to remove that substantial disadvantage by making “Reasonable Adjustments” to the assessment arrangements.

2.5

We will also consider requests for “Accommodations”. Accommodations are changes to the assessment arrangements. A request for Accommodation(s) can be made where a candidate does not have a disability, but has an illness, condition or fluctuating condition, injury or other event outside their control which will cause a substantial disadvantage on their ability to undertake the SQE in an assessment window. All such requests for Accommodations will be considered in Kaplan’s reasonable discretion and on a case by case basis.

3

The process to make an application for Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations

3.1

An application for Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations can be made once a candidate has registered for a SQE account.

3.2

Candidates requesting Reasonable Adjustments referred to in paragraph 2.4 above or Accommodations referred to in paragraph 2.5 above must complete a ‘reasonable adjustments’ application form in their SQE candidate account, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed (see paragraph 1.5 and paragraph 6).

3.3

Applications must be made as soon as possible to allow acceptance of the Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s) by the deadline set out in paragraph 4.

3.4

The application must include the following information

• the nature of the disability or the candidate’s illness, condition, fluctuating condition, injury or other event outside their control;
• the substantial disadvantage the candidate will have without adjustment(s) or accommodation(s);
• appropriate supporting documentation of an impairment or condition from a qualified professional. Guidance on the type of supporting documentation that is appropriate is set out in our information for disability assessors and the Q&As;
• details of adjustments or accommodations made in the workplace and/or with a training provider, where relevant.

3.5

If any of this information is not available at the time of completing the form, please contact us at equality.quality@sqe.sra.org.uk. We cannot make a proposal for Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations until appropriate supporting documentation or information is received.

3.6

A member of the Equality Team will acknowledge receipt of the application, within 5 working days of receipt of the reasonable adjustment application form, to advise the candidate about the next steps and provide details to the candidate on who has been appointed their Reasonable Adjustment Liaison (“RAL”).

3.7

The RAL will consider:

• the candidate’s application,
• documentation provided in support of the Reasonable Adjustment(s) or Accommodation(s) requested in light of the disability, or illness, condition, or fluctuating condition, injury or other event outside their control;
• the nature of the assessment; and
• where applicable, our legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

3.8

If further information is needed to consider the candidate’s application, the RAL will contact the candidate and explain what further information is needed.

3.9

If the proposed Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations being considered are complex, or require the RAL to liaise with other Kaplan Teams, or the test centre provider, the RAL will advise the candidate what actions are underway and the timing of those actions. These arrangements may take more time to put in place.

3.10

Once the application and supporting information has been fully considered, the RAL will record the Reasonable Adjustment(s) or Accommodations: “a Proposal” - in the SQE candidate account. The RAL will email the candidate to advise that a Proposal has been made and the mechanism to accept or reject the Proposal.

3.11

If a candidate rejects the Proposal in their SQE candidate account, they must contact their RAL to explain why they have rejected the Proposal. The RAL will consider the reasons why the candidate has rejected the Proposal and, where appropriate, an alternative Proposal may be made.

3.11.1

If an alternative Proposal is not made, the candidate can make a Request for Review (see paragraph 5).

4

Deadline to make a Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations application

4.1

For Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations to be in place for a specific assessment window, the Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s) must be accepted by the deadline to submit the seat reservation form for that specific assessment window.

This timeline is for the following reasons:

• Provision of time to advise the candidate about any further supporting information required for their application, and for that supporting information to be provided.
• For a seat to be reserved with the agreed Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s).
• Assessment bookings must be made with the agreed Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s).
• To provide Kaplan and the test centre provider with sufficient time to organise staffing, arrange the provision of specialist equipment, and make all other necessary arrangements for delivery of the Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s).
• The finalised plan enables a candidate to prepare for their assessment and complete practice assessments with reference to the agreed Reasonable Adjustment(s)/Accommodation(s).

4.2

If the candidate does not accept the Proposal before the deadline to submit the seat reservation form for the relevant assessment window we will reserve a provisional seat for the candidate. We cannot guarantee the provisional seat will be converted to a reserved seat for the preferred assessment window. This is because the test centre may not have the facilities available by the time the Proposal is accepted.

4.2.1

Where a Proposal is not accepted or cannot be agreed within two weeks of the deadline to submit the seat reservation form, the provisional seat will be released, unless the candidate is awaiting the outcome of a Request for Review (see paragraph 5).

4.3

Applications made after the deadline to submit the seat reservation form will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

4.3.1

Examples of an exceptional circumstance is where a candidate has received a diagnosis after the deadline to submit the seat reservation form, or their condition was not known (for example pregnancy).

4.3.2

The candidate must explain why they were unable to make an application before the deadline to submit the seat reservation form.

4.3.3

While we will endeavour to propose and implement appropriate Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations, it may not be possible for Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations to be in place for the candidate’s preferred assessment window for the following reasons:

• Changes to assessment time (extra time or pause the clock breaks): this may necessitate alterations to planned test centre staffing, assessment scheduling, and the availability of assessment seats beyond the standard SQE assessment timeframe.
• Logistical arrangements for assessment materials: this includes the need to make changes to assessment materials and to deliver adjusted materials or equipment to the test centre.
• Assessment modifications: adjustments may require changes to the online assessment platform.
• Quality assurance checks: Completion of quality assurance checks for delivery of the assessment.

5

Request for Review

5.1

A candidate who has rejected the Proposal and explained to their RAL the reasons to reject, can then request a review of the Proposal (“Request for Review”).

5.2

The Request for Review must set out the candidate’s explanation of why they have not accepted their Proposal and this must be sent, together with any further documentation and information to equality.quality@sqe.sra.org.uk with ‘Request for review of adjustments proposal’ in the email subject line.

5.3

A reviewer (a senior member of Kaplan SQE - the “Reviewer”) will review the request and may seek further information and take advice as appropriate.

5.4

The Reviewer will take all relevant factors into account, including

• the information in the reasonable adjustment application and information provided by the candidate;
• any supplemental supporting documentation;
• the nature of the disability for which Reasonable Adjustments are sought under paragraph 3.3 of the Policy;
• the nature of the illness, condition or fluctuating condition, injury or other event outside their control for which Accommodations are sought under paragraph 3.3 of the Policy;
• the information provided in the Request for Review;
• the Reasonable Adjustment(s) or Accommodations proposed to the candidate; and/or where relevant, a decision not to offer an Reasonable Adjustment or Accommodation; and
• if it is possible to implement the Reasonable Adjustments or Accommodations sought with reference to the timing of the assessment.

5.5

The Reviewer may:

• uphold the original Proposal made; or
• reject the Proposal.

5.6

Where the Reviewer rejects the Proposal made, they may recommend further action, and the candidate will normally be given a revised Proposal.

5.7

The decision of the Reviewer will be communicated to the candidate within 10 working days of receipt of the Request for Review. If a Proposal is revised, the new proposal will be communicated to the candidate via the SQE candidate account within 5 working days after the decision of the Reviewer.

6

Alternative ways to make a request for adjustments.

6.1

Where a candidate is not able to use the SQE candidate account/online registration and booking process (including making an application for adjustments and for submitting supporting evidence), we can offer alternative means of communication and provide information in different formats.

6.2

Candidates requiring further assistance should contact us at enquiries@sqe.sra.org.uk or 0203 486 3080, and our team members will work with candidates to find the best way to help.