The short answer
Concessions such as extra time, a scribe, a reader or a separate venue are granted on the strength of a professional report, applied for well in advance. Start the process at least a full year before the examination that matters.
A concession removes a barrier so a learner can show what they know. It does not make an assessment easier, and it does not give anyone an advantage — which is exactly why the evidence requirements are strict and the deadlines are real.
What can be applied for
The common accommodations include additional time, a scribe, a reader, a separate or smaller venue, permission to use assistive technology, rest breaks, and concessions for spelling in specific circumstances. Which ones exist, and what evidence each requires, is set by the examining body and can change.
Do not plan around a list in an article. Ask the school for the current requirements for your child’s specific grade and examining body, in writing, before you spend money on assessments.
The evidence
Concessions are granted on professional assessment, not on a parent’s description, however accurate. In practice that usually means a report from an educational psychologist or a comparable professional, setting out the difficulty and recommending specific accommodations.
Two things surprise families:
- Reports expire. A report from three years ago may not satisfy a current application. Check validity before assuming an old assessment covers you.
- The recommendation must be specific. “Struggles under time pressure” supports nothing. “Recommend 25% additional time on written assessments” is what an application can act on.
Timing, which is where this usually goes wrong
Work backwards from the examination and add far more slack than feels necessary:
- Waiting lists. Getting an appointment with an educational psychologist can take months, and longer outside the major centres.
- The assessment itself is typically several sessions, and the report follows some weeks later.
- The application then goes through the school to the examining body, with its own closing date — often much earlier in the year than parents expect.
A year ahead of the examination that matters is not cautious. It is the realistic minimum, and families who start in the examination year routinely miss it.
Where Special Needs CAPS differs
Some accommodations are built into the Special Needs CAPS programme rather than applied for case by case — text-to-speech, audio assessments, a scribe, and untimed assessment. That does not automatically extend to an external examination in the FET Phase, which has its own process. Ask specifically what carries through and what must still be applied for.
What it costs
A full educational assessment is a significant expense, and medical-aid cover varies. Ask in the forums — families share current costs and waiting times, which is information nobody publishes. For which professional you actually need, see Remedial CAPS or Special Needs CAPS.
This article explains how concessions and accommodations works in general. It was written in August 2026 and is reviewed every six months. For the current position — dates, fees, availability and anything specific to your child — see assessments, or ask in the forums and a member of the team will confirm.