Accessing SQAAssessment Arrangements Request system
Before you can submit requests for any National Qualifications candidates requiring special arrangements in their external assessments, you must register on the AAR system and create a unique password for your centre. To do this, you need the user ID and security code that we e-mail to your SQA Co-ordinator in October.
Requests can only be submitted in the AAR system against live/open entries for externally-assessed National Qualifications.
The URL (web address) to access AAR is:
AAR will be available at the following times:
Monday – Friday 7:00am – 20:00pm/Saturday 7:00am – 20:30pm/Sunday 6:00am – 20:00pm
When you go to this address using your web browser, the Assessment Arrangements login screen will be displayed.
For each examination diet, the first time AAR is used in your centre, you must register as a New User by clicking on the Register for AA button under the New User section on the login screen.
Once the registration details have been successfully submitted and checked by SQA, a confirmation message will be displayed and you will be directed to the Existing Users Login page.
You have three login attempts before the system will lock your account. If this happens, you will be advised to contact the Assessment Arrangements team for assistance.
You have three login attempts before the system will lock your account. If this happens, you will be advised to contact the Assessment Arrangements team for assistance.
If you have forgotten your password, or think that an unauthorised person may have had access to it, you can reset the password by clicking on the Forgotten Your Password link in the Existing User box.
If you have forgotten the user ID or security code, you will be advised to contact the Assessment Arrangements team to ask for the codes to be re-issued via e-mail to your SQA Co-ordinator.
If you are already logged in to AAR you can reset the password using the User Profile option in the Main Menu. You need to know your current password in order to do this.
The Information menu option on the login page allows you to access any updates that we publish regarding the AAR system (eg submission date deadlines). Therefore, you should check the Information section each time you access AAR to ensure that you don’t miss any of these updates.
Adapted Paper Sub menus-options
Braille — select the Braille check box to request and select Modified Contents check box to specify the version of braille required — Standard English Braille (SEB) or Unified English Braille (UEB). For Modern Languages please also specify whether Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille is required.
Coloured Paper — all SQA’s standard question papers are produced on white paper. If coloured paper is required, select the Coloured Paper check box and select one of the SQA colours from the drop down menu. Only if none of the colours listed are suitable should you select ‘Other’. When selecting ‘Other’, a text box will appear to input details of the candidate’s requirements. The reason why none of the SQA colour options are suitable must also be given in the Additional Comments box by selecting the Additional tab and inserting the reason (eg ‘none of the colours listed are suitable because…’). A message reminding you to do this will be displayed.
The question paper will be produced on single A4 sheets in the specified colour requested stapled in the top corner. If necessary the question paper can be produced in magazine format — you must specifically request this by adding the text ‘magazine format’ in the Additional Comments box.
Adapted Print-Sub menu options
Braille — select the Braille check box to request and select Modified Contents check box to specify the version of braille required — Standard English Braille (SEB) or Unified English Braille (UEB). For Modern Languages please also specify whether Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille is required.
Coloured Paper — please note all SQA’s standard question papers are produced on white paper. If coloured paper is required, select the Coloured Paper check box and select one of the SQA colours from the drop down menu. Only if none of the colours listed are suitable should you select ‘Other’.
When selecting ‘Other’, a text box will appear to input details of the candidate’s requirements. The reason why none of the SQA colour options are suitable must also be given in the Additional Comments box by selecting the Additional tab and inserting the reason (eg ‘none of the colours listed are suitable because…’). A message reminding you to do this will be displayed.
The question paper will be produced on single A4 sheets in the specified colour requested stapled in the top corner. If necessary the question paper can be produced in magazine format — you must specifically request this by adding the text ‘magazine format’ in the Additional Comments box.
Subject-specific answer booklets will be printed in the same colour as the question paper.
Modified Content — if a candidate needs modified content (eg print copy of the Braille paper or simplification of description for photographic materials or diagrams), select the check box and enter as much information as possible in the text box.
Please note, unless we are advised otherwise, we will make adaptations to all papers relating to that assessment. If individual adaptations are required for specific papers you must advise us of this in the Additional Comments box.
Optionality — where an assessment contains optionality, you must select the drop down menu to show whether all or part of the paper needs modified.
Where only part of the paper is to be modified, you must indicate your selected options (contexts studied) in the text box provided.
Digital Papers — selecting the Digital Paper button will automatically select the separate accommodation and the use of ICT with spellchecker options. If either separate accommodation or spellcheck is not required, you should go into the Arrangements 2 tab to amend this. NB — please ensure that separate accommodation and use of ICT options are selected if you are using the file upload option. Guidance on technical requirements for digital papers is available on the Assessment Arrangements page of SQA’s website.
Where a candidate requires any additional software such as speech recognition software, text reading pens ( without dictionary or storage facility), you must identify the type of software being used in the ‘Other Arrangements’ field.
Changes of entry level
If you change the level of a candidate’s entry (via your usual entries amendment route the change will automatically be reflected in the AAR system, as long as there is no change to the Course code. For example:
- Candidate is entered for X724 level 76
- Request for extra time is submitted via the AAR system.
- Candidate entry is changed to level 77 via your usual entries amendment route.
AAR will automatically revalidate the arrangement for this candidate, so you don’t need to do anything else. Provided that extra time is still a valid arrangement for the new level, no further action will be required. However, if your requested arrangement is not valid at the new level, the Assessment Arrangements team will contact the SQA Co-ordinator at your centre to discuss alternatives.
You can, of course, continue to update the arrangements via the Update screens if necessary. In our example, once the change of level is processed, the extra time will be re-approved. However, if you know that the candidate now also requires a scribe, you should request this using the Update Arrangement menu options, selecting Scribe and re-submitting the request.
Please note that if you withdraw a candidate entry (in your usual way), their associated arrangements for that subject will be automatically withdrawn from the AAR system. If the candidate is then re-entered for the same or different Course you must remember to then resubmit the arrangements in the AAR system.
Contact details
OR 0345 213 6890
Assessment Arrangements Team
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Lowden
24 Wester Shawfair
Dalkeith
Midlothian
EH22 1FD