2. Assistance for candidates

Applications for assistance must be applied for in writing with the support of the training provider or examination centre and must be received by the Board 5 days before the exam date.

Assistance is not available to candidates for the electrical inspector theory examination.

Assistance can be granted to candidates who have difficulty with written examinations. Assistance can be in the form of:

• Additional time

This is usually up ½ an hour for EST A and TEWC examinations and up to 1 hour for EST B, electrician theory and electrician regulations examinations.

• A reader

The reader reads the question to the candidate and the candidate writes the answer in the examination paper. The reader cannot be an electrical worker or a person with electrical knowledge and must be approved by the Board.

• A writer

The candidate reads the question and provides the answer, which is written into the examination paper by the writer. The writer cannot be an electrical worker or a person with electrical knowledge and must be approved by the Board.

• A reader/writer

The reader/writer reads the question to the candidate and the candidate provides the answer that the reader/writer writes in the examination paper. The reader/writer cannot be an electrical worker or a person with electrical knowledge and must be approved by the Board.

• Separate facilities in which the candidate can sit the examination.

Separate facilities can only be offered with the agreement of a training provider. The training provider has to provide a separate room and supervision. The candidate may need to pay for the separate supervision.

• A combination of the above.

• Oral examinations

In exceptional circumstances, an oral examination can be provided. The examiner is an electrical worker or a person with electrical knowledge and, where the candidate requests, the examiner provides an explanation of the question being attempted. The candidate writes the answer himself or herself or the examiner writes the answer given by the candidate.

The examiner must be able to:

1. paraphrase the question (for example, by giving a practical example) without answering the question for the candidate; and
2. write the candidate's answer without indicating whether the answer is correct or not.

Candidates with a learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) or a medical condition that makes examinations difficult should provide supporting documentation from a special needs person (most polytechnics have these) or a medical practitioner. There is no restriction on the type of assistance that can be offered.

Candidates for whom English is a second language can be offered the assistance of additional time, a writer or separate facilities. As (potentially) registered workers they must be able to read and understand technical written material (regulation, Standards etc.), therefore cannot be offered a reader.

Candidates who have failed the same examination two or more times can be offered the assistance of additional time, a writer or separate facilities. As (potentially) registered workers they must be able to read and understand technical written material (regulation, Standards etc.), therefore cannot be offered a reader.

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