Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD welcomes interim additional-time scheme for students with specific needs in state examinations

The Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD today welcomed the introduction of an interim additional time measure for students with specific needs sitting State examinations in 2026. The initiative delivers on a key Programme for Government commitment to develop an appropriate mechanism allowing additional time for students with specific needs and in certain circumstances.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC), which holds operational responsibility for both the delivery of the State examinations and the Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE) scheme, has been actively progressing this commitment as part of its ongoing review of the RACE scheme. As part of this work, the SEC has undertaken extensive analysis on how best to implement additional time, including determining eligibility criteria and practical operational arrangements.

Under the interim scheme for 2026, about 30,000 candidates across the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations who currently receive a direct intervention accommodation through the RACE scheme will be granted 10 minutes of additional time in each written examination paper.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) emphasises that examination time is a valuable commodity for all candidates and that fairness and the integrity of the examination system remain paramount. For this reason, this is an interim measure for 2026. The SEC is taking a careful approach that will assess the impact of the measure alongside existing accommodations that operate in lieu of additional time. The SEC intends to build on this year’s arrangements for 2027 and beyond, informed by the ongoing research and what can be learned from this scheme in 2026.

There will be no change to existing RACE accommodations for 2026. However, research is required to evaluate the combined effect of all supports on examination outcomes. This research, commissioned by the SEC as part of the wider RACE review, is ongoing and includes examination of international practice.

The Minister welcomed the SEC’s careful and evidence based approach:

Schools and students do not need to make any further RACE applications, as those eligible will be granted this accommodation on the basis of existing applications. The SEC has issued a circular to schools setting out specific details of who is now eligible for additional time and this has also been published here.

Review of the RACE scheme

The SEC commenced a comprehensive and system-wide review of the RACE (Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations) scheme in 2025. This is taking account of a range of issues, of which additional time in the State examinations is one. The review has been structured so that rolling changes can be implemented as the Review progresses, rather than awaiting a “big bang” approach at the end of the full Review period. The interim scheme of additional time for the 2026 examinations is one of these rolling changes. Stakeholder engagement is a core part of this review, as is research. Following a public procurement process, a contract for the provision of research and public consultation for the review has been awarded to Alpha Plus Consultancy Limited, a UK-based company which has undertaken work for the Irish education system previously, with the output expected in Q3 2026 and with interim reports to be provided. Their mandate includes undertaking research into national and international policies on a range of issues, including additional time.

Stakeholder consultation is a core element of the review. In addition to planned consultation with students, schools and families as part of the Review, the SEC has already engaged with a range of stakeholders including Dyslexia Ireland, Dyspraxia Ireland, the Children’s Rights Alliance, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This engagement will continue.

About the RACE scheme

In 2025, 26% of candidates in the State examinations had an accommodation under RACE. More than 140,000 candidates sat either Leaving Certificate or Junior Cycle last year, and more than 36,000 of these had an accommodation under the RACE scheme.

The RACE Scheme is based on the individual needs of the candidate and not the provision of a diagnosis. This is in line with best practice internationally and with very well embedded special education policy in Ireland. The grounds are:

• Learning difficulty – this includes candidates who have conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or other general learning difficulties
• Hearing difficulty
• Visual difficulty
• Physical difficulty – this is a broad category, it can include dyspraxia or development coordination disorder, for instance, or conditions such as cerebral palsy but can also include sensory, behavioural and mental health conditions

School staff working with students with special educational needs are best placed to identify students who may need access and support arrangements for their examinations. Applications are made by the school based on their knowledge of the student’s needs and normal way of working. Some accommodations have particular criteria; for example, a need under the learning difficulty category is established by a standard score test and other tests in reading, spelling and/or writing conducted by the school, as well as the description in the application form of the candidate’s normal way of working in school and what they have needed to support their learning in school.

Existing additional time arrangements

Under longstanding arrangements, additional time has been a limited accommodation available in certain circumstances within the RACE Scheme. In all subjects, other than Leaving Certificate Irish, English, History and Geography, additional time may be provided to:

1. Candidates for whom the use of a scribe has been sanctioned - as there is a time overhead in dictation and otherwise in dealing with a scribe.
2. Candidates who are eligible for RACE supports arising from a vision impairment – such candidates must be supported by the Visiting Teacher Service.
3. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for the use of a laptop, tablet or other device but who are unable to make adequate use of these devices under examination conditions.

In the context of the SEC’s Review of the RACE Scheme, the first change to these very longstanding additional time arrangements was introduced on a pilot basis for the 2025 examinations when additional time for candidates who are blind or vision impaired (and supported by the Visiting Teacher Service (VTS)) was increased to 15 minutes per hour.

Eligibility for the interim scheme of additional time in 2026

Any student who is granted another direct intervention accommodation under RACE will have this additional time accommodation also. There are some exceptions:

• students whose only accommodation is a special centre, or a colour identifier or a rest break are not included
• students who have accommodations for the oral and practical tests only will not be eligible for additional time in the written examinations
• there is no change for students who already have additional time under the existing arrangements in the RACE Scheme, because they are using a scribe, or because they are vision impaired.

Other accommodations in lieu of additional time (stemming from 2000 Expert Advisory Group)

• Additional time of 20 minutes per examination paper for all candidates in Leaving Certificate Irish, English, History and Geography. The examinations in these subjects, which are those with the heaviest writing demand, continue to be 20 minutes longer than required.
• For candidates with learning difficulties, a waiver from spelling, grammar and punctuation in the language subjects. The Spelling and Grammar Waiver is the most provided accommodation representing 45% of all accommodations in 2025.

These accommodations in lieu of additional time remain in place for the 2026 examinations.

While not time in which to complete the examinations, supervised rest breaks are also available to support candidates with medical, physical or other needs in specific circumstances. School authorities have discretion to grant rest breaks of up to 20 minutes based on their knowledge of the candidate’s needs. School authorities can apply to the SEC in exceptional circumstances for rest breaks in excess of 20 minutes.