Reasonable adjustments for the SQE

If you need extra time, rest breaks, or a comfort aid for the SQE, the request goes through the SRA and Kaplan (via mysra), and it needs to be agreed well before you'd otherwise book, not the week before your sitting. Leave it too late and you risk sitting the exam without the support you need, or missing the window entirely.

This post walks through what reasonable adjustments actually cover, what evidence to gather, and how the timing lines up with your booking. For the exam-day basics around what's allowed in the room, see our guide to what to expect on SQE exam day and what to bring.

What counts as a reasonable adjustment

Reasonable adjustments exist to remove a disadvantage caused by a disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference, not to give anyone an advantage over other candidates. The SRA assesses each request individually against the evidence you provide, so what's approved for one candidate won't automatically apply to another with a similar-sounding condition.

Common categories include:

• Extra time, often set as a percentage uplift on the standard session length
• Rest breaks, either scheduled or as-needed, usually with the clock paused
• A separate room, for candidates who need reduced distraction or privacy for a medical reason
• Assistive technology, such as screen-reading software or a modified on-screen display
• Comfort aids, meaning specific physical items approved for use in the exam room

None of these are guaranteed by asking. Each is assessed against medical or specialist evidence, and the adjustment granted is meant to match the specific barrier you've described, not a general accommodation.

Comfort aids: what's actually allowed

Pearson VUE runs the test centres for both SQE1 and SQE2, and it maintains its own list of items that can be brought into the exam room as comfort aids. This sits alongside the SRA's reasonable adjustments process rather than replacing it: the SRA handles adjustments like extra time or rest breaks, while Pearson VUE's comfort aid list governs physical items in the room.

Examples that typically fall into this category include:

• Medication and related supplies you need to access during the exam
• Medical devices, such as an insulin pump, hearing aid, or mobility aid
• Food or drink required for a diagnosed medical condition
• A cushion, back support, or similar physical aid for a documented condition

Many items on Pearson VUE's list do not need advance approval and are simply checked visually at the test centre. But the list is specific about exactly what qualifies and how it must be presented, right down to details like packaging, and anything outside the list, or an unusual item like a device that makes noise or needs an external remote, generally does need formal approval first. The exact list and wording can change, so treat Pearson VUE's current accommodations policy and the SRA's own guidance as the source of truth rather than a forum post or what a friend was allowed last year. If you're not sure whether something you need would count, or whether it needs approval in advance, check before your sitting instead of assuming.

How and when to apply

Reasonable adjustment requests are made through your mysra account, and the process runs separately from, and ahead of, standard booking. During the pre-booking steps you flag that you need adjustments, then submit an application with supporting evidence. The SRA and Kaplan (the SQE assessment administrator) review it and a reasonable adjustments liaison proposes a plan, which needs to be agreed before the deadline for submitting your seat reservation. If you have an agreed plan, the SRA arranges your booking around it rather than you booking a slot yourself in the usual way.

The practical sequence looks like this:

1. Gather your evidence first. This usually means a letter or report from a relevant professional, such as a GP, specialist, or an educational psychologist for a learning difference like dyslexia. It should describe the condition, the specific impact on exam performance, and the adjustment being recommended.
2. Apply as early as possible, well ahead of the booking deadline. The application and evidence review need to be resolved, and a plan agreed, before the seat reservation deadline, which is earlier than when adjustment-free candidates need to act. Leaving it until the general booking window feels urgent can mean missing the sitting entirely.
3. Allow processing time. Applications are typically acknowledged within a matter of working days, but assessing evidence and agreeing a plan takes longer, and requests submitted late give the SRA and Kaplan very little room to review, query, or approve anything before the deadline.
4. Confirm what's been granted before the exam. Once your plan is agreed, check exactly what adjustment applies (how much extra time, how breaks work, what's on the comfort aid list) so there are no surprises at check-in.

If your circumstances change between sittings, whether your condition develops, you get a new diagnosis, or an old adjustment stops being sufficient, you'll typically need to submit fresh evidence rather than assuming a previous approval rolls over automatically.

Evidence: what tends to be asked for

The SRA's process is evidence-led, which means a request without supporting documentation is unlikely to succeed regardless of how genuine the need is. Useful evidence generally:

• Comes from an appropriately qualified professional (medical practitioner, specialist, or educational psychologist, depending on the condition)
• Describes the condition and how it specifically affects exam performance, not just a diagnosis in isolation
• Recommends a specific adjustment, ideally in exam-relevant terms (for example, a stated percentage of extra time)
• Is reasonably current, since older reports may be treated as out of date depending on the condition

If you already hold a diagnosis and have had adjustments at university or on a previous exam, that history can help, but it doesn't automatically transfer. The SRA makes its own assessment for the SQE, so check what documentation it specifically asks for on its reasonable adjustments guidance rather than assuming your existing paperwork is sufficient.

A note on timing pressure

Reasonable adjustments requests compete with the same booking-window pressure as everything else in the SQE calendar, and then some. Standard booking windows close roughly five weeks before a sitting, but an adjustments plan needs to be agreed even earlier than that, before the deadline for submitting your seat reservation, so if you're also trying to gather professional evidence, that's a tighter runway than it looks if you start late.

The safer pattern is to start evidence-gathering as soon as you know you'll need an adjustment, ideally well before you're ready to book, so the paperwork is in hand long before that earlier deadline arrives. If you're mapping out your run-up to a sitting, a free SQE study planner can help you slot deadlines like this in alongside revision, so an adjustments application doesn't get squeezed out by everything else on your plate. For the wider booking calendar, see our guide to SQE booking deadlines.

If your request is turned down or feels incomplete

Not every request is approved exactly as submitted. Sometimes the SRA asks for more evidence, sometimes a different adjustment is offered instead of the one requested. If that happens, the SRA's current guidance sets out how to respond or query the decision, and it's worth reading that guidance directly rather than assuming the first answer is final.

Whatever the outcome, keep a copy of everything you submit and every response you get. If you need to reapply for a future sitting, or if your adjustment needs to be reconfirmed, having your own record saves you retracing the whole process from memory.

Frequently asked questions

How do I request reasonable adjustments for the SQE?

Through your mysra account, submitted to the SRA and Kaplan together with supporting evidence. It's a distinct process that needs to be resolved before the seat reservation deadline, and once a plan is agreed, the SRA arranges your booking rather than you booking a slot yourself, so flag the need and apply as early as possible rather than waiting for the general booking window.

How much extra time can you get for the SQE?

There's no single fixed amount. Extra time is assessed individually against your evidence and the specific barrier it describes, so the uplift varies by candidate. Check the SRA's current reasonable adjustments guidance for how it assesses and confirms extra time.

What evidence do I need for SQE reasonable adjustments?

Generally a letter or report from an appropriately qualified professional (a GP, specialist, or educational psychologist, depending on the condition), describing the condition, its specific impact on exam performance, and a recommended adjustment. Check the SRA's guidance for exactly what it asks for in your circumstances.

Can I bring my own comfort items into the SQE exam room?

Many items on Pearson VUE's comfort aid list, such as certain medication, medical devices, and cushions or mobility aids, don't need advance approval and are simply checked visually at the test centre. Anything outside that list, or an unusual item such as a device that makes noise, generally does need approval first, so check Pearson VUE's current list rather than assuming.

When should I apply for SQE reasonable adjustments?

As early as possible, ideally with your evidence already gathered well before you'd otherwise book. The adjustment application and plan need to be agreed before the deadline for submitting your seat reservation, which is earlier in the process than standard booking, so starting late risks missing the sitting rather than just the support.