WEI

WSET and WEI seeks to assess all candidates in a way that puts them at no disadvantage, or advantage, over other candidates. A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the candidate at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation.

Reasonable adjustments are approved by WSET and must be put in place before the assessment activity takes place; they constitute an arrangement to give the candidate access to the qualification. The use of a reasonable adjustment is not taken into consideration during the assessment of a candidate’s work. Reasonable adjustments must not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom reasonable adjustments are not being made or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable Specification.

Reasonable adjustments may involve:

• Changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing candidates extra time to complete the assessment activity;
• Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in large text format;
• Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or reader;
• Re-organising the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate.

For further information or to apply, please contact us at staff@edu.wine.  You need to apply at least 5 weeks in advance of your exam date for any special needs which may require a reasonable adjustment at the time of the exam. We will need to attach supporting evidence. The specific arrangements for the exam process itself, or for marking, will be agreed in each case between our Exams Officer and the WSET Exams Manager and will vary according to individual circumstances.

WSET reserves the right to seek the advice of independent agencies as appropriate in coming to a decision on specific arrangements. Please note that WEI may not offer reasonable adjustments to any candidate until this has been agreed with WSET. Candidates and their advisors should be aware that it is not appropriate to make requests for reasonable adjustments where the candidate’s particular difficulty directly affects performance in the attributes that are the focus of the assessment. WEI will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.

Special consideration is an action taken after an assessment/exam to allow candidates who have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury, indisposition or adverse circumstances at the time of the assessment to demonstrate attainment. Special consideration will not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom special consideration is not being applied or alter the assessment demands of the qualification as detailed in the applicable Specification.

A candidate may be eligible for special consideration if:

• Performance in an assessment is affected by circumstances beyond the control of the candidate. This may include recent personal illness, accident, bereavement or exam room conditions;
• Alternative assessment arrangements which were agreed in advance of the assessment proved inappropriate or inadequate;
• The application of special consideration would not mislead the user of the certificate as to the candidate’s attainment. All assessment requirements of WSET qualifications must still be met.

WEI must submit a Special Consideration Application Form to WSET within 3 working days of the assessment date for which special consideration is being sought. Eligibility will only be considered if accompanied by supporting independent documentation. Students must provide details and the request itself to WEI by email to staff@edu.wine within 48 hours of the assessment conclusion.

Please note that any information the student submits to WEI in support of these requests and is shared with WSET will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy