Evidence and adjustments
People arrive here having been told they need 'something', for an exam, a university application, the driving theory test, a professional qualification or work without being told what that something actually is. This section explains who decides, what is usually required, and how to check before spending anything.
The most important point
A diagnostic assessment is the right step for some people and an unnecessary expense for others. Before arranging anything, it is worth working through five simple questions in order.
Exam arrangements, DSA, a driving theory test, a professional examination and a workplace adjustment are all different processes with different requirements.
Ask them directly, ideally in writing. Requirements vary, and they change. Nobody else can answer this for them.
An existing report, a school assessment, a screening result or documented support may already cover what is being asked for.
Only if the organisation has said the evidence you hold is not suitable, or you have never been assessed and need a diagnostic conclusion.
Sometimes that is a full diagnostic assessment. Often it is a phone call, an email to a disability adviser, or a free indicator check.
Choose your situation
Each route below leads to the most useful page we already have, whether that is guidance, a free tool or an assessment service.
Free tool
A one-question chooser that points you at the right page. It is not diagnostic, it does not decide eligibility, and it asks for nothing about you.
Pick an option above to see the suggested next step.
Not sure dyslexia is part of the picture?
Some visitors arrive here having never had any assessment at all. The indicator checks are free, take a few minutes, and describe a pattern of strengths and difficulties. They are indicators, not diagnostic assessments, and they cannot identify dyslexia.
Check the current rules yourself
External requirements change, and the organisation asking for evidence is always the one that decides. These are the current authoritative sources, check them directly rather than relying on any private website, including ours.
Explains the support that can be requested when booking a car theory test, including hearing the test through headphones, extra time, a reader and recorder, and having questions reworded.
Decision made by: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
The current regulations schools, colleges and exam centres work to when deciding access arrangements for GCSEs, A levels and similar qualifications.
Decision made by: The school, college or exam centre, within the regulations
What DSA is, who can apply, and the evidence a funding body may ask for. Eligibility and the evidence accepted are decided by the funding body, not by an assessor.
Decision made by: Student Finance England (or the equivalent funding body)
A grant scheme that can help pay for practical support at work, such as equipment, software or support workers. Applications are assessed individually.
Decision made by: The Access to Work team at DWP
Knowledge Centre
After a dyslexia assessment, you will receive a written report. For many families and adults, this is the document they have been working towards, and it can feel like a lot to take in…
Read the articleIf your child has been assessed with dyslexia, you may have heard the phrase exam access arrangements. It can sound bureaucratic, and many parents are unsure what it actually means in…
Read the articleIf you are a student with dyslexia, or the parent of one heading to university, you may have come across the term DSA. It is one of the most significant sources of support available, and…
Read the articleWhen you start looking for a dyslexia assessor, you will quickly encounter a set of terms and abbreviations that can feel overwhelming. PATOSS, BDA, Dyslexia Guild, Level 7, practising…
Read the articleA plain-English look at what makes up the cost of a diagnostic dyslexia assessment. It is a fair question, and you deserve a clear answer before you commit to anything. At Defining…
Read the articleWhen parents receive a dyslexia assessment report, one of the first things they notice is the numbers. There are scores for reading, spelling, memory, processing speed, and more, and it…
Read the articleWhere are you on the journey?
Only the steps that are likely to be genuinely relevant.
