Requesting extra time in exams: the concrete steps
The brevet, the baccalauréat, higher education: extra time follows a precise procedure and a tight timeline. Here is how to put the application together without leaving it too late.
An accommodation governed by the ministry
Extra time is an exam adjustment that grants additional time (usually a third of the original duration) to candidates whose health situation, disability or learning difficulty slows down written work. It applies to the brevet (lower-secondary diploma), the baccalaureate, competitive exams and higher education. The request is made several months before the exam, on a medical file, and involves specific people depending on the school level.
Who can benefit from extra time
Extra time is not reserved for disability situations recognised by the MDPH. It is for the broader group of candidates who experience:
- an established learning difficulty (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysphasia, dyscalculia)
- an attention or neurodevelopmental difference (TDAH (ADHD), TSA (autism spectrum))
- a chronic condition or a tiring treatment (epilepsy, diabetes, cystic fibrosis)
- a temporary disabling situation (broken wrist, post-operative recovery)
All these grounds are admissible if they are documented by a doctor.
Which exams are concerned
The national exams all give entitlement to adjustments:
- the lower-secondary brevet (DNB)
- the general, technological and vocational baccalaureate
- public-service competitive exams
- higher-education exams (bachelor's, master's, specialist schools)
Extra time also applies to the continuous-assessment papers of the baccalaureate since the latest reform.
The steps one by one
The timetable varies by level, but the logic stays the same:
- by the start of the exam year at the latest, make an appointment with the school doctor or the doctor designated by the MDPH
- put together a detailed medical file with assessments to support it
- file the request with the head of the establishment (lower-secondary, upper-secondary) or the disability service (university)
- receive the medical opinion proposing the list of adjustments
- obtain the written decision of the rector before the exam
For the baccalaureate, the request is filed before 30 November of the exam year. For the brevet, before 30 December. For higher education, from the start of the university year.
What the medical file must contain
A solid file shortens processing times. It brings together:
- a detailed medical certificate from the practitioner following the situation (neuro-paediatrician, psychiatrist, GP)
- recent assessments (speech and language therapist, psychologist, neuropsychologist, occupational therapist)
- the previous adjustments put in place in class (PAP, PPS, educational team reports)
- a statement from the candidate (if an adult) or their legal guardians specifying the adjustments requested
Beyond the administrative file, explaining in a few seconds how the teenager functions to an invigilator they meet for the first time remains another exercise. Some candidates use a myHandiQR profile for this quick handover, without having to explain everything again on the morning of the exam.
On the day of the exam
A few markers so that the adjustment runs without a hitch:
- arrive with a copy of the rectoral notification
- check the room assigned: candidates with adjustments are often grouped together
- know the exact total duration: extra time on a 4-hour paper gives 5 hours 20
- bring a snack and something to drink if the duration warrants it
If the request is refused
Refusal is rare but possible. Several options:
- request an informal appeal to the rector within 2 months
- complete the file with a new assessment and resubmit it
- get support from a specialist association for the procedure
A refusal often rests on a medical file that is not precise enough rather than on a substantive disagreement.
Key takeaways
- Extra time is not reserved for recognised disability: any documented learning difficulty gives entitlement to an adjustment.
- Baccalaureate: before 30 November. Brevet: before 30 December. After the deadline, the request becomes almost impossible to process.
- The detailed medical file is the only thing that really counts: assessments, certificates, previous adjustments.
- The rectoral notification arrives before the exam and must be presented on the day.
- In the event of a refusal, an informal appeal is possible within the 2 months following the decision.
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