Reasonable test adjustments

Applications for Reasonable Test Adjustments will only be accepted between 7 November 2022 – 29 January 2023.

Candidates who have an impairment which could affect their performance in the test may apply for reasonable test adjustments.

Such impairments may be physical (e.g. hearing, visual, motor skills); psychiatric (e.g. anxiety); medical (e.g. diabetes); or a learning disability (e.g. dyslexia).

Examples of reasonable adjustments include:  extra time, rest breaks, permission to take in food, etc.

To apply for reasonable test adjustments, you must:

1.  Register for the test.

2.  Obtain a professional evaluation of your condition (for learning disabilities, this should be an Educational Psychologist's report). Supporting documentation should be no more than one year old for a medical condition and no more than 5 years old for a learning disability. If it is older, please contact the MSAP Office. The documentation from your health practitioner must:

  • give a clear diagnosis and information on your condition
  • indicate the impact of your condition in test settings
  • include a statement as to what accommodations your health practitioner feels are appropriate for you in test settings
  • be typed on the medical practitioner’s official letterhead and include the date, name, registration number, contact details and signature of the health practitioner. While some conditions/disorders such as some Mental Health Conditions and Neurodevelopmental disorders can be life-long, currency requirements must be met as functional limitation of these disorders may vary depending on various factors such as the candidate’s age and environmental demands.

3.  Log back into your ACER User Account and use the 'Manage' button next to your MSAP Ireland registration.

4.  Use the blue ‘Apply’ button under ‘Reasonable Test Adjustments’. Complete the required information and upload your documentation, then use the ‘Submit Application’ button.


Applications MUST be submitted to the MSAP Ireland Office by 29 January 2023 to be considered. (Applications submitted after this date may not be considered).

ACER is committed to equity of access for all candidates, and strives to ensure that candidates with disabilities are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged in relation to other candidates who sit the MSAP Ireland test. All requests for reasonable test adjustments are assessed on a case-by-case basis.  All reasonable efforts will be made to provide appropriate adjustments for each candidate’s needs.  Wherever possible, specific requests will be granted. However, in making its decision, ACER is mindful of the need to balance the competing demands of providing candidates with the opportunity to perform at an optimal level, with the need to preserve the integrity of the assessment process and the nature of the assessment. As such, even though the recommendations made by a medical practitioner will be considered by ACER, it may not be possible to grant all the recommendations requested.

Note: There is no possibility of special consideration being given to test results. In no circumstances will scores be adjusted to account for any perceived disadvantage.

ACER does not offer spelling waivers for candidates with dyslexia when granting reasonable test adjustments. The markers concentrate on the content and level of thought demonstrated by the writing, rather than on spelling.