What this provision does
Rest breaks are breaks in the exam time in which students:
- can stretch, move, rest or refocus in their seat
- have to turn over or close their exam questions and answers
- can’t read, write or make notes.
Rest breaks are usually expressed as an amount of time for each half hour of exam time. For example, in a 2-hour exam, if a student is approved rest breaks at a rate of 5 minutes for each half hour of exam time, the student would get a 20-minute rest-break allowance.
Who this provision is for
This provision is usually for students with:
- an anxiety disorder (usually this needs to be diagnosed, as all students experience some degree of anxiety)
- fatigue
- pain
- concentration difficulties, such as those caused by ADHD.
How it works on the day
Rest breaks can’t be less than 5 minutes. All students take short moments to stretch or refocus during their exams. Rest breaks are designed for students with exam needs that can’t be reasonably addressed like this, so each rest break has to be at least 5 minutes.
If a student’s remaining rest-break allowance is less than 5 minutes, they can’t take another rest break. For example, if a student has a rest-break allowance of 30 minutes, then might choose to take three 9-minute rest breaks. They can’t take a fourth rest break because the remaining time is only 3 minutes.
If a student doesn’t feel rested enough after 5 minutes, they can take a longer break. But rest breaks can’t be longer than the total rest-break allowance. The supervisor will record the time taken to ensure it doesn’t go over the allocation. For example, if a student has a rest-break allowance of 30 minutes, they could take one 12-minute, one 8-minute and two 5-minute rest breaks.
The student can decide when to take rest breaks. They have to tell the exam supervisor each time they want to take a break.
Students should practise using rest breaks to see what best suits them. For example, some students might need 5-minute breaks at regular intervals. Other students might find they work better with longer breaks taken less regularly. Understanding the exam format as well as personal exam needs will help students work out the best schedule for them.
We automatically approve students with rest breaks for small group supervision. Most students choose to use this. Some might choose to sit with the main body of students, but at the front or back of the exam room. Students sitting in the main room might be disturbed when other students finish and are leaving the room.
What supporting information is needed
Examples of supporting information for this provision include:
- NESA Medical form, usually including a diagnosis of a related condition or disability
- NESA Teacher Comments form
- Student declaration.
Where to find more information
Schools can find forms and templates for most types of supporting information through the Schools Online platform. They will print out the relevant forms and give them to students, parents or caregivers as needed.
If the types of supporting information that we listed above don’t seem relevant, please contact the Student Support team to discuss your circumstances. You can contact us on: