Most Australian senior exam authorities want applications for reading provisions by the end of Term 1 in the exam year. NSW opens applications earlier, at the start of Term 4 in the year before. If a student will use a C-Pen Exam Reader 2 in their final exams, the school should start gathering evidence this term.
In every state and territory, a reading pen is a provision the school applies for. It is not automatically allowed. Once the application is approved, the student can use the pen in place of, or alongside, a human reader, depending on the authority's rules.
Application windows by authority
The dates below follow the 2026 cycle. Authorities publish their 2027 dates between Term 4 and early Term 1, so check each link before you lodge.
| Authority | Exam | Who applies | When to apply | Reading pen position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NESA | NSW HSC | School, through Schools Online | Opens start of Term 4 the year before; closes end of Term 1 of the HSC year | Named: "an electronic reader (such as a C-pen)" |
| VCAA | VCE | School, through Special Provision Online | Early Term 1 (2026: rollovers 23 Feb, known conditions 6 Mar) | Electronic reader or reader software; separate room; 10 extra minutes per hour |
| QCAA | QCE external assessment | School, through the QCAA Portal | Long-term conditions by end of Term 1; short-term by end of Week 5, Term 3 | Assistive technology, considered case by case through the AARA Unit |
| SACE Board | SACE (SA and NT) | School decides, then asks the Board to apply it in exams | At Stage 1 enrolment or in Term 1 of Stage 2 | Named: the Board publishes a guide to using reader pens in exams |
| SCSA | WA ATAR exams | School, to SCSA | Late Term 1 (2026: 26 March) | Named: "C-Pen Exam Reader with headphones may be granted" |
| TASC | Tasmanian external exams | School, through TRACS | Term 2 to early Term 3 (2026: 3 July) | Assistive technology, as a reasonable adjustment |
| BSSS | ACT college assessment and AST | College for school assessment; BSSS Office for the AST | AST known conditions by end of March (2026: 31 March) | College: text-to-voice technology. AST: special equipment |
What to prepare this term
Evidence requirements differ, but most authorities want three things: proof of the reading difficulty, proof of its impact at school, and proof that the pen is how the student already works.
- NSW: reading test results from a YARC (Level 2), WIAT-III or WIAT-IV, the NESA teacher comments form, and a student declaration.
- WA: psychometric assessment results from a registered psychologist, plus a PAT-R Comprehension test given by the school in the year of application.
- Victoria: school evidence of functional impact, educational assessments, and a health professional statement for specific learning disorders.
- Queensland and Tasmania: a school statement and a medical or allied health report.
- ACT AST: a three-part student, medical and school form, including the diagnosis and standardised test results.
Make the pen the student's normal way of working
Authorities expect a provision to match everyday classroom practice. A student who first picks up a reading pen in the exam room is at a disadvantage, and the application is weaker.
- Give the student the same model they will use in the exam, ideally the C-Pen Exam Reader 2.
- Use it in class tests, assignments and mock exams from Term 4 onwards.
- Keep simple records: dates, tasks and how the student used it. These double as evidence for the application and for NCCD (see funding a C-Pen).
- Run at least one full mock exam with the pen, headphones and the room setup the authority requires.
What about NAPLAN?
ACARA names the C-Pen Exam Reader as text-to-speech technology that schools can seek approval for through their test administration authority. NAPLAN is delivered online, though, and a C-Pen cannot read a screen. A pen only helps a student who sits paper test materials. In the reading test, stimulus material and questions cannot be read aloud to a student (see reading pens in Australian exams).
Next steps
- Confirm which students need a reading provision in 2027 exams.
- Check the evidence each authority needs and book any assessments now.
- Start classroom use of the C-Pen Exam Reader 2 this term.
- Lodge applications as soon as each window opens.
For step-by-step setup before a mock exam, see Setting up Exam Mode and Exam Lock on a C-Pen.
Frequently asked questions
When do HSC disability provision applications open?
NESA opens applications at the start of Term 4 in the year before the HSC and closes them at the end of Term 1 of the HSC year. Schools apply through Schools Online. Students with stable conditions can have applications lodged from Term 4 of Year 10.
Can a student use a C-Pen in the HSC?
Yes, when approved. NESA lists "an electronic reader (such as a C-pen)" as a reader provision. The school applies on the student's behalf with reading test results, teacher comments and a student declaration.
Are reading pens allowed in VCE exams?
The C-Pen Exam Reader 2 can be used in VCE exams when the school applies for and is granted the provision. VCAA approves electronic readers through Special Examination Arrangements. Students using one sit in a separate room and receive 10 extra minutes per hour of writing time.
Does the student or the school apply?
The school applies in every state and territory. Families and therapists supply evidence, such as assessment reports, but the application goes through the school's portal with the authority.
What if we have missed the deadline?
Most authorities accept late applications for new or changed conditions. NSW accepts applications for new or not-yet-stable conditions until the end of Week 6, Term 3, and emergency applications from four weeks before the exams. Contact the authority directly.
More C-Pen guides for schools and therapistsSetup help, exam provisions, funding and model comparisons in one place.
