Exam Writing

The following links have information that may help some people who have exam anxiety.  The information on these links is not a substitute for professional counselling.  Any information given in the links must be confirmed with a qualified counsellor.

Students should discuss the content of these pages with their counsellor or  physician before attempting any of the strategies discussed.

Athabasca University.  This article looks at the symptoms of exam anxiety and the causes of exam anxiety. The article also discusses some ways of reducing exam anxiety, including new study patterns, life style changes, test-taking strategies, and changing thought patterns that can cause anxiety.

Stress Management Resources.  Part of the Mental Health Resources home pages.  The Stress Management Resources pages contain several articles about stress and various techniques for reducing stress.

A few videos about exam preparation can be found on our Counsellor's personal web page.  The videos are not a substitute for personal counselling relating to exam anxiety.

Special Exam Accommodations

Some students need special exam conditions for Alberta Distance Learning Centre tests, Alberta Education achievement exams, or Alberta Education diploma exams. Those special exam conditions include the following:

• Audio exams
• Additional time
• Scribes or readers
• Taped responses

A request for special exam conditions must be submitted with appropriate documentation such as a copy of a recent psychometric assessment, a copy of a recent Individualized Pupil Plan (IPP) or an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), or the written recommendation from a physician. 

Students are advised to submit signed documents from the teacher who taught the prerequisite subject, indicating what exam accommodations were provided for tests in this course.  In cases where students are not able to demonstrate that they received accommodations on school exams, Alberta Education may decline to provide accommodations on the Provincial Diploma Exams.

Students must apply well in advance of the anticipated diploma exam date to receive special accommodations for the Alberta Education Diploma Exams. Application forms for special conditions for diploma exams can be obtained by contacting one of our counsellors, by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phoning  our Special Cases Process Facilitator at 780-674-5333, EXT 5255.  The completed forms must to be faxed to 780-674-6977, emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or hand delivered to one of our offices for processing.

Special Writing Centres

Students living inside Alberta must write Provincial Diploma Exams at schools.  Alberta Education has provisions for students living outside of Alberta to write Provincial Diploma Exams, without having to return to Alberta.  The procedures are continually subject to review and change.  Students needing to write Provincial Diploma Exams outside of Alberta are strongly advised to contact one of our counsellors, to email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or to phone our Special Cases Process Facilitator at 780-674-5333, EXT 5255.

 Alberta Education approves the writing of Diploma Exams only at schools, colleges, and universities.  A proposed exam supervisor must be able to fluently read, write and speak English for Diploma Exams written in English and French for Diploma Exams written in French.

In addition to neatly completed Special Writing Centre application forms, Alberta Education may require at least the following information: 

• When and why the student left Alberta and when the student is planning on returning to Alberta.
• Why the student is taking the course.
• When the student registered in an Alberta Distance Learning Centre Provincial Diploma Exam course.
• Student's mark in the prerequisite subject course.  

Students applying to write Provincial Diploma Exams outside of Alberta must demonstrate that they can satisfactorily complete the entire Alberta Distance Learning Centre course, including all of the assignments, quizzes, and supervised exams prior to the date the Provincial Diploma Exam is to be written.  In the case of students living outside of Canada, all of the work should be received by Alberta Distance Learning Centre teachers at least a month before the date required for school marks to be reported to Alberta Education.  Students living in other Canadian provinces or territories are to submit all of their school work, quizzes, and supervised exams at least two weeks before the date required for school marks to be reported to Alberta Education.

Note:  Because a student's request to write a Provincial Diploma Exam outside of Alberta could be declined, students taking Grade 12 Provincial Diploma Exam courses outside of Alberta, may need to travel to Alberta to write the exams.