CfA Accommodations

Last Updated: September 7, 2026

Welcome! You’re visiting this page likely because you are a student registered with the Centre for Accessibility (CfA), have some exam accommodations, and are wondering if you should register to write your exam with the CfA, or write your exam in the ORCA. The guidance below has been developed in collaboration with the CfA.

You will be writing your exam in the ORCA if you have one or more of the following accommodations:

  • Extended-time
  • Distraction-reduced environment
  • Close proximity to washroom
  • Phone permitted for medical purposes
  • Medical equipment/supplies/food
  • Computer
  • Calculator
  • Timer
  • Fan
  • Clocks
  • White Noise Machine
  • Exam announcements/instructions in writing
  • Formula sheets for exams
  • Computer with Spellchecking

If you have any exam accommodations other than the ones listed above, then you should plan to write with the CfA and must register for your quiz or exam by their deadline. If you have any concerns about your accommodations being met, please reach out to your Accessibility Advisor for discussion.

Note: Please do not book assessments with the Centre for Accessibility if your accommodations can be met in the ORCA. The CfA will cancel any exam bookings in this case and ask you to book yourself in with the ORCA.

Booking process

You may want to watch the first part of the booking process video here.

Are CfA students allowed to wear wireless noise-cancelling headphones/headsets and listen to music?

Yes, all CfA students are permitted to bring their own wireless noise-cancelling headphones/headsets and use them during their exams. Please let the invigilator know you will be using this accommodation at the beginning of your session when you check-in. It may also be connected to your device, but this must be declared to the invigilator and placed on the invigilator desk at the front.

I have found it distracting when I have an assessment with extended-time that bridges over two ORCA sessions. What can be done about this?

*NEW* As of March 2026, in collaboration with the CfA, we have opened a new ORCA room in Hennings 203 that features longer sessions (110 minutes instead of the standard 50 minutes), as well as natural light, a much smaller room (only 16 computers), and ergonomic chairs. Though CfA students are welcome to book in any room, booking a session in Henn 203 will often result in a more comfortable environment and no announcements every 50-minutes (since sessions are twice as long as usual). If you have any additional feedback for the ORCA admin staff, you can let us know by email: orca.support@ubc.ca.

Yes, we are aware of this and understand it can cause distraction during your exam writing experience. There is a 10-minute period after each session where students are checking-in and filling in and out of the ORCA rooms. We are doing our best to do the check-in as quietly as possible, but there do need to be some brief announcements, and the process cannot be completely noiseless. To reduce its impact on you, we suggest you use ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones/headsets.

Can I choose to write in the ORCA if I have an accommodation that cannot be met in the ORCA?

Yes, you may write with the ORCA if you choose to forgo your accommodations that cannot be met in the ORCA.

Can I choose to write in the CfA if my accommodations can be met in the ORCA?

No, this is not possible. If you book an assessment with the Centre for Accessibility and your accommodations can be met in the ORCA, the CfA will cancel exam bookings in this case and ask you to book in the ORCA.

Can I write my exam in the CfA using my own laptop?

No, as of September 2026, the CfA has several ORCA machines in Brock Commons South, and students will be required to use ORCA computers to do exams in courses.

Who can I contact if I have questions about my accommodations?

If you have any concerns about your accommodations, please reach out to your Accessibility Advisor for discussion.

Who can I contact if I have questions about my experience in the ORCA?

You can let your instructor or course coordinator know and ask them to pass along the information to the ORCA, or you can contact us directly at orca.support@ubc.ca.