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Extra Help With
Exams - Scotland
For
those students who have dyspraxia and / or learning disabilities, their
difficulties may mean they need extra help and support to be able to take part
in exams. This article aims to answer some of the more common questions and give
an idea of the timescale involved. What types of disabilities qualify
for help?
The
Scottish Qualifications Authority have special assessment arrangements that
ensure that candidates have fair opportunities to show that they can achieve the
standards required for Units and Courses. They
state that these arrangements are intended for candidates who can achieve the
national standards, but cannot do so by the published assessment procedures. The
reason for this might be a physical disability, sensory impairment, learning
difficulty or a temporary problem at the time of the assessment. All
candidates must be assessed against the published assessment criteria, which
state the standards for a Unit or Course. Concessions cannot be made for a
candidate�s inability to meet the standards. The
SQA state that the process of assessment must: �
Be rigorous and fair. �
Allow candidates to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required
for the award. The
special assessment arrangements must not compromise the credibility of the
award. Alternative assessments must: �
Measure the activity against the standards and therefore be valid. �
Give consistent results i.e. be reliable. �
Operate within available resources, facilities and time i.e. be
practicable. What type of
help is available?
There
are various different special arrangements that may be considered for a
candidate. Each candidate�s assessment need must be considered in relation to
the assessment being taken. The most common and appropriate to dyspraxic
children are: Extra Time, Rest Periods, Linguistic Support, Using a Calculator
and Transcription. Extra Time
Extra
time can be allowed in external assessments and in internally assessed set
tasks. The allowance can vary according to the individual candidate and must
always be approved by the SQA for external examinations. Rest Periods
Supervised
breaks or rest periods can be given when needed. Usually, the child is
supervised during the break and the time is not deducted from the exam time. It
is possible for a child to have extra time and rest breaks allotted. Linguistic Support
In
Internal Assessments, word processors are permitted where the formal skills of
written communication are not being assessed. For others, approval must be
given. External Assessments must have approval and it is dependant on the type
of assessment. If
the child has a severe speech difficulty, an amanuensis may be approved. This is
where they dictate their answers to someone, who then records them. It may also
be possible to use Voice Recognition Software. These arrangements all require
approval. Using a calculator
For
those candidates who experience difficulties such as sequencing,
visual-perceptual and short-term memory problems, it may be possible to gain
approval to use a calculator in non-calculator papers in Maths examinations. Transcription
For
those candidates with poor handwriting skills and who are not proficient in word
processing, it may be possible to have their script transcribed after an
external examination. The piece of work is usually transcribed without
correction. This must be approved, but would not be allowed where the ability to
produce legible script is being assessed. How can we get special exam
arrangements for our child?
If
you feel that your child will need extra help in their exams, it is important
that you make an appointment to discuss this with the head teacher as soon as
possible. There are different arrangements for Internal and External Assessments
and you should be made aware of what is applicable in each case. In
internal examinations, the head teacher must generally make a request to the SQA
for any special arrangements, which significantly change the published
assessment requirements.
The request must be made as soon as possible, so there is enough time for
approval. Any special arrangements in external examinations must be submitted to
SQA, using a formal request form. All
applications must be submitted as soon as possible, so it is important to raise
your concerns early. Late submissions will not be accepted Further Information Additional
information is available from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Phone:
0141 242 2214 Fax:
0141 242 2244 E-mail:
[email protected] Website:
www.sqa.org.uk Dyspraxia
Foundation, 8 West Alley, Hitchin, Herts
SG5 1EG Tel:
01462 454986 (Helpline) Tel:
01462 455016 (Administration) Fax:
01462 455052 Website:
www.dyspraxiafoundation.co.uk �
Dyspraxia Foundation |
