Length of GCSE exams - Do DC with extra time cope?

More thoughts. Is she goi g to take the exams separately from her peer group? We had small rooms for students who needed readers or scribes, but larger rooms for those who had extra time, albeit much smaller than the majority in the hall.

If she was on her own with an invigilator (probably a TA), could she take a couple of minutes to rest, do some hand exercises and stretch?

I don’t think my O levels were three hours, but my A levels were.

When I was a SENCO, we had some students who were granted extra time. I think it’s really important that students should know how to plan how to use the time effectively. Those who did plan, benefitted and generally achieved a better grade. There were some though, despite being entitled to extra time, didn’t want to make use of it and that’s when it’s difficult.

So the more you can help your daughter to plan and use the time effectively, the better the result, in my experience.

No, they were 2.5 hours. A levels are still up to 3 hours though.

I think O'levels were generally 3 hours as standard. Less papers but much longer. Extra time simply didn't exist back then.

I'm not sure what's best. Less but longer or more papers but shorter length. I think I actually prefer the longer length. 1 or 1 and a half hours seems very short for an exam to me.

Hi I’m an an exam invigilator and just want to reassure you. The students with extra time, in my experience are good at using it for what they need; be that checking their work or continuing answering questions which is sounds like your DD will be good at having had the extra time over the years. Those mentioning planning each exam in sections is a great idea. You are allowed to take food and drinks into the exam hall but it has to be in unmarked packaging or a clear bottle with no label on, bananas are common. Most children don’t bring in food, most do bring in water. If you are thinking of sending in food just be mindful that it’s not of the crunchy variety which is disturbing for others! Extra time students may leave when then want to during the extra time and judging from what I have seen most children use it bar the odd minute or two and don’t suffer from the longer exam. Although the exam is longer she will be doing a shorter day than normal which may help. Good luck to her!

Yes I am an O level throwback too and our exams were longer but also we had fewer of them. My DS had 31 exams over late May/early June 2018.

I seem to remember mine were all within a 2 week period in June.

I'm sure all the O level exams I took ages ago were at least 2 hours. It's definitely the case that all my university exams were 3h long, often two in a day. I cannot quite believe how short some GCSE papers are now, having seen the mocks my son is doing. Personally I think a bit of recalibration of what is "long" is needed here - if extra time still has it below 3h I can't see the problem. Irrespective of the length, staying till the end and checking and looking how to do questions you could not do the first time through is well advised. I have banned my son from leaving any exam early.

DD had extra time for her A levels this year. I have just asked her whether she was allowed snacks and drinks other than water, and the answer was no.

KittyMcKitty - they muat be rules that your school have imposed.

Snacks are allowed, liquids do not need to be clear as long as they are in transparent unlabelled bottles. Also rest breaks do not need to be taken in the exam room as long as the student is supervised by an invigilator for the period of the rest break.

I have invigilated people with all sorts of adjustments including 100% extra time and rest breaks where they were allowed to sleep due to medical conditions.

Every candidate is assessed according to their own individual needs but some schools do impose their own rules which is fine as long as it complies with JCQ Regulations

DD was allowed rest breaks due to a back injury last year. She had 22 exam papers in total. She found that the time flew by and the rest breaks were useful to allow her to refocus between sections of the paper.

In my own career, I had a student who was entitled to double time, meaning that he had 8 hours to complete a 4 hour exam with comfort & meal breaks. Now that is a long time!

Students with extra time are allowed to leave the exam any time after the end of standard time.

I would not expect her to be allowed snacks in the exam room unless there are specific medical conditions. Similarly cocoa-cola won’t be allowed- clear liquid (water) in a clear, unlabelled bottle.

Rest breaks are a specific access arrangement and I’ve known very very few students granted them. Those that have been granted them have to stay in the exam room whilst taking them.

Students don’t have to use their extra time however it is in their best interests to so.

As someone who had extra time and this equated to 4 hour exams at university. One of the key things is to plan how you will use the time to be most effective. For exam 1.5 hour exam that is 3 essays you give 30 mins to each essay, 3 mins planning, 23 mins writing/typing and 4 mins proof reading.

The added advantage is that it ensures that you always get the first 'easy' marks for each question. As I understand it GCSEs have very structured papers you know there will a 16 mark question, 12 Mark question and 5 6 mark questions, so all the planning can be done before hand and practiced in mocks.

I work with students with access arrangements and the ones who are doing their best will do slow and steady. Encourage them to use it. I know a few will give up just to go at the end of the exam rather than extra time.

If there’s any potential for rest breaks then they’re good for perking students back up.

Pmd you

You are right AvoidingMarking you can have rest breaks during exams (if eligible). My DC had them up to 15 minutes for SEN reasons.

Speaking on a personal level, DD needed lots of TLC and sympathy about the general unfairness of it all. I often discuss this with my students- they do have to work harder than their peers to acheive the same results. I do think that needs to be acknowledged.

Not just for using the toilet. Just an example!

You could enquire about supervised rest breaks.

Some students can pause the clock as it were, step out of the exam room, go to the toilet and then restart the clock.

Not everyone qualifies but if you can prove this is beneficial and becomes her normal way of working then she might.

Use the extra time only if needed do not stay in the exam if you are finished.
The worst is when you will have 2 exams in one day. So make sure they get lots of sleep. No cramming the night before.
Stay hydrated (water not Coca-Cola), it is hard to remember when in exams but I think it did relieve unneeded stress after several hours of exams.
You can also get a break (15 mins) in the middle of an exam (if eligible, I think it was just essay subjects), I know because 1 of my DC had it last year.
They will cope GCSEs are a one off.