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Original poster

Scribe for English Language GCSE

36 replies

TeenPlusCat · 18/02/2022 13:50

We've probably missed the boat, but thinking about re-retakes.

Can you use a scribe for English Language GCSE, but only for questions with no SPAG marks, and then handwrite those? DD has limited stamina with her handwriting (typing diabolical, so that is an even worse option). She already gets extra time and rest breaks.

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RobinGoch · 04/03/2022 09:59

If stamina with writing is the problem and you have no luck with the scribe consider asking for supervised rest breaks. She could take breaks to recover and the time taken can be added on to the end of the exam....

muckandnettles · 04/03/2022 08:02

I'm a senior marker for English and I agree with @MrsHamlet that it's well worth doing some dictation of punctuation as that's pretty quick to do. It only affects the mark for qu5 so if you're using a scribe, use it for the whole paper if that will help. There are a lot of misconceptions about use of scribes amongst teachers themselves and even exams officers, so it's worth pursuing. If you want to look up the guidance yourself it's all on jcq.org.uk.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 04/03/2022 07:50

I got a response. Roughly speaking it was:
'she can't have a scribe as she doesn't use a scribe' Hmm

A bit more too-ing and fro-ing got me a slightly more sensible answer, and they are going to consider things a bit more. If the answer is no then I don't mind so much, as long as it has been thought about.

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MrsHamlet · 20/02/2022 11:01

Should've said: the reason it's worth her dictating the punctuation is that there are marks for range and variety. So if she gets in a question and a simple sentence and some commas in a list, then she'll get credit for it.
Good luck!

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 20/02/2022 07:25

DD has a Q5 to do over half term, so we'll give it a go with her doing the punctuation and me the spelling. Thank you all so much for giving me the confidence to give it a go.

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LightBulbous · 19/02/2022 23:26

@TeenPlusCat

Forgot, she also has an electronic reader. Smile

I am hoping that adrenaline will see her through when the time comes.
She'll have missed the deadline for this year anyway won't she?

Deadline for AA applications for summer is 31 March
BitterTits · 19/02/2022 18:54

Honestly if you can get away with it at this stage, she might as well just use the scribe for the whole paper.

MrsHamlet · 19/02/2022 18:54

Definitely worth looking at getting a scribe then if it's possible.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 18:47

She wouldn't get top marks on either spelling or punctuation anyway. Her P is basic, and her S is variable.

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BitterTits · 19/02/2022 18:39

Using a scribe without dictating any SPAG would only lead to a deduction of a maximum of three marks per paper though (two if she dictated the punctuation), because while there are 16 marks for SPAG in each piece, those are across four bands. She'd go to the bottom of the 4 mark band rather than lose the whole lot. That's assuming she'd get a mark at the top of the band independently. The adjustments are minimal.

MrsHamlet · 19/02/2022 18:34

Any sits, the rules are the same. Whatever access arrangements she gets, she should get them in mocks etc too.
Scribes are less common these days in my experience as more students word process. But the limitations on marks for those who use scribes are not as great as some people think.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 18:27

She's not doing Lit. This is 'resits' though it is 'sits' really.

Thank you, you are all being very helpful. I so don't want yet another year of English!

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Evvyjb · 19/02/2022 18:23

Yes, it is just the q5 on the language paper (16 marks for SPaG). There are also 4 marks each for SPaG on the Shakespeare and the unseen poetry questions for lit this year.

MrsHamlet · 19/02/2022 18:22

@TeenPlusCat

Am I correct though that not all the questions have SPAG marks attached to them? As in isn't it only the 'writing questions' Q5s? (AQA) So could she use a scribe for Q1-4 to save her hand, and then write her own Q5s?
Yes. We get the scribe paperwork attached to q5 so it'll say whether she had one and to what extent she used them. Literature also has spag marks but only 4. Not all English teachers will be well versed in it. I have colleagues who think using a scribe gets you zero for SPAg. It doesn't.
Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 18:19

wonder Her EHCP is literally a week old Smile .

I'll make sure I mention it in any email I send as college might not have disseminated the fact she has one yet.

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wonderstuff · 19/02/2022 18:19

I’m not sure, definitely need a conversation with English teacher who will be well versed in it.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 18:17

Am I correct though that not all the questions have SPAG marks attached to them? As in isn't it only the 'writing questions' Q5s? (AQA)
So could she use a scribe for Q1-4 to save her hand, and then write her own Q5s?

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wonderstuff · 19/02/2022 18:17

We have students who have scribe and dictate punctuation, they can then access the grammar and punctuation elements but not spelling. It would be possible to use scribe for part of the paper, there’s a cover sheet that scribe fills in to state what student has done independently.

School will have to have a reason to apply, I can’t remember but I think with a current EHCP it should be fairly straightforward. Without an EHCP the rules are significantly slow handwriting or significantly poor spelling. Although I’ve put through one for illegible writing, that needed to be approved on appeal.

Definitely should be possible but might take a while to get sorted so contact school asap. I’m access assessor for a large school and applications can take a few hours work. I’ve told teachers I absolutely need referrals by beginning of March or I’ll really struggle to get in before deadline. EHCP generally make it much more straightforward.

percypig · 19/02/2022 18:10

You can have a scribe, but the rules are more complicated than for other subjects and there are different ‘levels’ of scribing. It’s important to consider (and practise) the way which will work best. For example, one option is for the candidate to dictate words and the scribe does all the spelling and punctuation etc. This means a lot of the SPG marks will be deducted. Other options include the candidate spelling out every word and every piece of punctuation - this obviously takes a lot of effort and concentration.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 18:05

Thank you. It's not that she can't write, just no way at the moment can she write for 2 hours. Dictating spelling sounds crazy - do people really do that?!

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MrsHamlet · 19/02/2022 17:38

I've checked: if she dictates none of the spelling or punctuation, she can only get the bottom mark in the band she's in for the technical accuracy.
If she does either spelling or punctuation, she can get up to the middle mark in the band.
I'd advise her to dictate punctuation.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 16:45

Thank you. I'll add it to my to do list, along with appealing her brand new EHCP.

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MrsHamlet · 19/02/2022 16:23

You can still access some of the spag marks even with a scribe.

SeasonFinale · 19/02/2022 15:50

Yes definitely get on to the Learning Support team ASAP as they will need to make a case for her to have a scribe.

Original poster
TeenPlusCat · 19/02/2022 11:27

Thank you MrsHamlet (and everyone else).

I have checked the JQC pages and it seems the deadline for access arrangements is 31/3 so I think it may be worth my pursuing this with college.

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