Advice please! slow processing and using a laptop in exams

29 replies

picklefin · 08/12/2023 16:22

DD v bright, did well in gcses, (7s & 8s) but tires in exams and is a slow writer.
Her school have run a few tests for access arrangements and in CTOPP-2 Rapid Symbolic Naming she achieved a standard score of 76 = 5th percentile.

Although her scores were ‘spiky’ she did not score lower than 84 in any other areas, or between 85-89 to get 25% extra time. But the testing was not a full dyslexia test, just a basic screening for exam arrangements. However, we may proceed with a full test for dyslexia, which may or may not highlight other <89 scores.

There is also a large difference between her LUCID exact handwriting speed – 55th Percentile and her typing speed 88th percentile.
In addition, she is hyper-mobile and gets achy hands after writing for a long time.
School are saying she can't use a laptop in exams. Does anyone have a link to the rules for being permitted to use a laptop/word processor in exams, other than it be a student’s “normal way of working”?

OP posts:

Techno56 · 08/12/2023 17:36

I would ask both SENCo and exams access arrangements person (usually a different person) what the criteria is for laptop use and go from there.

Original poster

picklefin · 08/12/2023 17:25

Thanks Techno56 - one Senco at school said she could use a laptop in exams, and now a different one has said she can't! She does finish exams but rushes and doesn't always have time to get all the info she wants to down on paper.

OP posts:

Techno56 · 08/12/2023 17:08

Using a laptop is the decision of the school and isn't decided by the JCQ. My son has been using one in English lessons with long writes since Y8 (and in other subjects as high mark questions became longer and longer moving towards GCSE eg essays in music, writing in french, essay in computer science). I guess that's what they mean by usual way of working?

I had his handwriting speed Vs typing assessed by an occupational therapist and this report plus reports from his teachers that he doesn't finish exams without a laptop but does when he uses one, means he is allowed to type when he needs to - mixed use.

Try speaking to the SENCO if that's not who you've already discussed with.

Potterinthegarden · 08/12/2023 17:02

You could try looking on Home - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications
I used to invigilate (mostly one-to-one in a separate room and lots of pupils seemed to use laptops).

I never really understood the "normal way of working" thing, as no-one's normal way of working is in an exam hall on a desk 90cm x 90cm with dozens of others!

Home - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications

https://www.jcq.org.uk/

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