Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DD not given extra time in gcse exam

113 replies

Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:00

DD took her first gcse exam, having been assessed and granted extra time. This extra time was not provided on the day. To be fair to the school they have admitted that it was their error. They are going to put in a special circumstances form. As I understand it the maximum 'extra' they can provide is 5% - but this is in really extreme circumstances ie death. Realistically does anyone work for an exam board and could give me an idea on what will happen? An additional 1 or 2%?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:12

Thank you. I feared that may be the case. I have no idea how they think 2% will make up her missing 25% of her exam time mind.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 09/01/2025 21:15

How did she miss 25% of the exam?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Secondary education
Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:21

She was meant to have an additional 25% extra time due to SEN. However the exam officer today has confirmed that 'human error' meant that she was not given that extra time on the day (my dd did state to the person collecting the paper she had extra time but wasn't believed basically). Everyone very apologetic. I get mistakes happen but i don't feel that 1-2% makes up for 'missing' 25% of her exam (exam was 90 minutes, she should have been allowed 120 minutes).

OP posts:
FrannyScraps · 09/01/2025 21:23

MrsHamlet · 09/01/2025 21:15

How did she miss 25% of the exam?

It literally says in rhe OP, the school made a mistake, that's how.

MrsHamlet · 09/01/2025 21:23

It's a fixed formula though - JCQ regulates what the exam boards can do.

FrannyScraps · 09/01/2025 21:24

Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:21

She was meant to have an additional 25% extra time due to SEN. However the exam officer today has confirmed that 'human error' meant that she was not given that extra time on the day (my dd did state to the person collecting the paper she had extra time but wasn't believed basically). Everyone very apologetic. I get mistakes happen but i don't feel that 1-2% makes up for 'missing' 25% of her exam (exam was 90 minutes, she should have been allowed 120 minutes).

She should have got 112.5 minutes.

Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:25

Out of interest does anyone know if this is a common mistake?

OP posts:
WhoisRebecca · 09/01/2025 21:26

It happened to my dd. She got a grade 6 in the end which was great for her. The invigilator refused to believe she had extra time and had mixed up her name on the register.

MrsHamlet · 09/01/2025 21:26

One of my students several years ago was stopped early - he had several access arrangements and the invigilator made a mistake. He's the only one I can think of in thr last several years.

Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:26

Sorry, maths not my strong point. The exam was 1 hour 30 minutes and she was meant to have an extra 25%.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:27

Thank you both. Well done to your dd from getting a 6.

OP posts:
nirishism · 09/01/2025 21:28

That’s really unfair, particularly that she raised it and was not believed. I get what’s done is done but I would really be expecting the school to do more than apologise to you - they should be apologising to your DD, including a personal apology from the individual who refused to believe her.

I think you can only wait and see what happens then but if there is an adverse effect that might eg impact on your DD’s a level choices or something I would not expect school to be considering their error and making an accommodation at that point.

Is your DD ok? Honestly we expect kids to put up with so much adults would never stand for. The extra 2% cap is ridiculous.

Itsmyluckyegg · 09/01/2025 21:29

Happened to my daughter last year. School admitted the error and put in for special circumstances. I believe it cost her a grade, as do school, but nothing could be done. It had a knock on effect of all her other exams as she had to have someone check every time she was on the list.

backawayfatty1 · 09/01/2025 21:29

Sorry I don't have much advice but can I ask what evidence was used to get the extra time put in place? My DD is 15 & awaiting assessment for ASD. Her school are pushing back on offering extra time

reluctantbrit · 09/01/2025 21:31

Is it a subject your DD will need a specific grade to go to a college or 6th form or even to get a grade 4?

If not, I would maybe relax a bit, it's not right but in a way it is about choosing your battle and reducing stress.

Print out the confirmation from the school for each exam that the 25% extra time is granted, she can take it with her and give it straight to the invigilator so that the next exam won't cause the same problem.

We had a similar issue for DD who was granted a quite room and was sat in the hall with 100 other students, it was a disaster but "luckily" just a Spanish exam she didn't need a particular grade for. We sent her in with the relevant approval each time and the room allocation the exam department gave her (ignored by her form tutor). She didn't have any further issues.

Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:31

Thank you. The exam person did also apologise to my dd. She has also been offered to resit the exam in the summer, although that was always the plan anyway. I'm just a little shocked that a) it happened and b) it's only an additional 2% granted. Thankfully dd is taking it in her stride - much better than her mother!

OP posts:
reluctantbrit · 09/01/2025 21:36

backawayfatty1 · 09/01/2025 21:29

Sorry I don't have much advice but can I ask what evidence was used to get the extra time put in place? My DD is 15 & awaiting assessment for ASD. Her school are pushing back on offering extra time

DD only got the extra time when her ADHD diagnosis came through. ASD was diagnosed first but at that time no extra time was granted.

The school looked into her work in Y12 and the first set of mocks in Y13 and realised something was going on at the same time her diagnosis came through but without the formal diagnosis they would only offer it for mocks, not for the actual exams.

I think ASD alone is often not enough for extra time, for DD it was more about getting a quite room instead of a hall with 100 pupils and distraction.
Do talk to the assessor and see that they write it in their report as expected and reasonable adjustments.

Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:37

Backawayfatty - she was assessed a few months ago by the school. I have been requesting it since year 7, but they only seem to assess shortly before GCSEs begin. I'm not sure what it involved I'm afraid.

It was an English lit exam. Dd isn't expected to pass many of her GCSEs, and is likely to struggle getting the 4 or 5 needed for college. This is one she could have potentially passed, however it was foundation paper so the maximum grade she could get was a 'C'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:47

Itsmyluckyegg · 09/01/2025 21:29

Happened to my daughter last year. School admitted the error and put in for special circumstances. I believe it cost her a grade, as do school, but nothing could be done. It had a knock on effect of all her other exams as she had to have someone check every time she was on the list.

Sorry to hear that it likely cost her a grade. I hope she still got to do whatever course / work she wanted to do.

OP posts:
Itsmyluckyegg · 09/01/2025 21:52

Hairyfairy01 · 09/01/2025 21:47

Sorry to hear that it likely cost her a grade. I hope she still got to do whatever course / work she wanted to do.

Show quote history

Yes, luckily it was still enough to get her on the course she wanted, but she is disappointed that she got less than she should as it is was also one of her favourite, strongest subjects. It is what it is now though and she’s currently studying that subject at a level.

The frustration and disappointment is real though, the school admitted the mistake 10 mins after the exam. I pleaded with them to let her continue as she was still in the extra allocated time anyway but as they had taken her paper away, and made contact with me, it couldn’t happen.

ShodAndShadySenators · 09/01/2025 22:01

@backawayfatty1 Usually the student's writing speed, processing speed and legibility is assessed, extra time can be awarded if it's shown that the student's disability is affecting their writing speed etc. It's not an automatic adjustment just because they have a diagnosed condition, it has to have a significant impact on their ability to get their thoughts down. If your child's writing is affected by ASD or similar, they may get access arrangements such as extra time, use of a laptop or placed in a smaller, quieter room (with other similar students, rarely alone)

Your DD's school might be of the opinion that she doesn't struggle with writing her work down, so she doesn't qualify for that adjustment? It's worth asking what the criteria is and why they think she doesn't meet it.

backawayfatty1 · 09/01/2025 22:22

Thanks everyone for the replies.

She's just about to be referred for ADHD too - forgot about that (we thought she had been but turned out not so being done) - but yes no diagnosis yet.

They are happily giving a separate room & I am pushing for breaks/background music as she uses these in classes in general. She also gets to write as doesn't like the clicking of the computers from other students in exams. The extra time is trickier because I don't know how to 'prove it' other than knowing she struggles. I've had one teacher agree so hopefully something comes of it. We are in Scotland (S4/15yo) & just completed prelims so more about getting it sorted for exams in the summer.

I found reaching out to the exam board for clarity on the process helpful because unfortunately our school isn't always correct so I like to double check everything. I sound like hard work but I promise I'm not 🤣

UndergroundOvergroundWomblingFreeby · 09/01/2025 23:01

During COVID my DD was sitting an online university exam and she was suddenly locked out and not given her 25% extra time. She immediately raised a complaint. She had to re-sit the paper later in the summer. She did get a good grade. The university weren't very good at admin in general.

DrRuthGalloway · 09/01/2025 23:07

reluctantbrit · 09/01/2025 21:36

DD only got the extra time when her ADHD diagnosis came through. ASD was diagnosed first but at that time no extra time was granted.

The school looked into her work in Y12 and the first set of mocks in Y13 and realised something was going on at the same time her diagnosis came through but without the formal diagnosis they would only offer it for mocks, not for the actual exams.

I think ASD alone is often not enough for extra time, for DD it was more about getting a quite room instead of a hall with 100 pupils and distraction.
Do talk to the assessor and see that they write it in their report as expected and reasonable adjustments.

Show quote history

If your child has a diagnosed disability condition such as autism you can pretty straightforwardly get extra time due to disability requirements for reasonable adjustments. You just need statements from school and teachers that say it makes a significant difference and evidence to that end.

However not all autistic children need extra time (my 2 autistic kids 1 certainly needed it, the other does not)

Swipe left for the next trending thread