AIBU to think that this is discrimination?

[Zilla74]

I have recently found out that the English Language GCSE has 20% of the marks awarded for spelling, punctuation and grammar |(SPAG). There is also 5% awarded in other subjects such as English Literature, History and Geography. If a student has spell check enabled or has a scribe they will automatically lose access to the SPAG marks.

My DD is in year 10 and is severely dyslexic, and although she struggles with English is capable in other subjects and is hoping to be able to go to University eventually. However, some of the courses she thinks she might like to attend require a grade 6 (old grade B), but that seems like it will be difficult for her to obtain the required English grade given her spelling difficulties.

I have done an analysis of the 2018 English Language GCSE mark boundaries and it appears that if you can only access 80% of the marks and you achieve the same % on the rest of the paper as someone who can spell, then the person who could spell would get a grade 8 / A* and the student using a scribe or spell check would only receive a grade 6 / B.

Quite honestly, I feel a bit depressed about this – although I do know that it is a first world problem and there are many children who are a lot worse off than she is, but it just feels wrong that the exam system seems to make it hard for people who already have learning difficulties.

AIBU to feel that this is unfair?

I agree it would be fairer to just calculate the mark without taking spag into account rather than dock the marks.

YABslightlyU
Spelling is an element of English Language so it is completely fair that it is tested in an English Language paper. It is however wrong in my opinion for spelling to have any effect on marks in other subjects.

I had the same when I was a kid at school in the 80s/90s, but we weren’t allowed dictionaries or laptops etc in exams, just pen and paper so I had no chance. It’s partly why I gave up at school altogether and got terrible marks. It also put me off further education.

You’re right, it is discrimination, especially when the child has a professional diagnosis. But, to give you hope, despite my awful exam results, I now have a really good job and earn good money. To be honest I just lied on my cv about my exam results when I left school - no one ever checks them, and once you get past about 25, you don’t really need to even mention them on your cv.

I think this is as @PorkFlute says, but if your DD is severely dyslexic, do exam boards not take this into consideration, and treat the 80% as 100% if you see what I mean?

So basically, it's the content that matters and the explanation she may give to the answers (again, a huge part of the English language) which would count, and she would be 'let off' the technicalities? I hope it works out for her.

Hang on though.

If she can type, and doesn't have spell check on, then full marks for SPaG are available.

Do you lose the full %. Surely you still get credit for the P and G (provided grammar check is turned off?)

(Have a DD whose spelling is, um, creative, at times.)

@MissusGeneHunt

Unfortunately the exam boards only allow extra time, which doesn't help if you are simply unable to spell.

We have tried most things, repetition of spellings, private tutors, look, cover write spell etc, but her brain simply does not get how to spell!

Exam boards cannot make adjustments to the assessment criteria for individual candidates as each grade indicates a certain standard has been met and exam certificates do not mention any access arrangements used during exams so to discount a learning objective would give a false sense of an individuals capabilities within the subject as a whole (as spelling is a specific learning objective in the case of English Language). While the exam boards can accept that some candidates may not be able to meet certain learning objectives, and where these objectives are a relatively low percentage of the overall course it can make sense to allow adjustments to the assessment process (such as scribes and the use of laptops with spell checkers) in order to assess other learning objectives the exam board cannot allow whole learning objectives to be disregarded when calculating a final grade so the marks allocated to learning objectives that can not be properly assessed due to the access arrangements have to be seen as not achieved.

@TeenTimesTwo

If the spell check is off then the full SPaG marks are available.

Unfortunately that won't help my DD though as she can't spell very well at all.

If students have other difficulties and they need a scribe, they would lose the full 20%.

So if for example, you fell over and broke your writing arm before the exam, there goes 20% of the marks.

It would also be unfair on candidates whose spelling is rather poor but who do not have a diagnosis to allow some other candidates to not be assessed on spelling without it impacting on their grade.

OP - that's crap then. I can understand her difficulties (used to work with some young people who were severely dyslexic, but weren't able to complete mainstream schools and therefore exams) - it does seem incredibly unfair.

I'm sure you have done so, but have your approached the exam boards themselves? And what does school suggest (if anything....)?

How on earth is a person with severe dyslexia supposed to have any confidence?

I've got to be honest, SPAG is an important part of English language. So, yes, I do think someone's spelling and grammar should be taken in to account and in an English language exam.

One of the reasons for grading people is to give employers a chance to understand who they're employing. So, if an employer is looking for a copywriter and sees an a star for English language, they would think that person was good at spelling.

I think it's more unfair when spelling plays too large a part in eg science.

2/3 of SPAG marks are available when a scribe is used if punctuation is dictated.

In the case of a temporary injury occurring in the weeks leading up to the exam which prevents a candidate handwriting their paper best practice is to allow the use of a laptop with no spell check in conjunction with extra time to allow for slower typing due to the lack of use of one hand and also to allow for unusual and unexpected arrangements which means the candidate is being assessed in a way they are not used to.

Spelling of relevant subject words would be important in geography, and other subjects. So yes to an extent spelling matters.

arethereanyleftatall that is a fair point, but when you look at OPs point about e.g. a broken arm, you are going to end up with pupils needing to resit an exam. It is a tricky one, but it does seem unfair to the OPs DD.

@user139328237

I understand that the exam boards can't make adjustments for individual people, I agree that would not be sensible.

I also agree that some people have poor spelling without a diagnosis, but what about those who do have a diagnosis?

My DD has a professional diagnosis of severe dyslexia, but is good at maths. Some of the courses that she wants to go on to study at higher education require a grade 6 in English. If her spelling, grammar and punctuation is poor that shouldn't mean that she is prevented from studying the higher education of her choice because of her dyslexia.

But part of being good at English is being able to spell and use punctuation and grammar correctly. It’s crap she’s that she’s not good at it due to a disability but she’s not good at it so will have a mark that reflects that. I have Marfans and am completely rubbish at all sports as a result. If I’d been made to do a GCSE in PE and had to do a physical element I’d have failed.

@user139328237

Apologies about the incorrect fact regarding the temporary injury.

I 100% agree that this is discrimination. I have been fighting for these spag marks to be dropped in exams for dyslexic candidates. So much is stacked against them already without having 2 grades taken off them for something that they can't do due to a disability. Then not allow them to go to university. Now they've removed coursework and the oral exam as well as cutting Sen funding so the so called 'special adjustments' aren't actually a reality. They are being set up to fail.

l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyou.38degrees.org.uk%2Fpetitions%2Fmake-gcse-english-exam-fair-for-students-with-dyslexia&h=AT0K6VDVE8AX6aqvrCJFGBJ9O74OupvoCgdVBsR6TDZkdmLMJwysDhAyYbcaQbsvHyIwRpEPl_kGKcrbm2MVMT2jrCCVaiupW
Please click on the link below to sign my petition to remove SPAG marks for English.

YZsbL1xwRdpd5aUUWdKDnEwGbjUdLeAtF-kDaYpx8mhWS8btVLNeo23D40SXe2bYkoVsVndqVt2rrX6Btum8Tb4H506O3jFKXA67nYjwFVgvTNifdvyPYER9x8mLSjozSd3Kza934uBtzYTSVEvvtE2Auw3YI3jHA-5eoHKp4WHsEMPhuBRxjsEfkr6iqEfCnuQmnAe3r3VVpzAbdHEM8eJZPGRrhOQ4RVR1DhwSB0tzng9z97knxh-212Md97c5WI5QJlvJ0P02yn9RJVMeQ14Hp8eBe5TM5ql6OGL0ksPaL5oi-3pRyFHemRupNiw

I should say I'm very familiar with equality law but not in an academic/education context, however my understanding is that the relevant section of the Equality Act 2010 is section 53 which provides that disabled people can sue a qualification body for indirectly discriminating against them but there is a defence if the body can show that what they did was objectively justified (ie it was a "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim" which basically means that they had a good reason for doing what they did and did not go over the top and beyond what was necessary).

I'm inclined to agree with others that in the context of an English exam it is fair to distinguish on the basis of SPAG. It might be harder for them to justify if this rule applied to all subjects.

blobfishlady the problem is P.E. is not essential to access university. If you want to do a chemistry degree you don't need a level 4 in P.E. you do need a 4 in English language.

Sounds to me as though the problem lies with the institutions of Higher Education requirements rather than the exam board. Assuming that there are electronic means by which your dd could get her spelling correct on the actual course.

Following your latest post op, regarding needing a 6 in English to do a maths course, that for me is the problem. That is unfair and wrong. I don't think falsely upgrading an English language Mark is the answer, I think the solution is not to require English for a maths degree.

@chanelreid

Wow! Well done for organising a campaign.

I have signed it and will help in any way that I can, it is something that I feel strongly about!