too many people having extra time

[IrmaFayLear]

I didn't quite know where to post this, so I've tried here...

Dd came home in some distress as it turns out that 15 out of 20 people in one of her A Level classes are having extra time for exams.

Dd is upset that it now seems that rather than levelling the playing field for people who genuinely need assistance, a minority are being penalised. Furthermore some of these extra-time people are in "competition" with dd in that they are highly ambitious A* people.

Dd said that one girl told her that "slow processing" is the new watchword and they paid for a private assessment. Dd said that this girl has no processing problems when it comes to quick-fire banter on social media and it's never been mentioned before.

If the exams are deemed too short, then surely give everyone 25% extra time? As it is with this particular subject, it's a case of some people being given 25% less time.

I had a quick google and a)there are masses of sites telling you how to get extra time and how to "fail" the tests and b) Ofqual has said that it is getting out of hand.

If an exam system needs to give out extra time to 1 in 6 of the population in order to complete it, the problem is vast and the exam system is not fit for purpose. Giving out 25% extra time to 1 in 6, regardless of severity or of those who just above the level, is not the answer.
We should ask what exams should be testing. Do we want to test how quickly students can give answers or not? Of the answer is "not", because this disadvantages some students, then make it "not" for all students.

@richmal you are correct there is a cut-off on the tests, so if you fall below the threshold on 2 or more tests: reading speed, writing speed and processing speed then you automatically qualify for extra time. But if you are just above the threshold you don't as you are deemed to be "within the normal range".
There is no 10% extra time now. The minimum is 25%.

I do not argue that those who need extra time should get it, just that it should not be a sudden cut off, but a scale of extra time tailored to each students need for different exams, so everyone is treated equitably.
I agree with you in theory but you must know that Education is a sausage machine. Despite all their fine words, they will never offer differentiation to the degree that you describe.

I think some people's view of what constitutes disabled is rather elastic here. The following are dyslexic. I wonder if they would think of themselves as disabled ?

Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Astronomer and space scientist, co-producer of the long running TV programme 'The Sky at Night' with Chris Lintott. ...
Orlando Bloom. ...
Richard Branson. ...
Tom Cruise. ...
Leonardo da Vinci. ...
Walt Disney. ...
Jim Carrey. ...
Albert Einstein.

There is a legal definition. Being dyslexic can have a substantial effect on someone's day to day life and the British Dyslexia Association say it falls under the Equality Act.

It's a legal definition and is not just about people in wheelchairs! So it's not our interpretation- it's covered by law.

People in wheelchairs might be astoundingly quick at processing information. And writing down the answers. Not all disabled people have slow processing. Therefore 1:6 of the population cannot need more time in exams.

Exams were designed to test memory, and clarity of thought when under time pressures. In working life, there are time pressures. That’s why employers look at exams. If 1:6 get more time it might not bode well for them when working. If you are used to having 25% longer to do something your adjustments in a working day could be huge. In some jobs that won’t make much difference to the employer because they don’t need to worry about it with a massive workforce, such as the NHS. However smaller employers can struggle. I’m not rude - it’s a fact borne out by statistics.

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/employers/how-can-i-support-my-dyslexic-employees/legislation
Dyslexia is considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010

www.theguardian.com/education/2017/feb/10/independent-school-pupils-more-likely-to-get-extra-time-in-exams

@BubblesBuddy I despair. How on earth can you say 1 in 6 don't need extra time?? On what basis? It's not just slow processing time. It's a myriad of physical disabilities, language disorders etc
And please think carefully when equating those with extra time to being ones who would struggle in the workplace. It's just not fair or not true.

Because 1:6 covers all disabilities. That doesn’t reflect the issues we are discussing here which don’t represent 100% of disability. Disability requires reasonable adjustment but that might be a whole myriad of adjustments and not simply extra time to complete tasks. I have several disabled friends and they have differing needs. Extra time for processing info isn’t a need they have. They have other needs in the workplace. You can despair all you like but disabilities are very different and adjustments come in different forms so as long as employers can make the right adjustment for the right person, what’s the problem? Why should disabled people be lumped together as a group when they are all individual just to fit into a statistical group?

I am not saying they should be lumped together at all. I got extra time in the 80s and my eldest did as well. We have different difficulties and neither have slow processing. What I am saying is extra time is needed as a Reasonable adjustment for a range of difficulties.
I really don't think 1 in 6 is higher than one would expect at all. It is an adjustment that can help many many different people. If you don't need it, or your DC doesn't that is great, but for many it levels the field.

As an update to my previous posts, I've actually just had a letter to say that as of now my DD is no longer qualifying for extra time (in all but English) as she hasn't been making good enough use of it. But they will continue to monitor in assessments & mocks so she might 'regain' it if the need is there.

I'm actually reasonably happy with this. If she doesn't need it that's great, plus she will have less exam load come summer of y11.

Are people who are "slow processors", and need "extra time", allowed to drive when they are older

My son who struggles with slow processing issues (and ADHD) will be learning to drive in about 6 months, and I am quite worried about how it will go. I've been reading around it and some articles like this one have been helpful
ldaamerica.org/the-ldadhd-teen-driver-risky-business-or-worth-the-risk/

My daughter, who has dyspraxia, managed to learn to drive. My son is physically very coordinated, it's just the mental processing that he struggles with.

Indeed. I don't really get what slow processing is other than not being as bright as the next person.

Now you've had it explained multiple times I wonder if you do now 'get it'?

If not perhaps you should get yourself assessed? You do seem to be struggling with some very basic concepts.

My dd has slow processing speeds and passed her theory and practical test first time aged 17.

Hold I presume you are going to go with an automatic? Missing out the gears removes one level of processing thus freeing the brain for the other stuff.

I've just found out I'm dyslexic - and the second the ed psych report hit the desk the university were in touch offering me extra time in exams. I don't really need that - the nature of my difficulties are that I struggle to process and retain information from written text - generating it is fine for me - indeed my spelling and vocabulary are almost off the top of the scale (except when on an internet forum) which has masked the reading issues for decades very well... it wasn't until the ed psych put me absolutely through the wringer that she found I have a really marked difficulty in one particular area of reading and writing. I assumed it was normal to feel like I was reading through treacle when trying to get my head around anything remotely complicated in terms of written text - apparently it's not!

What I DO need and they haven't jumped to yet (I've still got meetings to do in uni now the report is through) is the ability to type in exams as much as possible - I'd chased the SpLD assessment basically having seen my daughter struggle with dyspraxia and writing and realising I have the same issues exactly.

Due to have a meeting at uni but I'll be politely declining the extra time and requesting the ability to type (the ed psych noticed when she got me to write in the assessment that my writing is all over the place - different styles, slopes and gets worse over a few minutes).

Hold I presume you are going to go with an automatic? Missing out the gears removes one level of processing thus freeing the brain for the other stuff.

Yes definitely. He's already capable of driving the car in a practical sense - it's the decision making and risk taking and reaction times that I'm really worrying about. But many other people with ADHD and slow processing manage to drive so I think we'll just work really hard on making sure he learns as well as possible.