Transcribe for GCSEs

[popuptent]

Does anyone have any experience of having a transcribe for exams? Can they be used in conjunction with work typed on a laptop? Does qualifying to use a spellcheck in exams automatically mean you are also qualified to use a scribe (ie, is it the same test for both - below 84 on standardised test - is it spelling/writing speed/elligibility)? I believe the concessions need to be "the normal way of working" so eligibility for scribe might not make that possible if it hadn't already been normal way of working anyway.

Thanks

SPaG marks will have to be written off - hopefully it should just be the spelling marks which shouldn't be too many. Not happy about it as it could be the difference between one grade and another in Science or Geography for example and might mean a lower grade than someone who got fewer questions correct... but that's another post...

Yes about the scribe... I am in a bit of jumble over it all.

Fairly sure there are no SPaG marks for science.

And they're only worth 5% in subjects like history.

It's only English which SPaG forms a significant part of the mark.

There are marks in Science for "quality of written communication" which includes SPaG.

Can you take your own keyboard into the exam?

We have had pupils that have used a laptop in science exams. All their typed answers are well labelled and they also answer in the exam paper if graphs or similar need to be completed.

I know typing does not cure all the issues but OP can your DC touch type properly? The reason I ask is that typing can promote some finger memory for spellings. On a basic level if the word you want to spell ends in - ion your fingers seem to remember it is ion and not oin. I hope that makes sense.

At our school we are trying to identify those pupils that might need a scribe in external exams due to slow writing or poor writing in year 7/8. Then in addition to helping them with their handwriting they are following a touch typing programme. This helps them develop into independent learners. This obviously is only possible if there aren't any other issues.

goinggetstough Your school sounds great. I can touch type but DS cannot. We bought him a really good programme to learn but unfortunately he didn't stick with it. It would have been brilliant to have done it at school - it's a wonderful skill to learn.

He seems to think that he would be better off with a mechanical (gaming) keyboard as the keys are big and clunky and make it more difficult to make typos. The question is, is he going to be allowed to use this contraption in an exam? It might make clicking noises for a start! I have seen giant keyboards for people with poor sight but not sure about the cost.

You need to check with exams officer/senco but ime the equipment needs to be provided by the school or at least checked for compliance and compatibility. How old is dc ? Is there time to learn to touch type to a reasonable speed ( not too quick or it could be assessed as advantageous).

If using the big keys helps him to avoid making errors that sounds like it's linked to his fine motor skills. Presumably school could ask their specialist assessor to assess his writing skills using the 2 different keyboards as evidence of need.

Thank you.

I have emailed JCQ to ask if using your own keyboard is possible.

You can use your own keyboard at LSE (random research).

I've done a bit of online research and there is some evidence that the mechanical gaming keyboards can help with typing accuracy. I have learnt that there are in fact many different mechanical keyboards with colour coded, subtle, click mechanism differences!

popuptent

goinggetstough and LIZS are quite right. Science exam answers can be word processed - the typescript is attached to the question&answer booklet, with question numbers indicated in the margin.

Remind us which year group the pupil is in now, and how long before exams, or any remaining controlled assessments.

You really have to insist on completion of the touch-typing program - with carrot rather than stick. If he/she can't do this, it suggests DCD - is there other evidence of that?

As I understand it, from this year, JCQ will not deal with parents' queries, they have to be channelled through the Examination Centre (ie the school).

So you'll need to speak to the SENCo, and ask for the results of handwriting and spelling tests. Then come back to us.

Year 11
English igcse next week!
Qualifies for extra time (processing I think)
Below 84 standardised score spelling
Illegible handwriting
Can use a laptop
Can use spellcheck
Can have transcribe
Still doing some coursework and CA, some done.

He's done Core science and used a laptop.... passed but got lower grade than predicted.

Is it a CA or coursework due next week? You won't be able to demonstrate a scribe or transcribe is the normal mode of working in that time frame if he has hitherto used a laptop. Did the school recall the Science scripts and assess whether a remark was appropriate or why he had underperformed. If he simply didn't put his answers down on paper fully then a transcribe is of no benefit.

It's the English Language igcse exam next week.

Core Science done and dusted. He got a B so not seen as an issue.

?d had an oral scribe for her exams she had the option of a laptop bet her wrists hurt after a while with her standard grades (scottish gcses) she did some exams written then scribed others orally. Her highers (A levels) they were orally scribed i think she had to spell out some words speak to the senco teacher and see what the preferred option is.