Length of GCSE exams - Do DC with extra time cope?

[TeenTimesTwo]

We've just had GCSE options evening for DD2, DD1 having done GCSEs 5 years ago under the old system of CAs, but with terminal exams.

Not only does it look like DD2 will have considerably more exams than DD1 (20 instead of 13), but the average length of exams seems to be longer too. Many more at 1:30 or 1:45 compared with 1hr exams DD1 had.

That's OK, I think. But one English Lit paper is 2hr15mins. Even that isn't unreasonable as a one off.

But: DD2 qualifies for extra time. (Yes I know this is a good thing and I shouldn't complain). With the extra time, the English Lit paper comes in at 2hr47min, which seems massive, and the 1:30 papers come in at 1:52.

I'm really concerned how on earth she is going to cope. Hopefully her stamina will build up over the next 2 years? Is that to be expected? Can anyone (teacher or parent) reassure me?

Yes I am an O level throwback too and our exams were longer but also we had fewer of them. My DS had 31 exams over late May/early June 2018.

I seem to remember mine were all within a 2 week period in June.

I agree, O levels were longer, but they were only done by ?20%? of the population. I have no idea whether the concept of extra time even existed then.

They were, however, not done by mid-low ability DCs with SpLD for whom just getting through a usual school day requires all their efforts.

Hi I’m an an exam invigilator and just want to reassure you. The students with extra time, in my experience are good at using it for what they need; be that checking their work or continuing answering questions which is sounds like your DD will be good at having had the extra time over the years. Those mentioning planning each exam in sections is a great idea. You are allowed to take food and drinks into the exam hall but it has to be in unmarked packaging or a clear bottle with no label on, bananas are common. Most children don’t bring in food, most do bring in water. If you are thinking of sending in food just be mindful that it’s not of the crunchy variety which is disturbing for others! Extra time students may leave when then want to during the extra time and judging from what I have seen most children use it bar the odd minute or two and don’t suffer from the longer exam. Although the exam is longer she will be doing a shorter day than normal which may help. Good luck to her!

I think O'levels were generally 3 hours as standard. Less papers but much longer. Extra time simply didn't exist back then.

I'm not sure what's best. Less but longer or more papers but shorter length. I think I actually prefer the longer length. 1 or 1 and a half hours seems very short for an exam to me.

No, they were 2.5 hours. A levels are still up to 3 hours though.

I don’t think my O levels were three hours, but my A levels were.

When I was a SENCO, we had some students who were granted extra time. I think it’s really important that students should know how to plan how to use the time effectively. Those who did plan, benefitted and generally achieved a better grade. There were some though, despite being entitled to extra time, didn’t want to make use of it and that’s when it’s difficult.

So the more you can help your daughter to plan and use the time effectively, the better the result, in my experience.

Thank you all. I do feel somewhat reassured. Hopefully with 2 more years she will build up stamina, given people saying that in their experience the extra timers do cope.

DD seems to be good at using the extra time wisely, but seems to 'flop' towards the end of tests at the moment, as in the quality of answers seems to drop off considerably.

However the only tests I really get to see are the maths/science tests, so don't know if that will be better or worse with essay subjects.

More thoughts. Is she goi g to take the exams separately from her peer group? We had small rooms for students who needed readers or scribes, but larger rooms for those who had extra time, albeit much smaller than the majority in the hall.

If she was on her own with an invigilator (probably a TA), could she take a couple of minutes to rest, do some hand exercises and stretch?

No idea on location. DD1 was in a classroom, but she used a computer too - she was allowed to 'stand and stretch' , but no official rest breaks.

I guess I'll see how DD2 gets on with end y9 exams, and go from there. I've got over 2 years after all.