Scribe for English Language GCSE

[TeenPlusCat]

We've probably missed the boat, but thinking about re-retakes.

Can you use a scribe for English Language GCSE, but only for questions with no SPAG marks, and then handwrite those? DD has limited stamina with her handwriting (typing diabolical, so that is an even worse option). She already gets extra time and rest breaks.

I think that it is possible to be awarded some SPAG marks when using a Scribe in English Language OP.
In this subject there are more restrictions for having readers.
The main difficulties that I see are having sufficient practice using a scribe before the exams and completing all the assessments to obtain a scribe in the first place.

Forgot, she also has an electronic reader.

I am hoping that adrenaline will see her through when the time comes.
She'll have missed the deadline for this year anyway won't she?

Electronic reader pens can only be used for the writing section - not the reading / comprehension questions.
You may be able to get things in place for the November resits.

@catndogslife

Electronic reader pens can only be used for the writing section - not the reading / comprehension questions. You may be able to get things in place for the November resits.

I don't think that's correct (though you have me slightly panicking now). You can't have human readers but are allowed electronic ones; it has been DD's 'normal way of working' for some time now.

As in, she has an electronic reader for the inserts, not the actual questions.

Even if DD forgoes the SPAG marks it may be beneficial to still have a scribe.

Has DD tried speech recognition software?

Electronic readers can be used for the language sections testing readers, it’s only human readers that aren’t allowed. For a scribe - SPAG marks are forfeit unless the candidate dictates spelling, punctuation and grammar and this is recorded on a sheet that is sent to exam boards. The other option for this would be speech to text, but both would need practice to become normal way of working. SENCo should be able to advise if this is possible, but time is tight before summer exams. (disclaimer - I am an exams officer so I have a working knowledge of the regs, but am not a SENCo!)

You can use a computer reader for the sections testing reading. 5.5.2 and 5.5.6 here.

phew. Speech recognition probably wouldn't work either due to poor clarity of speech.

Can you have a scribe for questions with no spag marks but write your own for those with Spag? I'm guessing not, as same paper.

I think you can, in the same way students who type can do a combination of handwritten and typed answers - it just all needs noting on the cover sheet that is submitted with the exam paper. Again, always best to double check with school and exam boards though.

Can you have a scribe for questions with no spag marks but write your own for those with Spag? I'm guessing not, as same paper.
I mark GCSE English language. Yes you can.

Thank you MrsHamlet (and everyone else).

I have checked the JQC pages and it seems the deadline for access arrangements is 31/3 so I think it may be worth my pursuing this with college.

Yes definitely get on to the Learning Support team ASAP as they will need to make a case for her to have a scribe.

You can still access some of the spag marks even with a scribe.

Thank you. I'll add it to my to do list, along with appealing her brand new EHCP.

I've checked: if she dictates none of the spelling or punctuation, she can only get the bottom mark in the band she's in for the technical accuracy.
If she does either spelling or punctuation, she can get up to the middle mark in the band.
I'd advise her to dictate punctuation.

Thank you. It's not that she can't write, just no way at the moment can she write for 2 hours. Dictating spelling sounds crazy - do people really do that?!

You can have a scribe, but the rules are more complicated than for other subjects and there are different ‘levels’ of scribing. It’s important to consider (and practise) the way which will work best. For example, one option is for the candidate to dictate words and the scribe does all the spelling and punctuation etc. This means a lot of the SPG marks will be deducted. Other options include the candidate spelling out every word and every piece of punctuation - this obviously takes a lot of effort and concentration.

We have students who have scribe and dictate punctuation, they can then access the grammar and punctuation elements but not spelling. It would be possible to use scribe for part of the paper, there’s a cover sheet that scribe fills in to state what student has done independently.

School will have to have a reason to apply, I can’t remember but I think with a current EHCP it should be fairly straightforward. Without an EHCP the rules are significantly slow handwriting or significantly poor spelling. Although I’ve put through one for illegible writing, that needed to be approved on appeal.

Definitely should be possible but might take a while to get sorted so contact school asap. I’m access assessor for a large school and applications can take a few hours work. I’ve told teachers I absolutely need referrals by beginning of March or I’ll really struggle to get in before deadline. EHCP generally make it much more straightforward.

Am I correct though that not all the questions have SPAG marks attached to them? As in isn't it only the 'writing questions' Q5s? (AQA)
So could she use a scribe for Q1-4 to save her hand, and then write her own Q5s?

I’m not sure, definitely need a conversation with English teacher who will be well versed in it.

wonder Her EHCP is literally a week old .

I'll make sure I mention it in any email I send as college might not have disseminated the fact she has one yet.

@TeenPlusCat

Am I correct though that not all the questions have SPAG marks attached to them? As in isn't it only the 'writing questions' Q5s? (AQA) So could she use a scribe for Q1-4 to save her hand, and then write her own Q5s?

Yes. We get the scribe paperwork attached to q5 so it'll say whether she had one and to what extent she used them. Literature also has spag marks but only 4. Not all English teachers will be well versed in it. I have colleagues who think using a scribe gets you zero for SPAg. It doesn't.

Yes, it is just the q5 on the language paper (16 marks for SPaG). There are also 4 marks each for SPaG on the Shakespeare and the unseen poetry questions for lit this year.

She's not doing Lit. This is 'resits' though it is 'sits' really.

Thank you, you are all being very helpful. I so don't want yet another year of English!