Should extra time for A level class tests match exam arrangements?

[Marshmallowsandtoast]

If you have a child in year 12 doing A levels and they have extra time for exams should the school put in place the extra time for class tests or just the mock exams and actual exams? How can they do this for class tests if the test is the same length as the lesson?

In an ideal world yes they would be given the pro-rata extra time they are allowed but as you say lesson times are fixed. The teacher may then offer a lesson before lunch etc or come at break and into the next period or even after school...

Yes, but having had a child with access arrangements and 25% extra time since they were 7 years old, we only ever got extra time in end of year exams, mocks and actual exams.

Mainly because it was basically impossible to allow for the extra time within class and within the timetable.

It was very annoying.

I always offer it but no one ever wants to stay into break or lunch or after 3.30

DD at GCSE level used to start early in break or finish late in lunch if at all possible.

I am trying to get it for my daughter. The thing is, extra time is based on their "normal way of working". I am concerned that if she doesn't get regular extra time, they can claim that having extra time is not her normal way of working.

In addition, it will affect her self-confidence. Her results are worse than if she'd have enough time. And it will affect how teachers view her, because her results are not as good as they could be.

I understand that extra time is difficult to implement, but that should not be my daughter's problem. She is severely disadvantaged as it is.

Yes, and DS runs class tests into break, lunch or past the bell - or at 6th form if he has a free next.
That catches most - and did the same at GCSE.

I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve the extra time, but what can teachers actually do? The lesson is an hour, the test is an hour. Teachers can do a lot of things but they can’t change time.

This recommendation used to drive me up the wall as a teacher, as really it shouldn’t just be for tests, it should be for all tasks. ‘Ok kids, write 3 sentences to describe X. You have 5 minutes.’ 5 minutes later, and someone actually needs another 75 seconds. So do they miss the next bit of the lesson? Or does the rest of the class sit in silence waiting while the extra time kids have their extra time?

There is no easy solution. I mean ideally tasks would at not be timed but there’s a lot to get through and even giving 5 mins for a task there will be some kids finished in 2 and waiting and others form whom 10 wouldn’t be enough. Such is mixed ability teaching.

We make all our tests short enough so the 25% extra also fits into the lessons.
ie, all tests 40 mins, extra time 50mins, 5 mins to get in and pack up, job done.
works really well

Which is fine if you teach a subject where that's possible. I can't make my hour task shorter because it's an hour task. But almost without exception, students don't want to stay into their own time.

My DD does as others have suggested, either starts early, finishes late or completes it next lesson, depending on the timetable and if there is a break / lunch / study period around the lesson. She gets extra time for any work completed in test conditions. Her teachers are happy to facilitate this as it provides evidence for access arrangements and it enables her to show what she is capable of. They also understand how not giving it can affect her confidence and self esteem.
It was harder at GCSE, but sixth form is easy to manage.

Interesting. My DS gets 50% extra time on most things. He is just doing GCSEs but in school tests he always expects to finish in his own time. It makes for long days!

But the problem with this approach, is that in the long term that affects all the pupils who don’t have extra time. Eg they were supposed to be doing maths for an hour. Now they’re doing it for 45 minutes.
there isn’t any fair way of doing this.
for me, there needs to be a total overhaul of the whole system, it doesn’t work as it is. Maybe different ways of testing - 1. No time limit so everyone gets chance to show what they know.

Presumably the other pupils get given extra work to do whilst the extra timers finish though?

They certainly do in DS school, as he thinks that’s unfair as he then has to catch up on that work. In his case the fairest thing would be to do A levels over three years but that isn’t going to happen so it’s leisure time which suffers

I used to spend ages writing modified tests for extra timers. Sometimes they had fewer questions, sometimes the same number of questions but lower tariff ones. It is possible to make adjustments, but you need to be pretty clued up on assessment design to make it fair.

Does DS have an EHCP? It can be tricky to organise but I know DC who have done A levels over 3 years.

Yes we have an EHCP but evidence is he can do anything (well apart from walk, handwrite legibly and a few other physical skills, processing I information as fast as I can etc)but needs extra time

There seems to be a lot of assumptions that the teacher will be happy to lose their break/lunch/after school time to supervise the extra time.....

Yes, ideally. DS is in y13 and has had extra time due to dyspraxia and slower processing speed (and ASD) for about 4 years now.

Having it for class tests will help students with their timing in exams. DS’ school has the normal tests during lessons but the mocks for GCSE and A level have largely been the same length of time as the actual exams, and having this as much as possible has helped him in the actual exams.

For example, his A level History exam is 2h15minutes (three essays), which for him is 2h49minutes and he’s always had 55 minutes per essay in a timed school test for y12-13.

For DD the teacher was often in the classroom anyway so it was more a point that DD was working whilst the teacher did whatever, but I see your point.
At A level do they really need 'supervising' or can they be trusted to just finish up on their own.?

I do this. I set challenge questions or a bonus task for the non extra timers to do.

If it is something that you think DS needs, I would look at trying to secure evidence of that to pursue A levels over 3 years.

I think it's really unfair to expect students to give up break, lunch or their own time. It's not their fault they need additional time and it makes it seem like a punishment (particularly for younger students. I'm always happy to facilitate if they ask). I'd do extra time next lesson and ensure they have the materials to catch up eg: printed retrieval/notes.

Agreed.

Regarding at A level, I would say so long as they were alone and not with internet access.

If it's an assessment, they need supervising. Unfortunately, even at A level, cheating is rife.