Yr10 very low phonological processing - impact on exam performance

[tpmumtobe]

DS14 is dyslexic/dyscalculic/dyspraxic and gets standard extra time in exams. He's just had his first round of GCSE style mocks and didn't do very well at all. He's bright and engaged and enjoys school but clearly can't demonstrate that on paper.

There's obviously lots more we need to do in terms of active revision, learning how to use his extra time properly, exam technique, access to a PC etc. So I've checked with school to see how he scored on his access arrangement tests, to see if there's any clues there as to what it is in particular that he struggles with.

He scored:

Phonological processing – 46
Reading comprehension speed 110
Handwriting speed – 70
Math computation – 104
Visual processing – 82

It's clearly the phonological processing that's the problem (he also has no working memory, though they didn't seem to test that). But he loves reading, devours books and his comprehension skills are pretty good.

Everything online suggests phonological processing means he can't read? But he really can, and his spelling is pretty good too! Can anyone advise what that low score would be causing problems with? Is it something about reading and understanding the question properly?

Any intel much appreciated.

Phonological processing difficulties are common in dyslexia. It can affect reading. Although how it does this varies and some people can compensate in other ways. It can also affect things like speaking and listening.

Has DS had an educational psychologist assessment?

As well as extra time, has the school considered other exam access arrangements?

With a standardised score of 46 and you saying some areas haven’t been tested, it is worth asking for further assessment to see if DS is eligible for more than 25% extra time. Worth reading JCQ’s guidance before approaching the school.

Thanks for replying - yes he also gets rest breaks, a quiet/separate room etc. Doesn't meet requirements for a scribe or reader.

He struggled with severe anxiety in primary and CAMHS EPs assessed him for ADHD/Autism and while he was well over the threshold for ADD he wasn't at all hyperactive, so they said they couldn't proceed with a diagnosis and thought it was just anxiety (I've given up arguing against that). He's definitely not autistic.

We found out today that in his English exam he got a 9 in creative writing and basically a 1 in the other paper so levelled out somewhere around a 3/4.

An updated EP assessment would help. That will help explode DS’s spiky profile and look at what can help him.

It is worth asking for copies of the papers. Look at the mark schemes and see what in particular DS has struggled with.

Phonological processing and working memory difficulties, with relative strengths in other areas, would typically mean that someone struggles to use phonics to read. However, some students learn to read without using phonics. He may be recognising whole words and have an excellent memory for this. It is fairly common for intelligent dyslexic people to have phonological processing difficulties but make up for them by reading whole words.

Getting a 9 / 1 is quite a significant sign of a spiky profile. I would suggest that you ask to speak to the SENCO about a fuller EP assessment, and to his English teacher about any specific strategies that would support him on the paper that he scored poorly in. CAMHS EP will most likely not have conducted a full cognitive assessment, as they were focussed on diagnostics.

Hmmm food for thought, thank you. He definitely found learning to read harder than his younger sibling, though within confines of normal and we're reasonably confident he did learn to read/can read phonetically?

He does have an almost photographic long term memory for some things so it's possible that's how he compensated. We've still no idea how his brain decides which info is lucky enough to get lodged in there long term!

I will speak to school again, particularly about the English result. Not sure we can afford another full EP assessment privately, but will look into it.

Thank you.