What are your experiences of sitting ... - The Dyslexia Comm...
What are your experiences of sitting exams and your views on getting extra time?
I did a degree with the Open University and I was able to use a computer with a spell checker and I got extra time. This made it easier to organise my time and I managed well. Using the computer meant that I was in a separate room from the other students, so there was less noise and I was able to concentrate better.
It was a positive benefit. I would advise anyone studying for exams to try to get extra time.
I have split views because even though I needed the time when I sat my GCSE's I didn't like the way they did it
Because I was in a different room I got a lot of trouble from other kids because it singled people with difficulty's out
My parents have to literally drag me to school so I would do the last exams it got so bad
dyslexia and other learnign disabilities/ difficulties are still ablivious to those that are not trained or havent come across it. as from my experince back in 99, i requested "lkearnign difficulties" help with my bike theory. and all they thought needed to happen was for them to read the question to me, after the first 3 questions even the lady said "you dont really need me here do you" i explained why and she said "its out of my hands sorry
theres this mis conception that becuase you have a learnign difficulties, that straight away and the only thing you cant do that well is read and write.
but even in 2012 some people still have this way of thought, even in schools.
for me when the exams came up, i hadnt a clue what was going on and thought it was a normal schoolday, but on the day people and classes were not where they should have been and i was totally thrown, finally finding "people2 in abig hall. i was sat down, was told off for being late (still confused" and just did the questions. un shockingly (also the schoolwasnt great with my issues anyway) i got i think 3 e's 2 f's and 3 g's.
but Arra states another room, thats exactly what the "special needs" classes were, except we were OUTSIDE in all weathers in a porta cabin by ourselfs doign basically nothing, and that was even if any teacher bothered to turn up.
oh and this was westwood st thomas in salisbury. which apparantly hasnt changed.
but the school bit was during 92-96 i think, around the time where the education system hadnt a clue about it really.
I get extra time in my exams and I find it useful. Even though I get extra time I am not in a seperate room from the other students I just stay in the exam room longer I find this good because I am not singled out from others.
Being at the end of completing my GCSE's, and being Dyslexic i've had experience with this.
After long fights with school, and being told that because i'm quite literate and opinionated, that i'm not in fact dyslexic, i did get some help.
For written exams such and English and History i was able to use a laptop, that helped me get what i needed to on top the 'paper' as soon as it came into my head, and i could go back, check over doubled words/jumbles sentences etc..
I also had access to extra time during all exams, which helped a little.
However in some ways i think this, and the way the school went around it, disadvantaged me even more.
To star with the Laptop i was made to use, wasn't a laptop, but a notebook, that often froze, meaning i had to constantly re-boot it. Adressing the school with this issue, nothing was done to change any of this.
Having extra time is one thing, but it's not use having extra time, being sat in the same exam hall as everyone else. I was supposed to use my extra time when the invigilators are collecting papers in and talking to the rest of the pupils, and then everyone else leaves the exam hall.
There is also the big issues that affects a lot of people of 'why?' why are you having that advantage? why are you using a laptop? that's unfair. i want one. you don't need it. Alot of the girls in my year would make comments like this, because dyslexia isn't physical, it's your brain working a different way, it's something no-one else see's and people just aren't aware of this.
I only got exam support when I was at uni, I was in a seperate smaller room and got extra time, but it was very relaxed the invigerlators talked to us beforehand ensuring we had everything and we were allowed to drink and munch on quiet food. I felt so relaxed that even though i missed the whole social part of the exams (nervously waiting beforehand and moaning about the questions after) I felt really positive about it (also i got a B in an exam the first B ever from exams and i think it was the way i was treated!!!)
Nicely done on the B Lemi! 
I'm 19 and was diagnosed with dyslexia last year even though i've had this for years without anyone noticing, I've never had any extra time or help at all and I've managed to come out with 11 G.C.S.E's at 4-B's 6C's and 1-D. After that i left and i went to college to do my A-levels where i got two A* and an A, im now going to study medical genetics at university in September. Just like (lemi513) i will be getting support at uni, i always felt stupid at school because i always had to ask my friends how to spell word and check my work before i let the teacher read it as i would always get a row for it being mess, incorrect spelling, poor punctuation and terrible sentence structure, but at the end of the day don't let anything hold you back, my teachers always told me i would do much with my life, no look at me
Point is just because we're a little bit different doesn't mean we cant do great things.
One of the "tick list" things about dyslexia is it gets worse under pressure/stress. Having extra time in exams took some of that pressure off and helped me perform my best, even if I never actually needed to run into the extra time.
I didn't much like being in a separate room as they lumped all SEN together and there were a lot of ADHD twiddlers/pen or foot tappers which was quite distracting - I struggle to focus with background noise.
Year 9 is a key stage at school, this is when schools communicate with the exam boards. Parents can also provide supporting evidence, as I am going to do. Do not know about a levels. At University there should be no problem. If there is it is because students have not accessed student support.
