12 Oct When 25% Extra Time in Exams is Not Enough
25% Extra Time is A Band-Aid Solution in the UK
One of the most common accommodations provided to SEN students is 25% extra time during exams. However, this is often a blanket solution provided without thorough evaluations or understanding of a student’s specific needs.
SENCOs, who are tasked with overseeing Special Educational Needs support in schools are often overwhelmed and under-resourced, leading them to make quick decisions based on limited information.
While they may grant 25% extra time, this may not be sufficient for students with more severe or complex learning difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, or processing speed disorders.
In many cases, decisions are made without comprehensive psychological assessments, as local authorities are reluctant to fund these evaluations. The result is that students are often under-diagnosed and left without the appropriate accommodations, which could include more exam time, specialized learning tools, or individualized support.
The issue of awarding only 25% extra time for UK exams, such as Edexcel, Cambridge, and other GCSEs, is due to the chronic underfunding of Special Educational Needs (SEN) services across the UK. Despite the increasing number of students requiring special accommodations, funding has not kept pace with demand and local authorities face significant shortfalls.
Financial Strain and Limited Support Means 25% is the ‘Norm’
In the UK, this chronic underfunding of Special Educational Needs (SEN) services has created significant obstacles for schools and local authorities when it comes to properly diagnosing and supporting students with learning difficulties.
Approximately 18.4% of students in the UK are identified as having some form of Special Educational Need, with the number steadily rising over the years. However, despite these growing numbers, the funding allocated to meet the needs of these students has not kept pace. This underfunding, coupled with the limited availability of educational psychologists, means that many students are not receiving the comprehensive support they need to thrive in the classroom.
Local authorities and schools are facing increasing pressures. Funding for SEN services, while increased in certain areas, still falls short of meeting the growing demand. In 2023-2024, there was a rise in the number of students with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans, which saw a significant 83% increase since 2016.
However, schools have reported a financial strain, especially with the cost of providing necessary resources to students with EHC plans and SEN support. Many mainstream schools are being forced to take on students who would typically be placed in specialized settings, without receiving additional funding to manage these more complex needs.
SEN Postcode Lottery
Schools receive an allocation of £6,000 per child towards SEN provision, with further top-up funding from local councils. This is not sufficient, and as councils face budget shortfalls, the provision of services is inconsistent, creating a postcode lottery where students in different regions receive varying levels of support. Some areas have even seen cuts to their top-up funding, further reducing the resources available to support children with SEN.
Going Beyond 25% Extra Time in Exams
One of the major issues with students only ever receiving the minimum 25% extra time is the reluctance to conduct comprehensive educational psychological assessments due to budget constraints.
These assessments, when properly carried out, obligate schools to provide accommodations such as extra exam time, specialized teaching methods, and individual support.
Underfunding means that many schools resort to offering 25% extra time as a blanket solution, without the thorough evaluation necessary to understand a child’s full learning profile. SENCOs, who are typically responsible for these decisions, are often overburdened, making quick judgments based on limited data.
However, as a concerned parent this is not your concern, and don’t be swayed otherwise! Your job is to advocate for your child to get the best possible chances to succeed in their Educational Career.
Private Educational Testing
For parents who are committed to finding a real solution for their children, private educational testing provides a reliable, comprehensive, and effective pathway. By turning to private organizations like Global Education Testing, families can bypass the delays and bureaucracy of the public system.
Global Education Testing offers:
- Comprehensive assessments by internationally accredited educational psychologists.
- Detailed reports that are recognized by exam boards and schools
- Irrefutable evidence of the student’s learning needs.
- Specific recommendations for accommodations like extra time or tailored teaching strategies.
- Peace of mind that your child’s needs will be properly identified
- eliminate the need to battle through public system limitations
Comprehensive Educational Testing to Unlock Maximum Accommodations
Comprehensive educational psychological assessments play a pivotal role in identifying and addressing learning difficulties in students. These evaluations are designed to provide a detailed understanding of a child’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning, allowing for the development of tailored educational strategies and support systems.
How Are Comprehensive Assessments Run?
A comprehensive assessment involves multiple stages:
Initial Interview
The process begins with an in-depth interview with parents, teachers, and sometimes the student. This helps gather background information, including any observed academic challenges or behavioral issues.
Battery of Tests
The cornerstone of these assessments is a battery of tests (a series of psychometrically distinct exams delivered in one administration). These tests assess various aspects of a student’s cognitive and academic abilities including:
Cognitive Assessments
These measure intellectual capabilities such as verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Common tools include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities
Academic Assessments
These gauge proficiency in core subjects like reading, mathematics, and written expression, helping to identify gaps between the student’s academic performance and their cognitive potential
Behavioral and Emotional Assessments
Tools like the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) assess emotional well-being and behavioral issues that might impact learning.
Data Analysis
Once the tests are completed, the data is analyzed to identify patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. This step involves careful interpretation of test results to create a holistic picture of the student’s cognitive and emotional profile.
Report Writing
A detailed report is produced, outlining the student’s performance in various domains. This report serves as a foundation for educational accommodations and includes recommendations tailored to the student’s needs, such as extended exam time, specialized instruction, or the use of assistive technology
What Does Battery Testing Provide?
A test battery is not just a single assessment; it’s a combination of tests designed to evaluate multiple facets of a student’s abilities. For example:
- Cognitive testing might include measures for problem-solving, memory, and attention.
- Academic testing could assess how well the student is performing in subjects like math and reading, compared to their peers.
- Behavioral testing can look at factors such as emotional regulation, social interaction, and mental health
This comprehensive approach helps provide a nuanced understanding of a student’s unique strengths and challenges, which a single test would not be able to capture. It allows educators and psychologists to recommend specific, effective interventions tailored to the student’s needs.
Example of Assessment Results
For example, a child who struggles with reading comprehension but excels in verbal communication might show a discrepancy between their verbal IQ and reading performance. The report could indicate dyslexia, and recommend accommodations such as:
- Extra time on exams (up to 50% or more, depending on severity).
- Use of audiobooks or text-to-speech technology.
- Tailored learning strategies that play to the child’s verbal strengths.
In cases of ADHD, the assessments might reveal deficits in working memory or processing speed, leading to recommendations for structured classroom settings, time management tools, and perhaps more frequent breaks during learning sessions.
Top 10 Reasons to Seek a Second Opinion of an Educational Assessment
- the initial diagnosis seems unclear or incomplete
- the school’s assessment conflicts with your observations of your child
- accommodations or support are denied based on the school’s evaluation
- the school suggests a diagnosis that feels exaggerated or incorrect
- there’s pressure from a school to follow a particular intervention plan
- your child is not making expected progress despite current support
- testing was conducted by a party with potential bias, such as the school
- when planning for high-stakes exams and extra time is being considered
- there is a significant discrepancy between test results and classroom performance
- the assessment doesn’t include a comprehensive evaluation of emotional factors
Why Comprehensive Assessments Are So Important
Without such detailed evaluations, many children with learning difficulties are either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, leaving them without the support they need to succeed. Comprehensive assessments ensure that children get the right accommodations, which could be anything from extended time on exams to specialized instructional techniques that align with their cognitive profile.
Comprehensive educational assessments, especially when done by providers like Global Education Testing, offer irrefutable evidence that schools and educators must act upon. These tests not only ensure that students get the accommodations they need but also lay the groundwork for long-term academic success.
This detailed process is crucial for students with learning difficulties, as it allows educators to tailor their approach and provide the support necessary for each individual’s academic growth.
Global Education Testing
Founded in 2019, Global Education Testing LLC has become a trusted leader in delivering comprehensive learning development assessments tailored to the unique needs of the international and private school community. Our mission is simple: to uncover the root causes of learning difficulties and provide students, parents, and educators with the actionable insights they need to foster success.
We specialize in diagnosing a wide range of learning challenges, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD, anxiety, and stress-related conditions. Our focus on early detection and targeted intervention ensures that students receive the support they need to overcome obstacles to learning. Every assessment is conducted by our team of experienced, highly qualified educational psychologists, drawn from top-tier educational systems such as the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Alexander Bentley-Sutherland is the CEO of Global Education Testing, the leading provider of Learning Development Testing tailored specifically for the International and Private School community worldwide.