Extra marks for exam day 'stress'

Pupils can get extra marks for "extreme stress"

There has been a sharp rise in the number of pupils being given extra marks due to "special considerations" on the day of their GCSEs or A-levels.

Figures from England's exams watchdog show 329,119 requests were approved in 2008, compared to 255,200 in 2005.

Special consideration can cover issues such as bereavement, but also headaches, stress or hay fever.

There was also a doubling in the number of pupils being awarded extra time for exams because of other special needs.

The figures from Ofqual detail how many candidates have been given special consideration in their final marks to reflect "temporary injury, illness, indisposition or other unforeseen incident immediately before or during the exams period".

APPROVED SPECIAL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS 2005: 255,200 2006: 274,967 2007: 300,378 2008: 329,119

The most a candidate can be given is an extra 5% of the maximum mark for the question paper.

This is given in more extreme cases, for example, in the case of terminal illness of the candidate or parent or a bereavement in the immediate family.

Candidates suffering from more minor complaints - illness, hay fever, effects of pregnancy, concussion, extreme distress, ongoing noise, illness of another candidate in the room, stress or anxiety, minor ailments or a headache - would typically receive an extra 1 or 2% of the maximum mark.

The statistics for "access arrangements and special consideration" relate to public exams set by the examination boards AQA, Edexcel and OCR.

Prompters and bilingual dictionaries

The statistics also give details of special arrangements given prior to the day of an exam.

For example, a growing number of candidates needed assistance to stay focused during exams.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the system remains fair for all Chair of Ofqual Kathleen Tattersall

A prompter - "a responsible adult who may sit beside the candidate in order to keep his or her attention on the task in hand" - was requested in 383 cases in 2005, compared to 2,926 in 2008.

The number of pupils being given pre-arranged extra time in exams was 78,570 last year, more than double the 35,319 cases in 2005.

The figures also show a rise in the number of candidates using bi-lingual dictionaries in exams.

In 2008, 9,716 arrangements were made for pupils to use a dictionary and have extra time to complete the exam. In 2005, the figure was 4,083.

In 2008, 4,660 entries used a dictionary without extra time, compared to 1,680 three years earlier.

Transcripts were requested in 2,553 cases in 2008, compared to 485 in 2005.

Monitoring

Chair of Ofqual Kathleen Tattersall said it was important that all candidates had fair access qualifications to enable them to show their knowledge, skills and understanding.

"The number of candidates with access arrangements has risen again this year," she said.

"There are a number of reasons for this increase, including more awareness amongst teachers and parents and more information about the types of arrangements that are available.

"In addition, examination officers in schools and colleges work very hard to ensure that candidates get the fair access they are entitled to.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the system remains fair for all."

John Bangs, assistant secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said the union was not worried about the rise in applications for special considerations.

But he said it was important to ensure that all schools were aware of the necessary procedures.

"It's Ofqual's job to ensure a level playing field between all schools," he said.

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In our school, the numbers that get extra marks for the least inconvenience are astonishing. We , as teachers, are sometimes outraged that pupils pass by means of marks which have been gained artificially . Its the latest trick in the 'dumbing-down' of exams in which everybody who matters (exam boards , headmasters , ministers) collude. Classroom teachers (never consulted or interviewed ) grow cynical. Why teach pupils well, when distress and maladies earns them more marks than knowledge?
Gwyn, Wales

What kind of lesson is this teaching young people and how exactly does it help to prepare them for adult life? Those excuses aren't going to cut it in the workplace. I actually feel very sorry for children these days. The education system does not prepare them for adult life and actually sets many of them up for failure.
Yasmin, London

When I was taking my 'O' levels in the 60s, 70s and 80s we just got on with it. There's too much pampering these days.
Bridget Doman, Sheffield, UK

I am diabetic and was very hypoglycaemic (low blood sugars - due to subconscious stress) for 3 mornings in a row on the 1st week of my GCSEs, where I had 2 exams on each of those days. I still went in and sat all of the exams and told all I needed to do was bring in a doctors note. I had more exams that week so had no time to go that week - but was then told they had to have it within 5 days of the first incident. I didn't get any special consideration in the end - the timetabling needs to be flexible for those of us who have real need for consideration but are resilient enough to be getting on like everyone else.
Francesca, London

It's good to see that cotton wool sales are up. Wrap the poor dears up and protect them against failure. I'm sorry - it should be a level playing field. If pupils feel they could have done better on another day or under different circumstances, they can retake the exam. There's a real world out here waiting for them and they should get used to it. Dictionaries, extra-time, and hand-holders aren't available in real life.
Jon Winter, Hexham, UK

I KNOW this system is flawed. People who I know as being extremely academically able have purposely(!!!) failed the dyslexia test in order for them to be awarded extra time in their exams. And as for stress, everybody feels it around exam times but the majority don't ask for extra credit. That is totally unfair. (I am in my final year of A2 studies)
James Williams, Shropshire

I am diabetic and was very hypoglycaemic (low blood sugars - due to subconscious stress) for 3 mornings in a row on the 1st week of my GCSEs, where I had 2 exams on each of those days. I still went in and sat all of the exams and told all I needed to do was bring in a doctors note. I had more exams that week so had no time to go that week - but was then told they had to have it within 5 days of the first incident. I didn't get any special consideration in the end - the timetabling needs to be flexible for those of us who have real need for consideration but are resilient enough to be getting on like everyone else.
Francesca, London

It's a nonsense.
Nigel, Liverpool

Aw diddums poor babies, wait until they get into the REAL world how disappointed they'll be. We're breeding a nation of wimps and namby pambies. Spoilt rotten the lot of them.
Rob Bain, Derby

A few weeks prior to sitting my A levels I found out I was going to be a father. I was not offered special consideration nor was I informed of it. Students should strive to achieve their best through they own means. Getting bumped up a grade because of a "headache" is nonsense and needs serious looking at.
D Mason, Belfast