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Do you think extra time in exams is fair?

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Original post by k4l397
It is fair. What is unfair is that it is possible to run out of time in exams full stop. That doesn't test understanding - which if I'm not wrong is the point of an exam - it tests the speed at which you can recall knowledge. Exams should provide more than enough time for them to be complete, regardless of who it is sitting the exam.


I guess exams also test how quickly you can understand.
Original post by isitisisitis
I guess exams also test how quickly you can understand.


Yeah true but I don't think it's a necessity to understand content quickly in a lot of cases though. Like taking 30 minutes extra to complete an exam to me doesn't seem like a bad thing to me and I don't think it reflects that someone wouldn't be able to do a job or be able to cope on a Uni course. Obviously when I say you shouldn't run out of time, I'm not suggesting an unlimited length exam, just a length of time that is more than what is considered 'enough time'. Adding 30 minutes to an exam imo would allow more people to show that they do actually understand the content.
Fair for the people who have a genuine difficulty writing/ reading/ processing etc. But 1. a lot of people lie to get extra time, and 2. you can almost make up a meaningless category in which to place your difficulty and gain extra time. This isn't fair.

Sometimes feel like agreeing with the people who say that the world isn't fair so everyone should be subject to the same exam times, but maybe that isn't considerate to specific needs...
Original post by richpanda
No, it's completely unfair. That's not even counting the thousands of people who are perfectly capable but get extra time!


A student doesn't simply ask for it, they have to referred by one of their teachers. Then you have to go through an assessment, in order to qualify. I've been through the assessment of getting extra time and it isn't as simple as having it handed to you. People are often very capable in class, without the pressure of a time restraint and actual exams. It's also not just slow handwriting, slower cognitive processing that qualify people for extra time. Anxiety, heightened by exams can be a contributing factor.

If students didn't need it, then they wouldn't be given it.
Original post by claireestelle
Yes it is. To get extra time you generally need something which is a proven disadvantage, it is literally there to level the playing field and as far as i know they've made it harder to get since i did gcse's . For me, I write at half the speed of most people and process information more slowly so if I didnt have it my grades would have been lower than what I m actually capable of.


Not necessarily true

My friend couldn't write very quickly (not disabled, but genuinely just can't write quickly) - so he got extra time in ALL his exams including MCQ exams, computerised exams, viva examinations etc where he had no disadvantage whatsoever.
Original post by k4l397
Yeah true but I don't think it's a necessity to understand content quickly in a lot of cases though. Like taking 30 minutes extra to complete an exam to me doesn't seem like a bad thing to me and I don't think it reflects that someone wouldn't be able to do a job or be able to cope on a Uni course. Obviously when I say you shouldn't run out of time, I'm not suggesting an unlimited length exam, just a length of time that is more than what is considered 'enough time'. Adding 30 minutes to an exam imo would allow more people to show that they do actually understand the content.


I agree with you. A sliding scale would be good where people who needed it could get a specific amount of extra time.
I have a learning disability and if it was not for my access arrangements (extra time, reader, smaller room) I would of possibly failed some of my exams. If you think it is unfair try living in my shoes where I can hardly read my own writing, lots of words get me confused and i get panic attacks if there is too much noise. Yes some people who don't need it get it but it is becoming harder as the school has to provide evidence.
Original post by ab2468
no, as someone said above, after finishing education you don't get extra time so why should you get it at school. Also lots of people with extra time really don't need and as the tests for it are easy to fail on purpose.


"Tests are easy to fail on purpose" actually they are harder to fail than most people think, particularly when it comes to getting extra time at University where a full diagnostic report is required. The practitioner performing the diagnostic sub-tests will supply at least two sub tests for each identified area of weakened as such you have to perform badly on both sub tests. This said unless you know which cognitive skill each sub test is testing that is really quite hard to fake. And if you think doing badly on all sub tests works it does not as this then does not hilight a specific difficulty it just says your stupid or that you tried to fake the tests and yes I have seen someone with a diagnostic report saying they were trying to fake as such no extra time recommended. So again I would be careful with the claim the tests are easy to fail- no it is not impossible to purposely fail them but it does take a certain amount of times inside knowledge.
This said this does not apply to extra time in school as a full diagnostic report is not required- although many people do go this route.
Original post by isitisisitis
I agree with you. A sliding scale would be good where people who needed it could get a specific amount of extra time.


The issue with this is that it becomes a logistical nightmare for the JCQ to arrange as each application for extra time would have to be individually checked where currently it is done by a computer system unless the extra time exceeds the standard 25%- hence in school a set a amount is given if you meet certain criteria. However many universities do it on a sliding scale where the assessing practitioner recommends the percentage, as such my firm choice has awarded me more extra time than I get in my A level.
Original post by surina16
No. Most of the people don't deserve it and fail the tests on purpose, but because it's such a stupid system, they get granted the extra time, do amazingly well in all their exams, and then boost up the grade boundaries for the rest.
I also agree with the above posts about no extra time at any other point in life.


You jealous? I get extra time and get all A*s so I one of those people that push up the grade boundaries for the likes of you LOL.
Original post by Tinka99
Curious about your thoughts.


Original post by truemiscer
no, as you don't get extra for a job and you cannot compare like for like between people.


Original post by ab2468
no, as someone said above, after finishing education you don't get extra time so why should you get it at school. Also lots of people with extra time really don't need and as the tests for it are easy to fail on purpose.


I've got dyslexia, and part of that means I've got a slower processing speed than normal people and I write slower so I get a laptop and extra time, but also that when I get to uni and work I have the right to ask for leeway for deadlines because quote "I will have significant difficulty in trying to meet deadlines". But that doesn't put me at a large disadvantage for jobs because I have a very very high IQ which is, in part, to do with my dyslexia, along with a load of other things I can't do but other things that I am much better at.

You need to be assessed by an educational psychologist for extra time, so there's nobody who "doesn't need it".
Original post by the IT MAN
You jealous? I get extra time and get all A*s so I one of those people that push up the grade boundaries for the likes of you LOL.


Great, have fun in the real world when there is no extra time. Hit me up in ten years if you need some help :smile:
Original post by alllostrevisers
A student doesn't simply ask for it, they have to referred by one of their teachers. Then you have to go through an assessment, in order to qualify. I've been through the assessment of getting extra time and it isn't as simple as having it handed to you. People are often very capable in class, without the pressure of a time restraint and actual exams. It's also not just slow handwriting, slower cognitive processing that qualify people for extra time. Anxiety, heightened by exams can be a contributing factor.

If students didn't need it, then they wouldn't be given it.


There's a doctor where I live and if you pay him he will give you evidence towards having extra time, so there is a fair amount of corruption in the system...
If you have a genuine need then fair enough, but sadly a lot of the time people take advantage in every way then can and then it becomes unfair for everyone
Original post by the IT MAN
You jealous? I get extra time and get all A*s so I one of those people that push up the grade boundaries for the likes of you LOL.


I think everyone is jealous, i mean it's not even fair unless you have some difficulties or any problems then that's fine but for some people it's not needed
Original post by Tinka99
Curious about your thoughts.


Yes, definitely. If someone has genuine problems which make the exams even more of a horrendous experience, then they should be allowed extra time. I don't think schools and universities need to make a huge deal about it though - it's just making special arrangements for certain people, not marking them out in any way.
Original post by surina16
Great, have fun in the real world when there is no extra time. Hit me up in ten years if you need some help :smile:


In the real world, reasonable adjustments would be made. And you wouldn't have exams in the real world either.
Original post by surina16
Great, have fun in the real world when there is no extra time. Hit me up in ten years if you need some help :smile:


LOL I have a good job thanks, I work for Google your right their is no extra time as their are no exams, However I regret to tell you that reasonable adjustments are made such as specialist software on my work computer.
Reply 297
Avatar for Amyx999
Amyx999
Of course it's fair? I've never had extra time in any of my exams up until this year. I've just been diagnosed with hypermobilty syndrome and arthritis so without extra time and a scribe I wouldn't be able to do anything as my hands are now so swollen I can't hold a pen. In my last years exams I was never diagnosed and never got this which meant I was never able to finish any of my papers fair enough people who don't have extra time are under pressure to finish exams but so am I at least you can write properly, oh and i'm Scottish so I get an extra 15 minutes for every hour of an exam
(edited 8 years ago)
No, a few of my friends have extra time for exams which they really don't need. They perform the exact same when they do and don't have the extra time. As for the rest, you're not going to get extra time in a real work place, if your boss what's it done by a certain time, you have it done then, not getting an extension.
It's entirely necessary. Of my friends who have extra time, one has dyslexia so needs more time to figure out what the question even says before trying to write coherently, which is difficult for them. The other has cancer and that along with the treatments has really slowed down their brain speed, so they are getting extra time this year. I don't get extra time, but I am in a smaller room and can pause the exam when I need to, because I often have panic attacks so if I feel one coming on I pause the exam and go outside to calm down and get my thoughts straight before continuing. If I didn't have that I would have failed a lot of exams

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