This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- do i have dyslexia? and need advice.
- Needs Assessment
- What are your experiences with Dyslexia?
- Anyone at University with Dyslexia? Do you cope?
- Where and how likely am I to get into medicine?
- How to study A-levels with dyslexia
- Help for students with ADHD and Autism - what help is there?
- Ive completed my igcse, however do i still need my O levels to go to open university
- SEN/ALS & Mental health at Bournemouth University
- Special learning needs not met by department MASTERS (L7)
- please mark this for me igcse English language
- ARU children’s nursing + lectures
- A level chem help
- College Supplies
- DSA and evidence
- ADHD
- How does one increase their grades from C's to A's as a dyslexic student?
- DSA condition limit
- English personal statement help
- Should I leave uni? Advice needed
Dyslexia - Advice needed
Hi everyone,
I've always avoided having a dyslexia test done over the years, but my mum recently met someone who offers testing and I decided to go for it.
Anyway, it turns out I am dyslexic but i've got to wait for her report to find out how serious it is. I'm sure if I approach my school they'll offer me extra time in my exams, but im not exactly sure if I want to take it.
I'm studying Maths, Physics, ICT, Photography, General Studies and Critical Thinking at AS level. I'm going to study Chemistry AS over the summer and then continue with Maths, Physics, Chem and ICT A2. I'm predicted As in all of my subjects, excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies (No idea what im predicted). I'm also an oxbridge candidate.
I really dont want to think that my A level results were achieved by having an advantage over everyone else. However, I have a number of papers to take in ICT, Critical Thinking and General Studies that probably will be marked down for poor spelling. Also, my handwriting isn't very fast. However, I have very strong reading skills. According to the person who tested me, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic.
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
Many thanks,
James
P.S. I didn't spell check anything in the above post, I wanted to show how although my spelling isn't amazing it's still legiable. This is why i've never decided to have a test before...
I've always avoided having a dyslexia test done over the years, but my mum recently met someone who offers testing and I decided to go for it.
Anyway, it turns out I am dyslexic but i've got to wait for her report to find out how serious it is. I'm sure if I approach my school they'll offer me extra time in my exams, but im not exactly sure if I want to take it.
I'm studying Maths, Physics, ICT, Photography, General Studies and Critical Thinking at AS level. I'm going to study Chemistry AS over the summer and then continue with Maths, Physics, Chem and ICT A2. I'm predicted As in all of my subjects, excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies (No idea what im predicted). I'm also an oxbridge candidate.
I really dont want to think that my A level results were achieved by having an advantage over everyone else. However, I have a number of papers to take in ICT, Critical Thinking and General Studies that probably will be marked down for poor spelling. Also, my handwriting isn't very fast. However, I have very strong reading skills. According to the person who tested me, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic.
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
Many thanks,
James
P.S. I didn't spell check anything in the above post, I wanted to show how although my spelling isn't amazing it's still legiable. This is why i've never decided to have a test before...
Reply 1
ultraviolent
Hi everyone,
I've always avoided having a dyslexia test done over the years, but my mum recently met someone who offers testing and I decided to go for it.
Anyway, it turns out I am dyslexic but i've got to wait for her report to find out how serious it is. I'm sure if I approach my school they'll offer me extra time in my exams, but im not exactly sure if I want to take it.
I'm studying Maths, Physics, ICT, Photography, General Studies and Critical Thinking at AS level. I'm going to study Chemistry AS over the summer and then continue with Maths, Physics, Chem and ICT A2. I'm predicted As in all of my subjects, excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies (No idea what im predicted). I'm also an oxbridge candidate.
I really dont want to think that my A level results were achieved by having an advantage over everyone else. However, I have a number of papers to take in ICT, Critical Thinking and General Studies that probably will be marked down for poor spelling. Also, my handwriting isn't very fast. However, I have very strong reading skills. According to the person who tested me, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic.
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
Many thanks,
James
P.S. I didn't spell check anything in the above post, I wanted to show how although my spelling isn't amazing it's still legiable. This is why i've never decided to have a test before...
I've always avoided having a dyslexia test done over the years, but my mum recently met someone who offers testing and I decided to go for it.
Anyway, it turns out I am dyslexic but i've got to wait for her report to find out how serious it is. I'm sure if I approach my school they'll offer me extra time in my exams, but im not exactly sure if I want to take it.
I'm studying Maths, Physics, ICT, Photography, General Studies and Critical Thinking at AS level. I'm going to study Chemistry AS over the summer and then continue with Maths, Physics, Chem and ICT A2. I'm predicted As in all of my subjects, excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies (No idea what im predicted). I'm also an oxbridge candidate.
I really dont want to think that my A level results were achieved by having an advantage over everyone else. However, I have a number of papers to take in ICT, Critical Thinking and General Studies that probably will be marked down for poor spelling. Also, my handwriting isn't very fast. However, I have very strong reading skills. According to the person who tested me, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic.
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
Many thanks,
James
P.S. I didn't spell check anything in the above post, I wanted to show how although my spelling isn't amazing it's still legiable. This is why i've never decided to have a test before...
Although I'm not have dyslexia, one of my class mates are. He gets a writer in the exam and he is given extra time. As for the uni stuff, he still got offers.
ultraviolent
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?
I'm not dyslexic.. but i was assessed when i went to 6th form & it was recommended that i be given extra time & a few other concessions in exams. obviously, i hadn't had this for my GCSEs & had done pretty well without it..
but given that i was doing A2s including History, English Lit. & GS, i thought it would be silly not to take it to be honest - if i'm 'entitled' to it & you can always spend a little longer on an essay..
so, anyway.. your decision. exam certificates don't state it on though, if you're concerned about that - the whole point is to level the playing field..
with regards to university applications - i can't think it would be a problem - i know other medics who are dyslexic, science students, even an english student. & people still are granted extra time in uni exams (this is Oxford, BTW) so i doubt merely being dyslexic would prejudice them against you.
another issue - i think it's your choice whether to declare it on your UCAS form - but remember, if you don't - apparently the uni don't have to offer you any support/concessions at any stage.. even if you change your mind.
of, & finally - once you have a report - look into DSA from the LEAs - for dyslexia i think commonly they might purchase you a computer/dictaphones etc.
hope this is of help.
Reply 3
You can get extra allowance too/loans or something like that besides free computers and other stuff.
I remember one of my classmates declared that he has dyslexia on his personal statement and he still got offers. However, the offers won't be lowered though. In addition, you might need to go to an interview too. That is what happend to my friend.
Here is the website about student support for students with disability: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/students/stu_students_with_d.shtml
I remember one of my classmates declared that he has dyslexia on his personal statement and he still got offers. However, the offers won't be lowered though. In addition, you might need to go to an interview too. That is what happend to my friend.
Here is the website about student support for students with disability: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/students/stu_students_with_d.shtml
Reply 4
Thanks for your advice everyone. I'm tempted to ask for a laptop for my written exams, as my writing speed is quite slow and my spelling is quite poor. However, I still feel very uncomfitable with taking extra time for Maths and Physics.
For example, on the recent C1 test paper I am expecting ~90%. I looked at the test paper the next day and think I lost about 5 marks. One of these was down to a mistake I had made and the other one I would have been able to work out given a bit more time. However, friends of mine who are not dyslexic are expecting lower grades than I am. I dont feel it would be fair to take extra time in this type of subject as I can't see how my supposed dsylexia affects me here.
To make this point, at the end of my first 1 hour test with my assessor it was clear that I have very slight tracking problems (sometimes skipping lines when reading), poor spelling (which I already knew) and I found it very hard to spell even simple words backwards. (for example, try spelling house back to front. I find this very hard.) I also occasionaly get lowercase bs and ds mixed up when I write and I sometimes invert two letters within a word (for example, I couldn't tell you if protein or protien is the correct spelling without really thinking about it, and I often spell words simmilar to this incorrectly).
However, I still dont see how this effects me in maths or physics! I would feel that my grades were false in subjects where none of the above effects me. Because I want to study something like astrophysics at university this will probably effect me less and less as time goes on. Further, I have no problem with comprehension when reading, and I read very quicky compared to most people.
However, I'm not really sure what point im making here! I'm just going to think things over for a while. I have to wait at least another three weeks before I get a final report, so it will be longer than that untill I need to decide if I wish to apply for extra time or not.
- James
For example, on the recent C1 test paper I am expecting ~90%. I looked at the test paper the next day and think I lost about 5 marks. One of these was down to a mistake I had made and the other one I would have been able to work out given a bit more time. However, friends of mine who are not dyslexic are expecting lower grades than I am. I dont feel it would be fair to take extra time in this type of subject as I can't see how my supposed dsylexia affects me here.
To make this point, at the end of my first 1 hour test with my assessor it was clear that I have very slight tracking problems (sometimes skipping lines when reading), poor spelling (which I already knew) and I found it very hard to spell even simple words backwards. (for example, try spelling house back to front. I find this very hard.) I also occasionaly get lowercase bs and ds mixed up when I write and I sometimes invert two letters within a word (for example, I couldn't tell you if protein or protien is the correct spelling without really thinking about it, and I often spell words simmilar to this incorrectly).
However, I still dont see how this effects me in maths or physics! I would feel that my grades were false in subjects where none of the above effects me. Because I want to study something like astrophysics at university this will probably effect me less and less as time goes on. Further, I have no problem with comprehension when reading, and I read very quicky compared to most people.
However, I'm not really sure what point im making here! I'm just going to think things over for a while. I have to wait at least another three weeks before I get a final report, so it will be longer than that untill I need to decide if I wish to apply for extra time or not.
- James
Reply 5
Hi i have dyslexia i was tested for it when i was about 4 or 5 i am now 19 i have it quite bad i hae a reading age of 14 it should be 18 or 19 which is bad
i am doing and avce ict at college at the moment
im at college now and i do get 25% extra time in all my exams i make shore they know about it so if i need the time it there for me.
Evrey week i got to a support lession where i have a teacher that will help me whith my spelling and go throw the work whith me i find it very usefull she helps me whith spelling and assimentsll out most unis do some kind of support
it dose not put u at a disadvantage telling the unis about your problem the will give u help u need when u get to uni might be exrta time,testing and will help u throw the course. probaley most of your class mate will be able to help u in the future whith spelling etc
ive told all of my unis and i set up help for me at all of my unis but i will only be going to one of them .
the help they arranged has been more time in exams longer time for assiments programs to help me and a reader in the class to help me whtih the reading and spelling.
so dont be but off whith it the more people now about your disability the more the can help u whith it.
ps.there is spelling errors in this
and ive set up a thread abot my exprences about dyslexia http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/t94779.html
i am doing and avce ict at college at the moment
im at college now and i do get 25% extra time in all my exams i make shore they know about it so if i need the time it there for me.
Evrey week i got to a support lession where i have a teacher that will help me whith my spelling and go throw the work whith me i find it very usefull she helps me whith spelling and assimentsll out most unis do some kind of support
"Would declairing that I have dyslexia on my university application put me at a disadvantage? Has anyone on here who has dyslexia decided not to take the extra time on exams that they are eledgiable for?"
it dose not put u at a disadvantage telling the unis about your problem the will give u help u need when u get to uni might be exrta time,testing and will help u throw the course. probaley most of your class mate will be able to help u in the future whith spelling etc
ive told all of my unis and i set up help for me at all of my unis but i will only be going to one of them .
the help they arranged has been more time in exams longer time for assiments programs to help me and a reader in the class to help me whtih the reading and spelling.
so dont be but off whith it the more people now about your disability the more the can help u whith it.
ps.there is spelling errors in this
and ive set up a thread abot my exprences about dyslexia http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/t94779.html
Reply 6
If you weren't dyslexic you would do even better..... take the time so you can show what you are actually capable of.
ultraviolent
I'm tempted to ask for a laptop for my written exams, as my writing speed is quite slow and my spelling is quite poor. However, I still feel very uncomfitable with taking extra time for Maths and Physics.
just to point out - you don't "have" to take the time in each subject. e.g. for Biology & Chemistry A Levels i didn't & History & English Lit. i did!
the extra time was just the maximum we could have & if we finished before or with everyone else, then that was fine..
However, friends of mine who are not dyslexic are expecting lower grades than I am.
hmm, this is a tough one - personally.. i got top grades before i had extra time (baring the MFL, but that might explain why!
) & top grades with the extra time.. so perhaps understandable a small number of people seemed annoyed that i should have this. 
but then like Speciez99 says, it's more about putting everyone on the same level to begin with & then how you achieve is up to you - not to act to guarantee all the "special" people get at the average grade. does that make sense?
Reply 9
How can you be intelligent enough to be an oxbridge candidate and have undiagnosed dyslexia?
Reply 10
dragonflying
How can you be intelligent enough to be an oxbridge candidate and have undiagnosed dyslexia?
I'm sorry, I don't quite understand your question. I've always known I have dyslexic tendencies, but I never bothered getting a test until now. I only decided to go for testing as my mum met someone who is trained in dyslexia testing and it just happened to come up in a conversation with her that I may be dyslexic.
After my first one hour session with her she said she was almost certian I was dyslexic. I still have another hours test with her next week to determine to what extent and in which areas I suffer most.
If this doesn't answer your question perhaps you could rephrase it for me.
James
well... dyslexia should not be a problem from preventing you get a place in oxbridge... you should use extra time to your advatage and there is no need to feel guilty about it... it is your RIGHT to extra time as equal opportunities...
also... putting dyslexia on your UCAS form WILL NOT disadvantage you in any way... if your performance is better than most 'normal' people, it may be at your advantage as it proved that you have worked hard to over come disability...
One of my friend had dyslexia and hearing difficulties and all his universities had given him a place... he also got a post-offer interview to talk about ways to improve his learning during uni...
anyway... I wish you the best of luck on your oxbridge application
also... putting dyslexia on your UCAS form WILL NOT disadvantage you in any way... if your performance is better than most 'normal' people, it may be at your advantage as it proved that you have worked hard to over come disability...
One of my friend had dyslexia and hearing difficulties and all his universities had given him a place... he also got a post-offer interview to talk about ways to improve his learning during uni...
anyway... I wish you the best of luck on your oxbridge application
dragonflying
How can you be intelligent enough to be an oxbridge candidate and have undiagnosed dyslexia?
hey... dyslexia is NOT A BAR TO OXBRIDGE NOR IT IS A MEASURE OF SOMEONE'S INTELLIGENCE... that is a complete myth...
I am sure you'll be able to succeed in oxbridge, James... forget all the myths and sayings... face the world and say 'I am who I am...'
Reply 13
Thanks anchemis.
It's been quite strange thinking I am now offically disabled and a disadvantaged student, when I have never percieved myself that way before. Even now, I don't feel like am at a disadvantage in exams, etc...
As for the oxbridge application, I just have to work hard and hope I get the results I need. I'll soon see if im on the right track as i'll be getting my first maths result in the morning.
- James
It's been quite strange thinking I am now offically disabled and a disadvantaged student, when I have never percieved myself that way before. Even now, I don't feel like am at a disadvantage in exams, etc...
As for the oxbridge application, I just have to work hard and hope I get the results I need. I'll soon see if im on the right track as i'll be getting my first maths result in the morning.
- James
Reply 14
Sorry i don't think i explained my question very well.
The reason i ask is because i to have dyslexic tendencies to and recently had a screen test that indicated that i have dyslexic difficulties and i can now have extra time in my exams at uni.
However, recently i was speaking to a woman who did i PHD on dyslexia, and she said she thought it was unlikely that i am dyslexic, because i passed my a levels without before being diagnosed. She suggested that when i have the offical test with an educational pyschologist it will probably show that i'm not. I think she meant that its extremely difficult to do well in a levels if you haven't had the extra help that you get once you've been diagnosed.
Also my mum who is dyslexic, had a lot of difficulties learning to read and write and everything and didn't succeed very well in educucation, whereas i didn't have problems like she did. I'm just curious having read your thread, as to whether you can be dyslexic and achieve highly in education, without the extra help, as you obviously have.
The reason i ask is because i to have dyslexic tendencies to and recently had a screen test that indicated that i have dyslexic difficulties and i can now have extra time in my exams at uni.
However, recently i was speaking to a woman who did i PHD on dyslexia, and she said she thought it was unlikely that i am dyslexic, because i passed my a levels without before being diagnosed. She suggested that when i have the offical test with an educational pyschologist it will probably show that i'm not. I think she meant that its extremely difficult to do well in a levels if you haven't had the extra help that you get once you've been diagnosed.
Also my mum who is dyslexic, had a lot of difficulties learning to read and write and everything and didn't succeed very well in educucation, whereas i didn't have problems like she did. I'm just curious having read your thread, as to whether you can be dyslexic and achieve highly in education, without the extra help, as you obviously have.
Reply 15
Thanks for clarifying dragonflying.
To be perfectly honest, i'm not sure. The lady whom I had my test with told me that it is estimated that 1 in 10 people suffer from dyslexia (and this is also confirmed by the National Institute of Health in America according to http://dyslexia.mtsu.edu/about/faq.html, which states that about 15% of people suffer from some form of dyslexia). Serious dyslexics will almost always be picked up early on during their education, but i'm sure many are never noticed.
I presume, therefore, that this means many dyslexics will continue onto higher eduation without ever being diagnosed in any way. I would agree that people who are undiagnosed and have serious dsylexia would find it extremly hard to progress academicly in any way. I would hope this is never the case, and they are given the support that they need.
If my dyslexia was more prominent I am sure that it would have been diagnosed before, however, it has always just been accecpted that I simply have bad spelling and it was never taken any further than that.
I presume that the reason it wasn't questioned before is because I have exceptionally strong reading. However, according to the person whom I had a test with, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic (as I had always believed until recently).
Hope this helps,
James
EDIT: You may also find this interesting http://www.dyslexia.com/qafame.htm
To be perfectly honest, i'm not sure. The lady whom I had my test with told me that it is estimated that 1 in 10 people suffer from dyslexia (and this is also confirmed by the National Institute of Health in America according to http://dyslexia.mtsu.edu/about/faq.html, which states that about 15% of people suffer from some form of dyslexia). Serious dyslexics will almost always be picked up early on during their education, but i'm sure many are never noticed.
I presume, therefore, that this means many dyslexics will continue onto higher eduation without ever being diagnosed in any way. I would agree that people who are undiagnosed and have serious dsylexia would find it extremly hard to progress academicly in any way. I would hope this is never the case, and they are given the support that they need.
If my dyslexia was more prominent I am sure that it would have been diagnosed before, however, it has always just been accecpted that I simply have bad spelling and it was never taken any further than that.
I presume that the reason it wasn't questioned before is because I have exceptionally strong reading. However, according to the person whom I had a test with, this doesn't mean that I am not dyslexic (as I had always believed until recently).
Hope this helps,
James
EDIT: You may also find this interesting http://www.dyslexia.com/qafame.htm
as i point of interest with regards to severity & the sliding scales of any conditions..
for national boards i think there are just catch all guidelines of either 10% or 25% extra time.
but, you might find when you get to uni they want you to be reassessed & a more individualised amount of extra time decided on. so if a condition was very mild - then the extra time could in theory become near neglible i suppose!
for national boards i think there are just catch all guidelines of either 10% or 25% extra time.
but, you might find when you get to uni they want you to be reassessed & a more individualised amount of extra time decided on. so if a condition was very mild - then the extra time could in theory become near neglible i suppose!
Related discussions
- do i have dyslexia? and need advice.
- Needs Assessment
- What are your experiences with Dyslexia?
- Anyone at University with Dyslexia? Do you cope?
- Where and how likely am I to get into medicine?
- How to study A-levels with dyslexia
- Help for students with ADHD and Autism - what help is there?
- Ive completed my igcse, however do i still need my O levels to go to open university
- SEN/ALS & Mental health at Bournemouth University
- Special learning needs not met by department MASTERS (L7)
- please mark this for me igcse English language
- ARU children’s nursing + lectures
- A level chem help
- College Supplies
- DSA and evidence
- ADHD
- How does one increase their grades from C's to A's as a dyslexic student?
- DSA condition limit
- English personal statement help
- Should I leave uni? Advice needed
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 months ago
Engineering vs. Medicine: Stuck Between Dreams and ExpectationsLast reply 2 months ago
heyyy , im new heree and im willing to have some friends xxxLast reply 2 months ago
Im 16 and never had a gf and it doesnt feel ok.
