As part of the Communicate-ed tour I did in September, I was asked to present a seminar on the impact of maths difficulties in exams, which I did in London, Birmingham and Manchester. I produced this summary mindmap, trying to encapsulate an overall image of how much maths is used in different subjects and exams, and there is probably more- please let me know what I have missed!
I was reminded of this as I read Jet Lewin’s fabulous blog on this same topic
I was also reminded at the Dyslexia and Dyscalculia conference in Athens about anxiety and I should have included this in the visual: maths anxiety, causing further difficulties in exams. I discussed this in the seminar, but it should also have been on my visual here as to how maths anxiety impacts also.
So, should I speak again about this topic, I will include on my visual, the impact of anxiety, not only in exams but on long term health of our students. See also: ‘The bear in the classroom’ recorded webinar for further information on maths anxiety.
Given that maths impacts so much across the curriculum, and therefore in exams, it is important that Access Arrangements are put in place. You can get extra time by assessing a range of areas related to speed of processing, but it is interesting to note: An assessment of mathematical fluency must only be used as one of the two required measures for 25% extra time in Mathematics examinations. The mathematical fluency score must be below average. An assessment of mathematical fluency can only contribute to the evidence for 25% extra time in Mathematics examinations (JCQ 5.2.2.1). What if that maths difficulty is impacting on other curriculum areas, but the only scores that are below average is a maths fluency score, alongside one other relevant score in a different area? That person can only have extra time in maths exams! A positive move forward a couple of years ago to add this in to the regulations, but what next for our students with significant maths difficulties/ dyscalculia? Answers on a postcard please!
If you have any queries or questions about access arrangements, dyscalculia or dyslexia, please do get in touch- rebecca@educationaccess.co.uk
#Dyslexia and #DyscalculiaI