Hi Steve

We’ve used Reading pens quite extensively this exam season although we made a decision quite late (March) to go down this route (in response to a huge number of access arrangements).

We purchased 70 reading pens and wrote out to parents in order to get their buy-in. Students were assigned pens to practice with in class and were supported by tutors and LRC. Not everyone we wrote to took up the option but we provided the pens for the exam. We expected lots of feedback (and our ILS team were quite concerned) but the exams ran relatively smoothly. We had several large rooms with students who were assigned reading pens rather than readers – touch wood, but we’ve not had one complaint about this aspect.

For next year we’re intending to start the process earlier on – we will be selling the virtues of the pen in the assessment stage so that the majority of students take up the option. We’ve very much focusing on how they can develop independent study skills and how this can help them in future educational settings.

Regards

Lorna

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Steve Bustard
Sent: 20 June 2018 11:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: AQA English Language 8700 - paper 1 on 5th June 2018

Thanks Lynsey

We are looking at a free trial of the exam reading pens in September to try and get away from using screen readers so much in the English Language exams.

Does anyone else have experience with or comments on these reading pens??

Thanks and regards

Steve Bustard

Exams Manager

Tel: 01604 734092

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Lynsey Graham
Sent: 20 June 2018 10:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: AQA English Language 8700 - paper 1 on 5th June 2018

Hi Steve,

We had our first ever candidate use Read Write Gold for an exam for the 8700 papers and I downloaded the PDF copy of the paper after 8am and put it on memory stick for him. I understand the only issues we had were on the second paper and were actually a laptop/software installation issue.

Kind regards,

Lynsey Graham

Exams Team Leader

01634 383638

Office days: Weds & Thurs

MidKent College, Medway Campus, Medway Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1FN

Please use our Exams Helpdesk for all entry requests

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Bustard
Sent: 15 June 2018 08:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: AQA English Language 8700 - paper 1 on 5th June 2018

Good morning all

For anyone who uses AQA for their English Language GCSE exams (8700), please could you let me know if you had any IT issues with the screen reader files from paper 1?

Our IT bloke said that the file came in with the wrong format and he had to play around with it to make it work with the Read & Write Gold software.

This meant that anyone who was using the screen reader software was quite late starting the exam.

Did anyone else have similar issues on the 5^thJune?

Thanks very much.

Kind regards

Steve Bustard

Exams Manager

Tel: 01604 734092

e-mail: [log in to unmask]

group e-mail: [log in to unmask]

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