1. Readers and Writers for Exams
Tips on how to use them well

2. Having a Reader – how can it help?
A reader can help you decode a text
Some people understand a text better when it is read to them
It can speed up the time taken to read in exams

3. What a Reader can do Read back what you have written, if you ask
Read numbers printed as figures in words
Give you the spelling of a word if it appears on the paper if you ask
Read the instructions and questions if you ask
In the English Language exam, they can read the questions in the Writing section but not the Reading section
It is up to you to make clear what you want them to read, they are not allowed to read anything unless you ask.

4. What a Reader must not do
Use any emphasis or change their tone of voice (it might give you a clue!)
Give you spellings if they are not on the paper
Explain or make questions clearer, put things in different words
In the English Language paper, they can’t read any of the questions in the Reading section
Tell you or give advice about which questions to do, when to move on or what order to answer questions in
Decode any symbols (eg < or >), they just point to these

5. Useful things you might need to say
‘Please can you say that again.’
‘Please can you speak a bit louder.’
‘Can you stop reading there.’
‘Please speak more slowly.’
‘What does that word say?’
‘Wait a minute.’
Remember – it is your exam, your Reader wants to help!

6. Having a Scribe – how can it help?
It can help you to express what you want to say more quickly
You don’t have to worry about spelling
You don’t have to worry about your handwriting

7. What a Scribe can do Write or type exactly what you say
Draw maps, graphs or diagrams exactly as you tell them to
Change what they have written or typed if you ask them to
Read back what they have written if you ask them to

8. What a Scribe must not do
Draw for you in a Design exam
Help you with answers/ suggest ideas
Tell you when an answer is finished
Tell you which questions to choose
Tell you when to move on to the next question
Tell you which questions to do first

9. Useful things you might need to say
‘Please can you read that bit back to me.’
‘I want to change that bit.’
‘Cross that bit out.’
‘Can you write a little faster please.’

10. Who should you see if you have questions about your arrangements?
Mrs Allen Ross
Miss Merckx
Mrs Gleave
Any questions or comments?