Sunderland Autism Outreach Team

Planning for Exams

Exams are an important part of school life and can be very stressful especially for pupils with autism

Exams:

• May interrupt a student’s familiar routine
• They can be unpredictable in their content
• Can create extra demands on self-organisation

Advice for Staff for autistic pupils….

• Plan exam concessions in advance
• Plan a revision timetable with them
• Plan timed revision sessions (30-45 minutes maximum)
• Have a set of resources available e.g. pens etc a place to store their equipment
• Use a Social Story to explain the exam process
• Practise with past exam papers
• Make an exam timetable
• Have an exam equipment list written in their planner with their timetable
• Role play an exam situation
• Visits to the exam area

How school can help

• Help the pupil to set up the revision/relaxation timetable
• If appropriate encourage revision with another pupil or study support group
• Read the Social Story regularly
• Establish good routines supported by ‘rules’ for situations
• Keep lines of communication open between home and school
• Allow and encourage access to a “safe haven”
• Use a reward system based on a pupil’s special interests after the exams
• Have a named mentor

How school can help

You can apply for exam dispensations available for pupils with autism, e.g:

•  Extra time
•  Option to sit in a smaller room
•  Adult prompter
•  Use of keyboard
• Rest breaks

If appropriate the school can provide:

Planning for Exams

Exams are an important part of school life, they help a student prepare for their future.  They can also help in gaining entry into college or a job.

Exams:

• May interrupt a student’s familiar routine

• They can be unpredictable in their content

• Can create extra demands on self-organisation

Advice for Parents

• Help create a good study environment. Somewhere calm and quiet, well lit, with a good temperature, and fresh air, free from distractions e.g televisions, telephones and younger siblings.

• Encourage your child to study in places other than their bedroom as  this may encourage a better sleep pattern

• Make the family aware of what the changes will mean to you all

• Talk to staff in school about support

• Reassure your child that you want to help them do their best and there are always chances to re-sit exams

 How home can help

• Help your child to set up a revision/relaxation timetable
• Plan timed revision sessions (30-45 minutes maximum)
• Alternate revision sessions with a favourite relaxation activity e.g. music
• Help make an exam timetable. Put it on their wall. LOOK AT IT
• Have an exam equipment list written on their timetable
• Practise with past exam papers
• If appropriate encourage revision at home with a friend
• Establish good routines supported by ‘rules’ for situations
• Keep lines of communication open between home and school
• Prompt your child to check that they have the right equipment for each exam
• Try and provide regular healthy meals and snacks
• Use a reward system based on your child’s special interests after the exams

How school can help

You can apply for exam dispensations available for pupils with autism, e.g:

  - Extra time

  - Option to sit in a smaller room

  - Adult prompter

  - Use of keyboard

  - Rest breaks

If appropriate the school can provide:

• A quiet ‘space’ and adult support (if needed) before and after the exam

• Revision ‘clubs’

• A learning mentor to support home/school liaison

• The use of a laptop

• The minimum of change during the exam period

Planning for Exams

 Exams are an important part of school life, they help you prepare for your future.  It is important to keep a record of what you have learnt and this is why we take exams. It can also help you gain entry into college or a job.

Exams:

• May interrupt your familiar routine
• They can be unpredictable in their content
• Can create extra demands on self-organisation
• May make you feel  more anxious

 Advice for Students

• Make an exam timetable. Put it on your wall. LOOK AT IT

• Plan a revision timetable

• Plan timed revision sessions (30-45 minutes maximum)

• Organise revision materials

• Revise with a friend or attend study groups and after school clubs

• Use a Dictaphone to record study notes

• Practise with past exam papers

• Have an exam equipment list written on your timetable

• Talk to a member of staff

 Revision Techniques

Helpful Hints:

• Colour code notes

• Use highlighter pens to mark key ideas

• Use coloured ‘Post its’

• Make mind maps and spider webs

• Make flow Charts

• Tape record notes

• Use past papers, practise which questions to answer first. It might be helpful to colour code the questions using a traffic light system e.g.

          - Green = I can answer this question first.

          - Orange = This question will need a bit more time

          - Red = I don’t think I can answer this one

How you can help yourself

 What is exam stress?

• Stress is a natural part of being   human.
• It is your body responding to changes in the world around you.
• Small amounts of stress can help us become motivated into working

Stress Busting Tips

• Breathing (take deep breaths)
• Time to relax
• Regular comfort breaks
• Make sure you eat well and drink plenty of water
• Try to make sure you get enough sleep
• Alternate revision sessions with a  favourite relaxation activity e.g music
• Take a walk
• Revise somewhere other than your bedroom, this will help you sleep  better at night