Special arrangements for WACE examinations

Circular from the SCSA

Contact
Carolyn Hackett (08) 9273 6316
carolyn.hackett@scsa.wa.edu.au
Schools are reminded that they should now be submitting completed special examination arrangement applications with all supporting evidence. Applications submitted without the supporting evidence cannot be assessed.  Applications are due on 25 May 2012.
The school must submit an application form for any student seeking any type of variation to the standard examination conditions. This includes students needing special seating considerations to accommodate a hearing impairment, students needing access to medication, as well as students with a permanent or temporary disability who may require the written or practical exam to be in a different format or who may require additional time.
The 2012 forms, printed on apricot-coloured paper, were sent to all schools in early February. They can be used to apply for the practical and/or written examinations.
If assistance is needed to complete the form, schools should in the first instance refer to the Authority website at www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Senior_Secondary/Exam_Information This links to a range of documents about special provisions for examination candidates, including policy, information sheets on special arrangements and advice for completing the forms.
Written examinations
Applications related to the written examinations should only be submitted after 25 May if there are genuine extenuating circumstances. Late applications should not be submitted for long-term conditions such as ADD/ADHD or specific learning disabilities. After the end of Term 3 only emergency applications will be considered, such as for injuries requiring a scribe or where a candidate has been hospitalised.
Practical examinations
Candidates who suffer an injury or illness after the 25 May must apply for a special format practical examination by 3 August 2012.
Candidates who, as of the start of Term 3, have an existing injury or illness that will affect their participation in a standard practical examination must apply for an alternative format practical examination. These candidates will not have access to sickness/misadventure approval on the basis of this illness or injury. Those candidates who do not apply and do not sit the practical examination (or who sit but perform well below expectations) will receive a ‘non-genuine attempt’ for that examination. This may affect their achievement of their WACE and their ATAR. Please refer to items 46 and 47 in Circular 1 for more information. Circular 1 is available on the Authority website at www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/Circular_eCircular.

A Plan is a Work in Progress

I love watching people with ADHD master the skill of working a plan. It's something that many take for granted. If so, they have never seen the light go on in the eyes of a mum who realises that she can get through her huge family-related workload if she breaks her day up into visible (and sometimes audible) chunks. Or the student who realises that he can stay on top of his assignments if he works out a system that suits his learning styles and personal commitments. One of my best coaching moments was when Michael, (Scientist-in-the-Making), SMS-ed me to say that he didn't need to see me for a while because his studies were going so much more smoothly since he learned to plan his time. My goal is always to coach myself out of a job!

Of course, it's possible to be really good at planning your days on paper, but still be totally disorganised. For example, some people are Master Planners, producing colourful masterpieces in 3D, spending hours and hours drawing them up, and then ignoring them. Which means they have to start planning again -  and again and again.  A sort of "Procrastination by Planning". One client told me that if she could get her plan to look absolutely perfect, she could start her studies. We both knew, deep down, that perfect was never going to happen for her, and she settled for "workable".

So, merely allotting a time slot to an activity won't get it done. You actually have to work that plan. And that is another tricky skill to master. Coaching helps to develop strategies aimed at establishing the sacred habit of checking your plan at intervals best suited to you. For some, daily checking is sufficient.  Others need to set regular timers throughout the day to ensure that they check their plan regularly. That way they are less likely to go down the "Oh Look - Shiny!" route.

Another valuable lesson associated with planning is this: The only plans that work like clockwork are Royal Weddings. And why do they run so smoothly? Because they are rehearsed a gazillion times before the event. When you design your weekly planner, you do your best to allow for disruptions. You include all the commitments that you can possible think of for that week, and identify the best possible times for tasks you need to complete. But, as John Lennon said: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans". And you don't beat yourself up when life happens. Instead, you make a note of the disruption to your plan, and bear it in mind when you plan your next week. That way, you get better and better at anticipating disruptions, and allowing for them in your plan. Eventually you get it right!

When Planning, Remember

1. If you plan to do tasks, you are more likely to tackle them
2. Check your plan at least once a day and follow it
3. No beat-ups if life gets in the way - unless you are Royalty
4. When planning, refer to previous days/weeks. Learn from successes and challenges

You have to start somewhere - give it a go today!