Assessment Needs in GCSE Examinations: Some student perspectives

This article explains the conceptual link between the special assessment needs of disabled; GCSE examination candidates and the assessment needs of ordinary, non-disabled; candidates within the context of the available guidance. It reports the results of a study sampling the views and experiences of 66 ordinary GCSE mock examination candidates by questionnaire or interview. The findings indicate a range of potential insufficiencies in ordinary examination arrangements which are testimony to the value of a student perspective in the EP assessment of assessment needs. The results challenge the validity of the distinction between special and ordinary assessment needs as presently constructed and also suggest the utility of more evidence-based functional data. Future research could usefully elucidate how the range of GCSE examination assessment needs are manifest and for whom. This may lead to examination arrangements that are maximally inclusive and offer equality of opportunity to both disabled and non-disabled candidates alike.