Training Book Section

 

Accessibility Problems in Exams for People with Dyslexia

Personal Experience Example

Some students with dyslexia find that exam questions are not always clear or accessible.

For example:

A student may read a question like this:

Question:
What is the capital of England?

A. London
B. Manchester
C. Birmingham

The student chooses London, which is correct.

However, the real question might actually say:

What is not the capital of England?

If the word “not” is small, unclear, or easy to miss, the student may misunderstand the question.

This is not because the student does not know the answer.
It happens because the question is difficult to read clearly.

---

Why This Happens

Students with dyslexia can experience:

• Difficulty noticing small words like not, except, or least

• Problems with dense text or crowded pages

• Difficulty with small print

• Confusing sentence structures

These problems become worse when exam papers:

• Use small fonts

• Use long or complicated sentences

• Do not highlight important words

• Use double negatives

---

Example of an Accessible Question

❌ Hard to read:

Which of the following is not the capital city of England?

---

✅ More accessible:

Which city below is NOT the capital of England?

A. London
B. Manchester
C. Birmingham

(Important words clearly shown.)

---

Another Better Example

London is the capital city of England.

Which city below is NOT the capital?

A. Manchester
B. London
C. Paris

This format makes the meaning clearer.

---

Important Lesson for Educators

Exams should test knowledge, not reading confusion.

Accessible exam papers help ensure that students with conditions such as:

• Dyslexia

• Dyspraxia

• Dyscalculia

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

are tested fairly.

---

Exam Accessibility Improvements

Good exam design includes:

✔ Clear language
✔ Large font
✔ Short questions
✔ Highlighted key words
✔ No trick wording
✔ No double negatives

Example words that often cause confusion:

• NOT

• EXCEPT

• LEAST

• MOST

These should always be clearly highlighted.

---

Training Activity (Workbook Version)

Activity

Read the question.

Which one is the capital of England?

A. London
B. Manchester
C. Birmingham

Now read the next question.

Which one is NOT the capital of England?

A. London
B. Manchester
C. Birmingham

Question:

Why might someone accidentally choose London in the second question?

Answer: Because the word NOT may be easy to miss.

---

PowerPoint Training Slide Example

Slide Title
Why Exam Questions Must Be Clear

Example:

Which city is NOT the capital of England?

If the word NOT is missed, the student may give the wrong answer.

The problem is the question design, not the student's knowledge.

---

This Section Is Very Valuable

Your experience adds lived experience evidence, which is extremely important in disability awareness.

It shows that accessibility issues affect:

• exams

• training materials

• government documents

• healthcare information

---

This Will Strengthen Your Book

We can include a special section called:

Lived Experiences of Dyslexia

Topics could include:

• Exam paper difficulties

• Missing small words like “not”

• Small print problems

• Reading pressure in exams

• Extra time and accessibility

• Stress and anxiety in testing

This would fit very well with your awareness work on learning disabilities and accessibility.