Dyspraxic Adults

Hi, I have not yet been diagnosed with Dyspraxia, but was told long ago at University that I might have it (I am now 37)

A lot of the points about Dyspraxia apply to me and it would do a lot to explain the reason why I am! I am so slow at everything I do, I take ages getting ready, I'm always late, I'm completely chaotic, unorganised, untidy, my flat is chaos....I drive myself and other people mad! However as I have not yet been properly diagnosed, I just need to ask a question.

The main reason why my uni thought I might have it is because I was having trouble with exams in that I couldn't finish them in the time given. I've had this problem since primary school, throughout my GCSE's, A levels, etc and never finished a paper and therefore, my grades were never that good. My teachers coudln't understand though, as they said I was really bright, but just mucked up my exams.

Anyway, this exam problem has reared its ugly head again, as a few years ago I decided to do CIMA which is professional accountancy exams....I've been working in finance for years and the reason why I didn't do it when I started was because I was scared of the same thing happening with the time issue....well anyway it has - I only ever manage to finish a maximum of 75% of the paper, while my colleagues sit there at the end of the exam and check their work. I have managed to pass a lot of them so far miraculously as the pass mark is 50% and I have been managing to get 75% of what I do complete, right. But as the levels become more time pressured, I have now hit a wall. I today took an exam for the 4th time and I know I have failed it again. It was a total disaster, my brain froze and I only got through around 55% of the paper, the worst its ever been........Believe me its not because I don't know the work, I do...I've had mocks done and marked and what I do complete I get 70% correct, I just don't do enough of the paper.

Is this something that people with dyspraxia or dyslexia have experienced...is not being able to finish exams a common theme? I would really like to know if I am barking up the wrong tree here and then just put it down to me being slow/thick....I just don;t know anymore.....its just getting me so down and depressed. If I could just get some extra time in the exam it would make all the difference to me.

Any advice would be most gratefully received.

Thanks

Carla

im dyspraxic and dyslexic which seem to go hand in hand with each other i had the same problem as you...you are not thick just need extra time to get the answer. I now get extra time in exams which takes the pressure off and i can get to the end of the exam paper. I strongly suggest you see your employer and discuss this with them dont let it hinder your career anymore when time is all you need. goodluck

In my time at Uni I used the "good study guide" for learning how to write essays and exams.
Published by the Open University.

Have you ever had instruction in exam technique because the book's got it if you haven't ? The principle also applies I think generally to all exams-whether its essay answers or numerate stuff.Though I have more experience of written answers exam techniques than anything with numbers.

Say you've got 3 questions to do in three hours.

Like in an essay underline the key words in each question so that your mind is directly focused on what the question is asking.

Spend about five minutes just jotting down on spare paper anything that comes to mind thats relevant to the question from the course.

Dosen't matter what the order is -it's just about getting what you know out of your brain onto paper.

Spend another ten minutes using this for an essay plan.(Or doing you working.)

That leaves approx 45 minutes for your actual answer (adjusting all of this for any extra time your given) Watch your alloted time.Use your own watch put on the exam desk if you have to besides any exam room clock to keep you on schedule.

Repeat process with other 2 questions.

Result,hopefully, you do yourself justice in completing ALL questions .If theres any multiple choice then you just have to give youself an average in the case of say 30 questions to be answered in an hour 2 minutes per question.

P.S Unless the exam is a real walk in the park nobody should have that much time left over checking their answers if the've made maximum use of the allocated time and preperation before the exam for maximum performance. I learned to just ignore what other exam candidates were doing.Especially when I usually ended up beating them anyway !