Using WordQ SpeakQ in Exams

Exams taking place in a hall

“The school got WordQ on our daughter’s laptop. She started saying, ‘I’m writing like a pro’ and she actually was! Why wasn’t this software provided to her years ago? After years of struggling to write and being left out she was putting her words down and doing well. It came just in time for her GCSE exams and she passed, which we didn’t think would happen. So yes we like this software.”

Lyse, Mother.

New Access Arrangements

Since September 2015, assistive software has been permissible for use in both GCSE and GCE A Level exams (Joint Council for Qualifications, 2015).

What Software is allowed in Exams?

Only assistive software that students are using as their normal way of studying day to day to assist reading/typing is permissible (Joint Council for Qualifications, 2015). The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is a council acting as a single voice for the six largest qualification providers in the UK offering GCSE, GCE, Scottish Highers and vocationally related qualifications:

  • England, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • AQA Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
    • CCEA Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment
    • Edexcel Edexcel
    • OCR Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations
    • WJEC Welsh Joint Education Committee
  • Scotland
    • SQA Scottish Qualifications Authority

Easy to use in Exams

Examiners simply activate the software’s ‘Exam Mode’ to ensure students receive appropriate and permissible assistance during the examinations:

Word Q Speak Q Exam conditions screen

Exam Benefits for Students & Schools

Students get the opportunity to be independent and self-sufficient, rather than depend on exam scribes which will not be available to them as they move forward in life.

WordQ SpeakQ saves time and money spent on exam scribes/readers.