[senco-forum] Assessing processing speed for extra time

Dear Barbara,

What tests I use for assessing processing speed so as to get extra time  
for GCSE, depends on the reason why I think the student needs extra 
time. If it is for writing speed, then I use the Allcock and the figures 
Allcock states are required to get extra time, and I do not often back 
it up with other tests. However, you could use the One-Minute Writing 
speed test from the Dyslexia Screening Test and see if their writing is 
slow or whether their slow performance on the Allcock is due to a slow 
thinking  and processing speed. You could , if you wished, back it up 
with the manual speed scores for the Morrisby Manual Dexterity Test (not 
the manual skill scores) - cannot be used for anyone under 14 years old.

If it is for reading speed, which seems to be the main problem in the 
students I see, and I therefore assess reading speed first, then I use a 
variety of tests.  There is a dearth of silent reading speed tests 
around, so  I  use the Kirklees, which is a group reading test that 
should be completed in 10 minutes, and I see how long it takes them to 
complete it (ie I see whether they take 25% extra time (i.e. take 12 1/2 
minutes or longer to complete it). This works well.  I then back this up 
by using the TOWRE timed single-word reading test, and 2 or 4 of the 
rapid naming tests in the CTOPP ( PhAB's ceiling is 14/11- so it cannot 
be used for all Year 10 students). Both the TOWRE and CTOPP work very 
well. I also use the age-appropriate silent test on the Spadafore 
Diagnostic Reading tests, time it, work out their reading speed then get 
them to answer the comprehension questions without referring to the 
passage and see how many they can answer. If they have difficulty, then 
I allow them to refer back to the passage and see whether their can 
answer the comprehension questions  if they can refer to the passage 
(this will show whether or not comprehension is a problem or whether 
they just need to re-read the passage in order to be able to comprehend 
it.)  If you are dealing with dyslexics here, then the majority will 
have to re-read and need extra time to do so.  If I suspect there is a 
comprehension problem, or if I am applying to the Boards for more than 
25% extra time,  for example,  if  a student normally has a reader and 
25% extra time, but the 25% extra time will not be sufficient if the 
student cannot have a reader in English etc, then I use the GORT-4, 
which is a read aloud test and gives a standardised score for reading 
speed (and for comprehension)if .

There is a new test out, which I haven't used, but I learnt about it at 
a recent course I went on - produced by Hodder. The Hodder Oral Reading 
Tests. Website says it assesses single-word reading, sentence reading 
and reading speed assessment, for ages 5 to 16+ , so it would be quicker 
to administer and is quite cheap to buy, but I know very little about 
it. See 

http://www.hoddertests.co.uk/tfsearch/ks2/reading/hort.htm

(Looking at the website, it seems as though this may have a timed 
single-word reading test in it).

As regards, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) - I have it, but 
rarely use it with children and teenagers, as I usually find that the 
student has a slow processing speed on reading and the CTOPP rapid 
naming tests, but this does not always show up using the SDMT. I find 
the Morrisby Manual Dexterity Test better. However, the SDMT works 
really well with adults, and it may work on a pupil with a very slow 
writing speed. It is similar to the Coding test on the WISC, but I 
understand it is the inverse of it i.e. in the SDMT you are given 
symbols and you have to enter the matching numbers onto the sheet, using 
the key you are given. I understand that in the WISC you are given 
numbers on the sheet and you have to enter in the matching symbols, 
using the key you are given.

Regards,
Janet
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> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:47:34 -0000
> From: "Barbara Horsfall Turner" <barbht at saqnet.co.uk>
> Subject: [senco-forum] Assessing processing speed for extra time
> To: <senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <000001c73bf1$e725f4d0$0100a8c0 at BarbhtP43Gb>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> We have been using Alcock timed writing to do this and altho it seems to be
> acceptable we're not really happy with it
>
> Since the real reason for extra time has to be slow reading or slow
> processing  ( never mind what it says in the guidelines these are actually
> the justifications) and since GCSE is aimed at the average pupil the
> reading/processing has to be slower than average 
>
> I've been asked to see if I can find out what others use as a measure of
> processing speed ( no doubt I should have followed all the correspondance on
> this topic so I apologise but please can you let me know! )
>
> Barbara ht
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