Dyslexia and spelling difficulties: how to prepare for the brevet and the bac with this condition?
National exams are stressful milestones for all pupils, and particularly for those with dysorthographia. But with the right arrangements, suitable preparation and the right tools, it is entirely possible to succeed in the brevet and the baccalauréat despite this condition.
The arrangements you are entitled to
Pupils with dysorthographia may benefit from official arrangements during national exams. Extra time — 33% additional time for each paper — is the best-known arrangement. Using a computer with a spell-checker is possible in many cases. Spelling is generally not penalised in subjects other than French. And in some cases, reading assistance with exam papers may be provided.
How to obtain these arrangements?
Requests for exam arrangements must be made well in advance — ideally from Year 9 for the brevet and from Year 11 for the bac. The request goes through the school doctor, who compiles a file based on recent speech and language therapy assessments. Processing times can be long, so do not wait until the final year to start the process. And if the pupil has already benefited from a PAP, exam arrangements are generally granted more easily.
Preparing for the exams with the right tools
If the pupil will be using a computer during the exams, they must practise regularly throughout the year — particularly writing under conditions close to the exam. Revision techniques should be adapted to a dysorthographic profile: oral revision, audio recordings of lessons, mind maps, summary sheets with little writing.
Managing exam stress
Exam stress is often amplified in dysorthographic pupils, who fear not having enough time to proofread and correct their work. Stress-management techniques — cardiac coherence, progressive relaxation — can be learnt and practised in advance so that they are available on the day. The speech and language therapist can incorporate these aspects of psychological preparation into the final sessions before the exams.
Knowing your rights and asserting them
Too many dysorthographic pupils reach the brevet or the bac without arrangements, having failed to complete the process in time. Knowing your rights and asserting them is essential. The circular from the Ministry of National Education on exam arrangements sets out in detail the rights of every pupil with a confirmed condition. For comprehensive resources on exam arrangements for DYS pupils, lesdys.fr offers up-to-date practical guides.
