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| Dyslexic student's exams battle | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A medical student with dyslexia is to take legal action in a bid to prevent the use of multiple choice exams as part of doctors' training. | A medical student with dyslexia is to take legal action in a bid to prevent the use of multiple choice exams as part of doctors' training. |
| Naomi Gadian, 21, claims the use of the tests discriminates against people with the condition and is challenging the General Medical Council to scrap them. | Naomi Gadian, 21, claims the use of the tests discriminates against people with the condition and is challenging the General Medical Council to scrap them. |
| The second year student hopes medical schools may have to drop the exams if she wins at an employment tribunal. | The second year student hopes medical schools may have to drop the exams if she wins at an employment tribunal. |
| The GMC says it has no powers to set medical examinations. | The GMC says it has no powers to set medical examinations. |
| Ms Gadian claims that, as a professional body which awards qualifications, the GMC is discriminating against her on the grounds of disability. | Ms Gadian claims that, as a professional body which awards qualifications, the GMC is discriminating against her on the grounds of disability. |
| She said: "In normal day life, you don't get given multiple choice questions to sit. Your patients aren't going to ask you 'here's an option and four answers. Which one is right?'" | She said: "In normal day life, you don't get given multiple choice questions to sit. Your patients aren't going to ask you 'here's an option and four answers. Which one is right?'" |
| Letter order | Letter order |
| If she wins and medical schools have to look at changing their testing systems, other trade bodies may have to follow suit, her solicitor John MacKenzie said. | If she wins and medical schools have to look at changing their testing systems, other trade bodies may have to follow suit, her solicitor John MacKenzie said. |
| He added: "Every professional body or employer who relies for a professional qualification, or as a promotional gateway, on multiple choice questions is heading for a fall." | He added: "Every professional body or employer who relies for a professional qualification, or as a promotional gateway, on multiple choice questions is heading for a fall." |
| Ms Gadian, who got an A and two Bs in her A-level exams, has been at the Peninsula Medical School for two years. It was founded in 2000 by the universities of Exeter and Plymouth. | |
| "I read much slower than other people ... I'll also jump words," she said. | |
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| She says essays and practicals have not been a problem - but she may have to leave because of poor results in multiple choice exams. | |
| "They don't let me express my knowledge." | |
| The school says it makes adjustments for those with dyslexia, which affects the reading and spelling abilities of some 10% of the population. | |
| It will not discuss her situation but says it takes the issue seriously. Over the last two years nine of its students with dyslexia have qualified as doctors. | |
| Oxford University neuroscientist Professor John Stein, who has been studying dyslexia for 25 years, says poor eye co-ordination is at the root of the condition. | Oxford University neuroscientist Professor John Stein, who has been studying dyslexia for 25 years, says poor eye co-ordination is at the root of the condition. |
| He said: "Dyslexics confuse the order of letters because their eye control is not ideal." | He said: "Dyslexics confuse the order of letters because their eye control is not ideal." |
| Prof Stein added that dyslexics were disadvantaged at any exams, not just multiple choice, which is why they were often given extra time to complete their papers. | |
| The GMC says it cannot comment on this case. | |
| It says it does not have the power to decide what adjustments should be made for students with disabilities. | |
| Do you suffer from dyslexia? Do you believe multiple choice exams are discriminatory for people with this condition? Send your comments using the form below: | Do you suffer from dyslexia? Do you believe multiple choice exams are discriminatory for people with this condition? Send your comments using the form below: |