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Post by Tyke on Dec 9, 2016 15:59:11 GMT
Hi,
I've just been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 33, I have coped ok so far and managed to get through uni and on to a professional career. I've so far avoided post grad exams via having a couple of kids, but I'm staring down the barrel of a big (and not cheap!) exam at the end of January. It's online at one of the driving test centres.
I clicked today, after misreading the umpteenth question when revising online, I managed MCQs at uni by drawing on them on the question paper, underlining, highlighting etc so I had to take it in properly. Obviously that's not possible in a computer based test; I've done one other long test like that and didn't do very well.
I've not long started concerta and am still on the lowest dose so I know I can up it but I want to be practical too incase I can't tolerate anything higher.
So basically - any top tips how to get round this? Any help very much appreciated!
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Post by easilydistracted on Dec 9, 2016 19:11:53 GMT
Hi Tyke Unfortunately your post is hidden waiting moderation ( just in case your post is trying to sell fitted kitchens or viagra, or both... hmm, does your kitchen excite you? No? Then try these! ) It does look like your post is valid so I'll brave the wrath of the admins K, this is of personal interest to me too, I also have to take computer based exams, frankly, they suck for all the reasons you've said. Actually, no-one likes them for all those reasons. You are allowed paper and pencil? If it's numbers scribble them down (yes, I know this another opportunity to introduce errors but... it's better than scrolling up and down the screen, you can then cross them off/circle etc. You have a DX, speak to the examining body, they may permit you more time. Heck they may even give you a copy of the printed test paper. If all else fails, try my method, arrive late and full of red-bull! Has worked for me so far Good luck and tell us how you get on. Even better, register and stick around
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tyke
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 4
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Post by tyke on Dec 9, 2016 20:01:13 GMT
Lol, so far the plan for exam day is chill out as much as possible in the morning so I don't go in completely wired....it's 200 questions over 3hr so writing the questions down won't work!
TBH I never thought I needed extra time as I was always the first to finish multiple choice (written) papers. And I think I'm still in the 'I've managed so far, I don't need special treatment' frame of mind (always stubborn, it's taken long enough to capitulate and take meds) - but I will have a look at what the examiners can offer. A printed copy of the exam would be amazing if they'd allow it. And maybe the extra time so I don't feel panicked and rush.
I've registered and def plan to stick around - whilst I've naturally developed a lot of the coping techniques now I'm starting to understand how I'm wired I'm realising I still have a lot to learn. My two brothers have ADHD and I babysat kids with it so have had a lifetime of observing but never thinking it applied to me.
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Post by easilydistracted on Dec 9, 2016 20:28:08 GMT
200 questions in 3 hrs??? That's 54 seconds per question!!! OK, that's good and it's bad Bad first... Keeping yourself going for the whole 3hrs will be the hardest part, you need every weapon in the armoury. Your dx, redbull and sugary sweets! In that order! DX, ask, *now*, for permission for a short walkabout or two, not too long, you want to keep your head in as much as possible, but it's there if you need it. Extra time too, same. Caffeine is slow and relatively stable, start tapering that in half way through. Sugary sweets, last half hour, no earlier, you'll rocket and crash. The Good (and it's a very good! ) Well, 54 seconds per question, the questions will be short - you won't have time to scroll or highlight, it's first answer is best answer and that's where we are best
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tyke
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 4
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Post by tyke on Dec 9, 2016 22:13:29 GMT
Ugh, just read the 'reasonable adjustment' from my examining body and apparently if you request paper based you have to evidence how you have this adaptation in the work place...in my mind it's pretty different things but they're going to take some convincing. Bleugh. You have to be escorted out for any drinks... My big problem is I read, think I know the answer, jump to that....and I haven't read it properly. Or the stats...I get frustrated and jump to conclusions rather than take it step by step.
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Post by easilydistracted on Dec 9, 2016 23:15:47 GMT
You said you only recently got your dx, have you told your work yet? My work certainly has a few people who are "allowed to go for a wander every now and then..." When they said they wanted a paperless office I said NOOOOO! If it's important I print it and put it front of me ( alas it all to often gets buried in the pile of important things in front of me, but for a short while it works... ) I haven't had my dx through in writing yet, at that point I'll tell the work ( it also allows me to try the medication for a couple of weeks without feeling like I'm be watched ). At that point the work will then get in an occupational therapist who will no doubt make my life a hell of rules, my company likes rules. Anyway! Looking at the above, what have we? printouts and wanders! My big problem is I read, think I know the answer, jump to that....and I haven't read it properly. Or the stats...I get frustrated and jump to conclusions rather than take it step by step. Yep, same here! To be honest, the exam you describe may not be the worst kind of exam except in duration, 3 hrs is a long time. At 54 seconds per question, leaping to conclusions might be your best bet.
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Post by computermandan on Jan 5, 2017 0:23:31 GMT
Having a long overdue nose about... out of interest what kind of exam are you taking? I hate those toilet cubicles without doors test centres but I've done SO many IT exams in them I've kind of perfected my own strategies... honestly there is only one way to do well for me. Consume practice papers as if they are brain food... an absolute stressy nightmare of a reading procrastination mega hell... but it works for me in the end. If it's IT based them "braindumps" and many others - its the familiarity with the waffling background text that means i dont end up reading Q1 fifteen times before I'm happy i didnt answer backwards Shout if i can be of any help... i THINK this tapatalk app will notify me?? Good luck with it otherwise!
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Post by easilydistracted on Jan 6, 2017 22:18:43 GMT
computermandan, absolutely +1 on the practice papers. I too have a hell of a difficulty staying on track reading notes, so doing the practice papers and only flicking back to the notes if I have a problem works very well for me too. The questions tend to be shorter as well during the exam than in the practice assessments (mine are AAT - accounting*). So if you can do them you can do the ones in the exam much more easily. The practice papers will also expose you to all the different ways the question might be posed. *Which is kinda comical given my crazy poor attention to detail... but another part of me also finds the patterns and rules in the numbers really easy! Written questions (as in answers in writing) are however, for me, a whole new category of hell that I don't know how I'm going to get through.
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