Reader/writers assist students to overcome their learning difficulty during exams and practice assessments. If you would be interested in supporting Nayland College students in their assessments later in the year, please keep reading.

The NZQA website gives details regarding the role of being a reader/writer, some of which is included below. If you would like to sign up to be a volunteer reader/writer for Nayland College, please contact Kathy Sherwood via email kathy.sherwood@nayland.school.nz or alternatively phone 547 9769 ext 831.

Working as a Reader and Writer

The aim of the reader/writer is to assist the candidate to overcome their learning difficulty during an assessment activity for both internal and external (examinations), and for practice assessments. You may be reading the activity brief or questions for the candidate, or writing for the candidate, or reading and writing for the candidate.

Readers and writers need to be familiar with the vocabulary specific to the subject(s) they are assisting with. Familiarity with the subject matter is not required.

The Job of the Reader

• As a reader you are the eyes of the candidate.
• Both you and the candidate will have a copy of the assessment.
• You will read the assessment to the candidate clearly and at a speed they can follow.
• Make sure that they can easily hear what you are reading.
• They may ask you to re-read instructions or a passage. Do so clearly and wait for them to ask you to read again. You are not allowed to interpret the question or words for the candidate. To do so will invalidate their results.
• Please be patient if the candidate works slowly and avoid giving the candidate facial expressions or being hesitant if you see mistakes being made.
• Before they start writing check that the candidate is in the correct place.
• The candidate may use a computer for writing their answers. A reader is not allowed to use a computer for a candidate.
• A reader is not allowed to encourage or prompt the candidate to work harder or faster in the assessment. To do so will invalidate their results.

The Job of the Writer

• You are the hands of the candidate and it is your responsibility to write the answers for the candidate.
• Both you and the candidate will have a copy of the assessment.
• Make sure that you are writing any answers in the correct place.
• Make sure that the candidate can easily see what you are writing.
• Only write the words that they use and in the order that they say them to you.
• You are not allowed to interpret or to make suggestions about what you think the candidate is trying to write. To do so will invalidate their results.
• You are to spell all words correctly and may add punctuation.
• You must not copy any sentences that the candidate has written. They must speak their words to you.
• A candidate may sketch out a few ideas for long answers or essays in the working/planning space in their booklet. They may then read from this.
• The candidate must not write out a complete answer and then read it to you or have you copy it.
• The candidate may ask you to re-write, edit or amend an answer they have already given.
• Please be patient if the candidate works slowly and avoid giving the candidate facial expressions or being hesitant if you see or hear mistakes being made.
• A candidate may be required to draw a diagram or map etc. to show an independent command of the skill being shown. A writer may add words or labels only as directed by the student.
• A writer is not allowed to encourage or prompt the candidate to work harder or faster in the assessment. To do so will invalidate their results.
• For physically-disabled candidates, non-English answers may be written in a language assessment, but the candidate must spell each word and add accents as required.
• A writer must not write Chinese or Japanese script for any candidate.

For full details, please contact Kathy Sherwood and visit the NZQA website.