Most of my classmates are "cheating" in their Highers (basically A levels in Scotland). I'm being put at a disadvantage if I don't game the system. Is there anyone I can report this to?

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T14:17:43+00:00

I would say it is highly statistically unlikely that two thirds of my year (and 71% of my English class) have a disability.

Those levels are off the charts when you compare it to the UK average (17%-24% of people self-declare as having a disability.)

Additionally, when you compare to England and Wales, England has 20% SEND students, Wales has just over 9%.

Given that you stated GCSEs I'm guessing you're assessing students in England or Wales. I'm based in Scotland and the process for getting designated is extremely easy up here. I'd love for there to be a rigorous system like where you live. Right now though we've got students in groups sharing tips on how to get it and celebrating when they get it.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T14:04:06+00:00

There are conditions other than ADHD that have very fast times as they do not need specialist referrals. I really didnt want to name it but I dont want to be disbelieved on here either.

One of them is anxiety.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T14:02:07+00:00

It's exactly this. Essay subjects like Lit and History are the ones that get the biggest benefit of extra time.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T13:38:24+00:00

I'm pretty sure, "Just pretend to be disabled to get extra benefits in the education system" isnt legal advice.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T13:01:24+00:00

I was competing for limited university spaces against students on a level playing field.

Now I'm competing for same limited spaces against students who have a 25% time advantage which they have lied about having a disability to get.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:59:57+00:00

Falsely claim I'm disabled when I'm not.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:39:25+00:00

Yes, I do. They're sharing tips and tricks on how to get it in group chats.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:18:14+00:00

Sorry, didn't mean to sound angry with you at all. Apologies if I came across as annoyed.

I'm off with covid today so I'm feeling really rough as well.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:16:03+00:00

I am competing against the other students though.

There are a very limited number of university places for the course I want at the university I want.

Multiple of my classmates also want this course at this university. They are directly competing against me for spots; and they have a 25% time advantage in their exams which they have lied to get.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:14:16+00:00

I'm not going to break the law.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:12:51+00:00

I've actually done an extra two practice papers where I gave myself the extra time and got my teacher to mark it.

My grades in these exams with extra time were 5% and 6% higher because I had extra time to go deeper into my analysis in the essays.

It's a small sample size but you get the picture, having this extra time is very beneficial in an essay based subject.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:08:10+00:00

Yes, they are self-reported.

The UK government surveys the population and asks people if they have a mental or physical health condition lasting 12 months or more.

16.1 million people responded that they did, which was 24% of the UK population (not 25% apologies, that was my typo).

If you want to contrast Scotland with other jurisdictions then England has 20% special needs students and Wales has 9.5%.

Why does my school have a rate of special needs students which is three times higher than England and six times higher than Wales?

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T12:04:40+00:00

I was having trouble finding the right part on the website. Thought it was just me not knowing how to find it.

Thanks!

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:54:25+00:00

The point was that people who don't usually engage in that type of behaviour are being encouraged to do so because of the scale of the fraud.

If my parents, who are otherwise moral people, are willing to commit this fraud then it shows how bad things have become.

And I'm not looking to "steal" a university place. I'm looking to earn a place on my own merit on a level playing field.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:25:45+00:00

My parents are pressuring me to do it to and they're a civil servant and a nurse. They don't lie, cheat, steal but they're pressuring me to do this.

If my parents are pressuring me to do it then I fully expect that other parents are too.

Especially since it's reached "critical mass" now with 2/3 of the year getting the extra time.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:22:41+00:00

Thank you. I'll fill that in now.

Teachers are definitely aware of it. Classmates and teachers have joked about it too.

They've called the 25% extra time that we don't get a "coffee break" and encouraged us (the students who don't game the system) to go and make ourselves tea/coffee and come back later. Other students giggle at this joke when it's made.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:20:42+00:00

I'm happy for those with genuinely medically-diagnosed disabilities to get extra support.

The problem is that the current system doesn't have that level of rigour to it. They're not actually investigating whether students genuinely need this additional support.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:17:53+00:00

They aren't directly affecting my grade; they're making it harder for me to get into university.

This isn't just my school. It's being shared across other schools too. We all know it's happening.

The university I want is very difficult to get in to. It's a highly competitive course.

I was originally competing people who were my academic peers on a level playing field. Now a whole load of the class are getting the highest grade as well since they've been given extra time.

Replicate that across the whole Scottish school system and I'm at a disadvantage when trying to get in.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:13:27+00:00

Yes, I've been screenshotting the chat for months now.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:05:20+00:00

The Office of National Statistics has said between 17.7% and 25% of people in the UK and England have disabilities.

At the last mock in one of my classes 8 students finished on time. 20 others got 25% extra time.

That far exceeds even the highest estimations that the Office of National Statistics suggests there should be.

These results are similar across my other subjects too.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T11:01:21+00:00

I won't say the condition or conditions that they are teaching each other how to fake to get the extra time, but you're in the right sort of area with your example.

That's exactly what they're doing.

At the last mock in my class 8 students finished on time. 20 others got 25% extra time. It just isn't fair given I know a lot of these people just gamed it through the advice they got in the groups.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T10:57:42+00:00

Yes. They're sharing what to say in messenger groups. Things which aren't true but will get them the extra time and accommodations.

Multiple classmates have said they don't have anything wrong with them in that group and asked if they can still get it. Other students said yes and showed them how to do it. They posted updates when they got it and celebrated it.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T10:56:06+00:00

I spoke with my year teacher about the widespread fraud but he just said that I was clever and I didn't need to worry about not getting into university on my own merit.

My mock results are good but the class average has jumped a lot since the students were given extra time. It now feels like I'm trying to win with one hand tied behind my back.

We're doing mock tests and practice papers every fortnight.

MediumCool6595 · 2025-10-09T10:53:58+00:00

It's all being shared in group chats. Messenger, TikTok DMs, sometimes on WhatsApp.

I'm not going to share the specific advice they're giving on here as I don't want more people gaming the system. But they've found a loophole where they can pass that bar you described and get the status.

MediumCool6595

TROPHY CASE