- Dr. Fiona Cornish, a GP in the city's famous university, noticed the spike
- Doctors provide sample letters to students for alternative exam arrangements
- One in four GCSE and A-level participants had extra time this summer
Students at the University of Cambridge have been accused of 'actively seeking' diagnoses of mental illness to gain extra time for exams.
Dr. Fiona Cornish, a GP in the city of the famous university, said she had noticed a 'huge spike' in students wanting a letter with a diagnosis before the exam period.
Doctors have been issued model letters stating that a student's medical condition has “affected their ability to prepare for or perform in their academic work or examinations.” They can then give these letters to their teacher before they start the assignment.
The university can then offer options for alternative examination arrangements, such as taking the paper to a quiet room or receiving 25 percent extra time.
Dr. Cornish claimed there has been a rise in the number of people diagnosed with ADHD who are 'too anxious to be in a large exam room'.
Dr. Fiona Cornish, a GP in the city of the famous university, said she noticed a 'huge spike' in students wanting a letter with a diagnosis before the exam period
The GP at Newnham Walk Surgery also believed this pattern was happening across the country as it was almost unheard of when she first started practicing thirty years ago.
Dr. Cornish said: “I think the pendulum has swung too far the other way. I don't know anyone who has been to an ADHD clinic and not come back with a diagnosis.
'Then you take amphetamine and perform better on exams.'
One in four GCSE and A-level participants had extra time this summer, the highest ever.
Many current students have had A-levels and GCSEs canceled due to lockdowns, meaning they have little experience of exam halls.