YANOS Soubieski, who attended King Alfred’s College, in Wantage, was told he was dyslexic part way through his sixth-form studies.

Last year, the 18-year-old got a U in History and a D in English Literature at AS-Level. But after the diagnosis and with the extra exam time he was now entitled to, he improved his results and has secured a place at university.

He said: “In the first year, I underperformed and didn’t do as well as I would have liked. I had just struggled. I was always slow in reading and slow in writing. In English you have to read a passage before the exam. Everyone was writing their answers and I was still stuck reading.”

But after a former teacher encouraged him to take a dyslexia test last December, he was diagnosed with the learning disability, which meant he was allowed extra time to complete his exams.

Yanos managed to get three Bs and a C. He will now study politics and international relations at university.

He said: “There was not one exam I would have been able to finish properly without that extra time. It turned out to be the key to get me into Reading University.”