Missed Exams

What do you do if you miss an exam?
Picture of a jigsaw puzzle with a missing jigsaw piece


  • And the reasoning for missing you exam is...

Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances an exam has to be missed.  For example, maybe you got seriously sick or heaven forbid you were involved in an accident on the day of the exam, a close family member dies, there is a domestic crisis.  These circumstances are counting as extenuating circumstances.  The first port of call is to contact your teacher/school and they will be able to help you through.  If you are seriously sick you may be asked to prove this with a doctor's note or medical records.  Death notes may also be required.  You may then be able to sit the exam at a later date or sometimes marks are decided from coursework and other exams in the subject including classwork.

It should be noted that sometimes the exam centre or where your sitting the exam messes up.  For example, you may be given the wrong paper, their may be a disturbance in the exam room (e.g. fire), the recording devise is not working for an oral exam or even the centre hasn't taken the previously agreed steps to make it possible for you to sit the exam (e.g. disability access, scribes, readers).  These are also counted as extenuating circumstances and it may again be possible for you to resit or for other arrangements to be made.

Additionally, sometimes for religious reasons or a student has to attend an event (e.g. a sports event) may be taken into account.  However, for these events alternative arrangements should usually be pre-planned with the teacher/school/relevant exam bodies.

  • Don't Panic

It is easy to say but you are more likely to think logically if your not in a complete tis.

  • Is there still time...?

Maybe you woke up late or you can make the last 45 minutes of the exam.  It may be better to sit some of the exam and get a low pass than to sit none of the exam and get a fail.

  • Can you resit?

It may be worth finding out if you can resit the exam maybe next year or at college.

Finally it is by no means a good thing to miss an exam and you should try to attend if possible.  The Joint Council For Qualifications has a booklet on the special consideration process.  It details exactly what is regarded as extenuating circumstances and when allowances will be made and when not.  It also goes into detail about how they are calculated.  To read the booklet click here.

Do you have any other suggestions to help your fellow students?  Leave your comments below.

Looking for further exam support?  Visit RK Tutors at http://rebecca.kesler.co.uk for more info on tutoring services both on-line or at home.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Tips To Start Revision The Way You Want

Image
How to Learn - Revision Tip 1: Be Prepared The number one tip I have is being prepared.   The more prepared you feel the less anxious you are likely to be in your exam.   It is normal to feel a certain amount of nerves but it is managing and controlling them that is actually half the battle.   This is why I am writing this blog post at the beginning of the year because this will definitely mean you have lots of time to revise and get prepared.   For further information on designing a timetable click here . Tip 2: Where You Revise Some studies have found that actually revising in the type of situation or place where you are going to sit your exam can actually boost your results.   This is why you may sometimes see someone revising in a hall where an exam is going to be.   However, this can actually be a little too far for some people. Thomas Frank produced an excellent YouTube video that is an  overview on preparing your study space before an exam.  See below:
Read more

Holy War on Exams

Image
In the news there have been reports that some Jews have been having problems getting exams rearranged for religious reasons.  As you are probably aware the Jewish festival Shavuot is coming up.  This festival is a time when Jews celebrate the giving of the Torah (the Jewish bible).  Jews eat milky foods and decorate places with flowers to celebrate. The exam period clashes with Shavuot and there has been some discussions with the universities as to whether Jewish students should be allowed to take the exams at a different time to their classmates.  According to Jewish News Online at least 56 cases have been reported where students have been affected by the clash. Interestingly Muslim students have also been affected by exam clashes.  For Muslims it is Eid - the breaking of the fast at the end of Ramadan.  Nora Shelley reported that students at UCT will have the option to take their exams the day after to allow time for prayer. In Jamaica Adventists want to change the
Read more

Designing a Timetable (Part 1) - Creating a Revision List

Image
Exam Technique: Preparation & How to Revise Yes it is only the beginning of the year and most students are enjoying their final days before school starts.   So you are probably wondering why I am talking about revision so early on in the school year.   If you start your revision now at the beginning of the year it will mean you are well prepared for your exams in the summer and the mocks in the winter.   Feeling prepared will relieve exam nerves and stress (see my post on coping with exam stress ).   You won't need to have the late night cramming session or be exhausted before taking the exam. Sometimes actually creating a topic revision list can be more daunting than actually the process of revision.   It is important to have a good grasp of what you need to revise as well as how to revise and sometimes this is overlooked.   This blog post is going to concentrate on the what of revision! Start Revising at the Beginning --------------------------------------
Read more