Special Examinations and Special Consideration

This web page may be updated during the semester

• Special Consideration
• Special Examination Arrangements
• Special Examinations
• What's It All About?

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What's It All About?

Students are expected to be available for scheduled examinations.

Students should never assume that they are entitled to a Special Exam.

Lecturers may not offer a Special Examination without Faculty Office consent.

If you have a long term illness, or other long term problems

If at all possible, you should the attempt the scheduled examination under Special Examination Arrangements and/or with Special Consideration.

If you are ill prior to, or on, the day of the examination

If at all possible, you should the attempt the scheduled examination and then request Special Consideration.

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Special Examinations

Rule 9(1) of the Examinations (The Faculties) Rules states:

The Dean may permit a candidate who was eligible to take an examination in a course but was unable to attend the examination to take such Special Examination as the Dean determines.

Special Examinations are primarily to cover serious medical conditions and unavoidable circumstances which prevent a student attending the examination.

Unavoidable circumstances are those which:

• could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student; and
• were beyond the student's control

Some circumstances which will not normally be acceptable as grounds for a Special Examination are:

• routine demands of employment;
• routine family problems such as domestic tension with or between parents, spouses, or other people closely involved with the student;
• difficulties adjusting to university life, and the demands of academic work;
• stress or anxiety associated with examinations or any aspect of academic work;
• routine need for financial support;
• demands of sports, clubs, and social or extra-curricular activities;
• family or personal travel arrangements;
• examinations scheduled consecutively or close to one another.

If you know in advance that you will be unable to attend a scheduled examination

Some circumstances which will normally be acceptable as grounds for a Special Examination on provision of supporting documents are:

• a member of the armed forces involved in compulsory exercises;
• a person in full-time employment required to be overseas by his or her employer;
• a person representing Australia, or their State/Territory, at a national or international sporting or cultural event;
• a person on jury duty;
• religious obligations;
• relevant educational purpose (eg commencement of northern hemisphere course).

Requests falling within the above acceptable circumstances must be submitted prior to the examination date with appropriate documentation.

If you miss a scheduled examination

A Special Examination must be requested within 72 hours of the scheduled examination.

Special Examinations for medical reasons are designed to cover serious medical conditions and emergencies, such as illness or injury requiring hospital admission.

Students must provide appropriate evidence of any medical condition being cited as the reason for non-attendance. In the case of illness or accident, students must attend a doctor or medical clinic on the day of the examination, unless there are special and documented circumstances.

Misreading, misunderstanding, or failure to read an examination timetable, will not normally be considered as grounds for a Special Examination.

Special Examinations are not necessarily held at the same time as the Supplementary Examinations.
A Special Examination may be held before the scheduled examination.

Applying for Special Examinations

To apply for a Special Exam, you must complete the ANU APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL EXAMINATION(S) form. (Hardcopies of the form are available from the DCS General Office and the FEIT Faculty Office.)

Read the notes on page 2 of the form and make sure that you follow all instructions.

It is preferable for students to obtain a copy of the form before seeing their doctor/counsellor if the application is being made for medical/counselling reasons.
It is the lecturers' choice whether they accept or decline a form with just a medical certificate attached, without the doctor having completed the medical section on page 4 of the form.

An application for a Special Exam must be submitted within 72 hours after the examination date if the student unexpectedly misses a scheduled exam, or anytime (as soon as possible) before the examination date if the student knows in advance that s/he is not going to be able to attend a scheduled examination.
Lecturers can choose to decline an application if it is submitted after 72 hours from the scheduled exam date.

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Special Examination Arrangements

Rule 5(1) of the Examinations (The Faculties) Rules states:

A candidate with a temporary or chronic disability who has dealt with the University's Disability Services Unit in relation to his or her disability may ask the Unit to determine special examination arrangements for the candidate for an examination, including, but not limited to additional reading or writing time, the provision of special equipment, separate accommodation or the services of an amanuensis.

Requests for Special Examination Arrangements should be made to the DCS General Office no less than two weeks before the scheduled date of the exam. This will allow time for the Examinations Office to make the necessary arrangements.

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Special Consideration

Students may request Special Consideration where they consider their academic performance may have been affected by circumstances during preparation for the examination or during the period of taking the examination.

For circumstances during preparation for the exam, the student must submit the request, with appropriate evidence, to the DCS General Office before the examination is held.

If, during the examination, a candidate is ill, or there are any other conditions that affect the examination process, this should be reported to an invigilator. The invigilator will prepare a report that will be sent to the Faculty.

Applying for Special Consideration

To apply for Special Consideration, you must complete the ANU APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (EXAMINATIONS/ASSESSMENT) form. (Hardcopies of the form are available from the DCS General Office and the FEIT Faculty Office.)

Read the notes on page 2 of the form and make sure that you follow all instructions.

It is preferable for students to obtain a copy of the form before seeing their doctor/counsellor if the application is being made for medical/counselling reasons.
It is the lecturers' choice whether they accept or decline a form with just a medical certificate attached, without the doctor having completed the medical section on page 4 of the form.

An application for Special Consideration must be submitted before the examination, or straight after the examination (in the next available office hours), to the DCS General Office.
Any application after the date of the exam does not have to be considered, and students are not to expect a response from the lecture or the Department in regards to their application. Lecturers can email or call students for more information if required.

The submission of a Special Consideration form does not mean that the student's request is automatically granted. It is completely at the discretion of the lecturer.

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