Level 2 Study Guide 2012-13 Biosciencesx - Swansea University

Appeals against decisions taken by College Special Circumstances Committees or the
University’s Students Cases Committee in relation to extenuating circumstances shall not
normally be considered.
5. Extenuating Circumstances affecting examinations
5.1. Special examination arrangements
A student with a temporary impairment which might make participating in an examination difficult
should contact his/her Personal Tutor or the appropriate Examinations Officer and the
University’s Examinations Office in the Academic Registry as it may be appropriate for special
arrangements to be put in place to enable to student to participate in the examination. This may
include allowing the student to take the assessment in a smaller room, use of an amanuensis,
use of a computer, and so on.
In cases where such special arrangements are inappropriate, the extenuating circumstances
policy should be used instead.
5.2. Process for the consideration of extenuating circumstances relating to
examinations – request for deferral:
A student who is affected by extenuating circumstances before an examination to such an extent
that his/her performance is likely to be significantly affected should not sit the examination.
Instead, such students should submit a request for a deferral of that examination (i.e. a further
opportunity to undertaken the examination at a future date).
A student who is taken ill during an examination must inform the invigilator either during or
immediately after the examination and before leaving the examination venue. A record of this will
be made by the invigilator which the student can subsequently access from the Examinations
Office. In such a case, the invigilator’s report may be used to support a claim for a deferral,
though students should also obtain medical evidence if at all possible. Such a student is also
advised to discuss the situation with their personal tutor.
A claim for a deferral on the basis of extenuating circumstances relating to an absence from an
examination or illness during an examination must be submitted to the Home College
responsible for the module in question either:
in advance of the examination date; or
within 5 working days of the examination taking place
Any such a claim must be in writing using the prescribed form and accompanied by supporting
independent documentary evidence. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and submit
supporting evidence.
A non-exhaustive list of examples of evidence could include:
• medical/health certificate (with relevant date to the assessment)
• death certificate
• letter of support/explanation from a support service in the University, e.g. Disability
Service, Wellbeing Service etc.
• in the case of a student taken ill during an examination, a copy of the invigilator’s report.
(This should be accompanied by medical evidence where ever possible.)
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