Special personal circumstances at final assessment time
Find out what to do if you have special personal circumstances during the final assessment period that might affect your academic performance.
If you have special personal circumstances affecting your ability to sit tests and exams or complete assessments in the final three teaching weeks of the course or during the final exam/assessment period, this is what you should do:
- Contact your course coordinator as soon as possible.
- If your problem is health related, see a health professional and obtain a medical certificate*—this may be required later if you need to apply for a special 'aegrotat' pass.
- If your problem is due to a bereavement—that is the death of a family member or close personal friend—or other special personal circumstances, you will be asked to provide evidence, where possible.
- Sit your exam/s or tests and/or do as much as you can towards your assessments, unless your circumstances do not allow you to do so.
*A medical certificate will confirm that your circumstances during the relevant period were significant enough for you to be considered for an aegrotat pass. The medical certificate will not contain anything about your condition—this will remain confidential between you and your doctor.
What are special circumstances?
Special personal circumstances include (but are not limited to):
- an impairment assessed by Disability Services
- mental or physical illness or injury
- sudden hardship or trauma.
If you're not sure whether your situation counts as special personal circumstances, talk to your Student Success Adviser. You can also find details about the types of circumstances that qualify in the University's Assessment Handbook, specifically section 13. The Handbook also explains how the University can vary assessments for affected students, and the rules around aegrotat (ungraded) passes.
How we can help
Course coordinator
Your course coordinator may consider different options depending on the type of assessment, when the assessment is scheduled relative to your period of acute illness or special personal circumstances, and the work you have already completed for the course.
The options considered by your course coordinator will include:
- an extension of the due date for your assessment
- re-weighting of your assessment
- an alternative assessment
- submission of drafts or work in progress.
Student Success Adviser
Your Student Success Adviser can help explain your options and connect you with the right services.
Disability Services
If you have an ongoing impairment or condition and you think that you will have difficulty completing your final assessments, you should discuss your needs with Te Amaru—Disability Services as soon as possible (ideally well in advance of the final assessment period).
Other options
If none of the options considered by your course coordinator are appropriate and you think that you may fail the course, you can apply to be considered for an ungraded pass known as an aegrotat.
In some circumstances you may be able to apply to sit your exam or complete an assessment task at a different time or a different location.