Exam season can be a stressful one, there is no getting away from that. You can do a lot of revision and preparation work to ensure that you are ready for whatever that test holds, but what happens if the day comes around and you are not well?
When you attend an exam or submit a piece of work, there is an assumption that you are feeling well and functioning effectively, that you are ‘fit to sit’.
By sitting the exam or submitting an assessment you are declaring that you are fit to do so and that there is no reason that your performance will be impaired.
Why might you declare that you are not ‘fit to sit’?
· you are feeling unwell enough that it will impact your performance
· you are experiencing a bereavement
· you are experiencing personal or mental health issues
· you are having a flare up or unexpected symptoms of an existing condition
· you are impacted by a life event or disturbing news that causes you significant distress
What do you do if you have decided that you are not ‘fit to sit’?
· Contact your personal tutor as soon as you can
· Look to see if you need to submit Extenuating Circumstances (link to flowchart) The SU Advice Team (link) can support you to complete this if you are unsure
· Progress with collecting any evidence you may need to support your Extenuating Circumstances claim – not all claims need evidence, so do check.
The Extenuating Circumstances Policy itself states the following:
A time-specific assessment means an assessment that takes place in a particular time-slot, such as an examination, test, presentation, quiz or performance.
For this type of assessment, we operate a “fit-to-sit” policy. This means that if you attempt these types of assessment, you have declared yourself fit to do so. If you think extenuating circumstances may affect your opportunity to complete these types of assessment to the best of your ability you must:
· not attend the time-specific assessment
· submit a claim for Extenuating Circumstances
Remember, you are not alone and can seek wellbeing support by visiting the Student Hub in the library or by contacting them online here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/services/student-wellbeing
If you need any further guidance about Extenuating Circumstances, you can get in contact with the Student Advice Team.