If my Support Plan is approved, when will my alternative arrangements for exams go live?
Timeframes for requesting reasonable adjustments in exams
| If you apply for your Support Plan between these dates: | For this examination window: | Your alternative exam arrangements commence on: |
|---|
| 29 June 2024 - 4 November 2024 (12 noon deadline) |
Autumn Semester Exams (24/25) |
13 January 2025 |
| 5 November 2024 - 28 February 2025 (12 noon deadline) |
Spring Semester Exams (24/25) |
19 May 2025 |
| 1 March 2025 - 27 June 2025 (12 noon deadline) |
Summer Reassessments (24/25) |
11 August 2025 |
I need advice about a Coursework Extension Request (CERF)
The Assessments Teams manage CERF enquiries via the Student Enquiry Centre. We would always recommend you raise an enquiry there. If it is related to CERFs or ECs (extenuating circumstances) it will be routed direct through to the correct team and you can track the progress via your portal account.
Alternatively, you may find the answer you require in the FAQs at the Student Enquiry Centre.
No evidence (self-certification) extension request
- This is referred to as a '5-day extension no evidence EC claim'. It is possible for some assessments in a School/Department to be eligible for ‘no evidence’ extensions and not others.
- No evidence extensions are there for short, impactful illnesses or situations where students don’t have an opportunity to provide evidence.
- Highlighting a long-term condition as a reason for a no evidence extension is not an appropriate use of this policy. Check the ‘Acceptable Circumstance’ section of the regulation before making a submission.
If you need support to complete a CERF or EC claim you book an appointment with your Support and Wellbeing Team.
SU Advice also have information about coursework extensions and can help students who are unclear about university processes.
What should I do if I miss the deadline for exam adjustments?
Is there an assessments guide for students with a Support Plan?
I am an offer holder, should I get in touch before I start my course?
We would encourage you to contact us as soon as you receive an offer so we can begin discussing your needs. It is best to make sure all the reasonable adjustments you may require are in place from day one of your course. You may have many things to do at the start of term alongside adjusting to a new city, so plan to do some tasks before you arrive. We can confirm reasonable adjustments for exams and teaching ahead of you beginning your course. We can also do this once you register, but we do have three deadlines per year for each exam period to assist the Exams Office in guaranteeing reasonable adjustments. If you contact us later in the academic year there may be a delay in the university meeting some of your needs.
Arrange a Support Plan.
I haven't sat an in-person exam for a long time, are there reasonable adjustments for anxiety?
Exam stress, anxiety, panic or nerves are experienced by many students and these are not normally a sufficient reason to provide reasonable adjustments. If you are feeling particularly anxious you can view the Counselling Services'
selfhelp resources which include
exam anxiety.
I have exams that are centrally timetabled term-time examinations by my support plan was accepted after the application deadline - can I have my alternative arrangements?
Unfortunately, we have three dates where your accommodations are implemented from (in line with the three main examination periods).
For example: Jo applies for a support plan on the 5 September, and has a centrally scheduled ExamSys exam on the 30 October. They are unable to have their accommodations added for this examination, however, the accommodations will be in place for Jo’s exam on the 16 January.
We are unable to add accommodations on an ad-hoc basis. Should you be in this situation, you can raise an Extenuating Circumstances claim.
I have a support plan in place, which contains an accommodation for a sticker in exams. Where do I obtain a sticker for my scripts for in-person exams during the main exam periods?
Stickers are available to all students with the accommodation of “sticker, exams only” in their support plan. These stickers are added to an exam script and read “Wherever possible, this student should not be penalised for errors in spelling and punctuation, untidy handwriting, or clumsiness in English expression.”
For in-person, scheduled exams, these stickers will be available at your exam venue. Invigilators know which students have this reasonable adjustment, so will hand the stickers to you at the end of your exam.
Please attach this sticker to the front of each answer book you have used, or your printed answers if you are working on a computer.
These stickers can only be used for in-person exams. They cannot be used for coursework or online exams. Each academic school sets marking criteria for coursework which is applied to all their students. Please check the criteria with your school. You are advised to use the coursework extension process to allow further time for editing and proofreading if needed. Full guidance for Students with Support Plans - access to coursework extensions.
Our Specialist Study Support Tutors in Disability Support Services can advise on proofreading strategies and assistive software to help with correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation in coursework. Book an appointment with a Specialist Study Support Tutor.