Appealing results

orangesareblue

Dear all,

I am a 2nd year undergraduate at Hull University. I have just received my exam results and am devestated. I achieved mostly first class marks in essays, but failed the units with exams. This amounted to four in total. I have been offered the chance to have a reassessment in August, but the marks will be capped at 40%, unless I can establish retrospective mitigating circumstances.

I am registered with the Disability Centre as a result of a visual impairment, but also have hydrocephalus. The University has a breakdown of my medical history, but I have never been given any support for this condition, if appropriate. I receive a note taker in lectures, but no support in exams.

I have tried to obtain feedback from my lecturers, but obtained a rather abrasive email in response. One of the lecturers thought I was not getting enough out of the degree because I don't live on campus. It is only possible to launch an appeal if I can prove the regulations have not been followed, but this is not the case.

According to some newspapers, a 2.1 degree is needed for graduate employers. This just confirms what has always been known, but I am concerned that I won't be able to make up the marks to a sufficient level next year. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Rosie75

Before I offer any advice, a bit more information would be helpful. Does your disability affect your performance in exams in any way? eg. would it require you to have extra time, or use of a PC, scribe, etc, that you are not receiving?

dmg24

Were your exams impacted by your health condition? Do you receive DSA? If you thought that you needed support in the exams, did you ask for it beforehand?

orangesareblue

Thanks for this advice. The main problem is that, although I receive an enlarged paper, I never seem to have enough time to complete the required number of answers. This was a problem when I was at school, but due to extensive re-takes, I had chance to get medicore results in the end. I am in receipt of DSA for my visual difficulties. I hope this helps to provide some context.

Indie_Kid

were you recommended extra time in exams? when I had my class tests, I was given extra time. Because the lecturer had forgot to supply the test paper in the appropriate format, I was allowed to do the test on the computer.

dmg24

The problem you have is that you knew you would need extra time before the exams and did not ask for it. Retrospective circumstances are only applicable where something happens that you could not foresee before the event, so this would not be applicable.

I would look at how you can improve things in future, rather than trying to appeal this result. It sounds like you could do with some help with exam technique, as well as the possibility of extra time.

MrsManda

As dmg24 said, you cannot claim that you were not given the support you required if you know that you often have difficulty completing exams in time and have not requested extra time. Have you ever requested extra support for your hydrocephalus? Did you declare it on your DSA form?

From what you've said, I don't think you've got any grounds to appeal. The best thing for you to do is probably ensure you get extra time for your resits and for next year, and spend as much time as you can (without adversely impacting the rest of your degree) gaining experience in your field, working and doing charity work in order to make your CV stand out once you've graduated.

You could ask if you can repeat the year in full and if your grades would be capped if you did this. If your grades wouldn't be capped if you repeated the year, this may be an option to consider.