Re-sits

ffeindadifyr

All universities and even departments withinn universities will have different rules and reg's regarding passing/failing courses.

Savvy_Sue

imported_goldie wrote: »

Well just had a reply from Uni and it seems if he doesnt pass his resits then "generally the Board of Examiners recommend terminating the course". He has started his revising now but its a worry. Why is it if you fail 5 exams you can retake the first year but if you fail less than 5 you have to take resits with the chance of having to leave Uni?

Since they are not saying that he absolutely can't retake the year if he fails his resits, my explanation would be as follows.

Barring extraordinary circumstances, If someone fails 5 or more exams, it's pretty clear that they're either pretty dim or they've not been in enough lectures. So, what are the chances of them passing resits? Pretty slim. The only way is to let them resit the year.

If someone fails fewer than 5 exams, this should act as a wake up call. They may have chosen not to attend a particular course, but if they put some work in, they should be able to scrape through the resits, and hopefully get their act together for year 2.

Now, they've had their wake up call, but they still fail the resits. What does this indicate? Just maybe, that they're either not willing to put the work in, or not capable of getting it together right now. So, shall we let them waste another year, or recommend that they terminate now?

I know this may be sounding a bit harsh, I realise there are circumstances beyond someone's control which can wreak havoc with exam performance. BUT I have a friend who use to be a lecturer at a Uni, and he says his heart used to sink when a student failed their resits but was allowed to retake the year. Generally at the end of the year they would just scrape through, BUT quite often the performance would be repeated at the end of year 2. And yes, at his Uni you could repeat your final year too!

Also I don't know if you would get your student loan for a repeated year, so if you DO repeat it then you have to finance yourself, which hardly gives the right conditions for working hard at your studies.

imported_goldie

Thanks for all your replies. Just like your opinions on this please. My son isnt aware he will probably not be able to retake the year. He has started revising and is hopeful of passing. So, do i tell him about not being able to retake the year - would this spur him on to revise even harder or just make him worry too much to do well? (he is currently on anti-dep's due to his worrying nature getting out of control).

Voyager2002

imported_goldie wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies. Just like your opinions on this please. My son isnt aware he will probably not be able to retake the year. He has started revising and is hopeful of passing. So, do i tell him about not being able to retake the year - would this spur him on to revise even harder or just make him worry too much to do well? (he is currently on anti-dep's due to his worrying nature getting out of control).

If he really wanted to know, he would find out (or would have found out by now). Actually, it is quite possible that he knows anyway but has not told you to stop you from worrying! But on the basis of his 'A' levels, there is every reason to expect him to pass. So just give him a good environment for studying and make it clear that you expect him to do well. And really, there is no reason for him to fail, so probably it is too early to start making contingency plans.

ryansace

He should be ok, what university does he go to? It's also important to know if he is in the first or second year.

A couple of my friends failed a few modules, they then had to resit them in June (40%). A few didn't pass and were given the option to resit the year or trail the module again in the second year, adding to the workload (even though because they had done most of it already they just sat the exam and didnt bother with the lectures)

To be honest, the lower brow uni's really do try to retain as many students as possible, and just get rid of those that are incapable of passing.

If he knuckles down and studies, he should be fine.

(If it is accounting, i can always help )

imported_goldie

Its Notingham Uni and i think they have quite strict regulations so will just hope and pray that he passes.

Savvy_Sue

I think I wouldn't tell him, it's really up to him, and I would want to be in reassuring mode. You love him, you'll always love him, he could fail the lot second time around and you'd STILL love him, and there IS life out there for those who drop out after a year. Of course you're not going to say that now, but you maybe need to know that too.

D_e_n_i_s_e

Achieveing 40% at degree level is not a piece of cake by any means!

I always used to try hard to pass the difficult modules first time round. its just so much more diff the second time.

I wish him all the best.

most uni's try and keep most students on - more for the funding if nowt else.

also it depends on the significance of the module, if its a core, special module. The uni would be more inclined for him to repeat the year / leave course if he failed a module which lets say was the meaty bit of the sandwich, rather than a module which was say the lettuce or 'a noddy module' how i used to put it!

ryansace

D_e_n_i_s_e wrote: »

Achieveing 40% at degree level is not a piece of cake by any means!

I always used to try hard to pass the difficult modules first time round. its just so much more diff the second time.

I wish him all the best.

most uni's try and keep most students on - more for the funding if nowt else.

also it depends on the significance of the module, if its a core, special module. The uni would be more inclined for him to repeat the year / leave course if he failed a module which lets say was the meaty bit of the sandwich, rather than a module which was say the lettuce or 'a noddy module' how i used to put it!

What????? I'm sure i read that he is in the first year- this is a piece of cake- i got 100% in one of my exams and i am by no means smart!!

I found that at university, the first year is primarily to seperate those who can achieve something at the uni with those who wont achieve anything. "Weeding out the crap" ive heard the first year be called.

I guess it must be on what subject you do- which always confuses me- why study a subject your not strong in. Im good with numbers, thus i study accoutnancy.

If you can't pass the first year at uni, do you really think you should stay for the 2nd and 3rd year? If he fails ANY exam in those years, when he resits i believe the maximum mark he can get is 40%. He needs an average of 60% at least to get a 2nd, that 40% could hurt a lot + it gets MUCH harder in the 2nd year. MUCH MUCH harder.

Sorry to put a downer on the hole thing, it just winds me up when people either dont apply themselves. Anyone can pass uni, it just takes a lot of work.