Claiming extenuation circunstances for being seek

cts_casemod

Not really sure if this is the right place to put my question. Would like to ask the moderators to move is there is some more applicable place.

I need some help writing a letter to my university to ask for extenuation circumstances given I'm not well due to illness.

Essentially, Ive been rather seek for two weeks now. Been to the doctor and taking medication, but since I'm a student and at that time I didn't need any seek note I didn't ask for one.

Yesterday I had an exam. I'm not local to my university: my commute is 4-5 hours each way and in virtue of the journey, my symptoms last night and today have got considerably worse: I have chest pain, shortness of breath and cough caused by my asthma and certainly don't feel fit to travel that far to take my exam tomorrow.

I returned to the doctor today and got some more medication in addition to a medical declaration stating I'm not fit to work, but was advised I would also need to fill in a form describing:

• Why am I applying for extenuation? Describe the relevant circumstances concisely.

• How was my performance impaired?

• When did this happen? Please give exact dates or periods of dates that you were impaired.

I'm not able to travel to university to speak with someone from the student union to help me fill this and I'm afraid my extenuation note isn't accepted. Can I have some help writing a few lines to describe in a relevant and concise matter what i just explained above?




Many Thanks

PlymouthMaid

Basically write that you 'have chest pain, shortness of breath and cough caused by asthma. I am not fit to travel to take my exam as it is a long journey. I visited the doctor and was told I am not fit to work. I have a medical certificate but am also filling in this form applying for extenuating circumstances re. the non attendance for my exam. I have been sick for two weeks now and this has affected my study and would have affected my performance in the exam very badly'.

Perhaps you should have contacted the examinations office sooner if you have been that unwell but good luck with the form. Note that the word is 'sick' not 'seek'.

TBagpuss

I agree with Plymputh Maid. Ideally you would have contacted the university sooner to put them on notice and also so they could let you know what was needed.
Does your university have a Student Support Officer? If so, you may be able to contact them by e-mail or telephone for help.

Why am I applying for extenuation? Describe the relevant circumstances concisely.
Plymouth Maid's wording is good. If your doctor has given you any specific diagnosis (e.g. chest infection ) state this
How was my performance impaired?
I have been to ill to be able to travel, particualrly bearing in mind that my journey takes 4 hours each way. Add details of exacty how your illness affected your ability to study - e.g. if you have been sleeping badly due to the illness and feel that this has afected your ability to concentrate, if you have had trouble concerntrating, if any of the medications you have been prescribed affected your ability to focus.
When did this happen? Please give exact dates or periods of dates that you were impaired.
State when you first became ill, the dates on which you visited your GP and the current position

Have you read your universities policy about sickness etc? I seem to recall that when I was a student, we were expected to make contact with the relevent office as soon as we became awae that there was an issue which might affect our ability to complete coursework or exams, and someone seeking extenuation *after* the event would have to justify the delay as well as the reason for missing / perfoming badly in the exam.

i would recommend that you read the policy as well as the form which has bn sent, aand tailor your answer to the policy.

cts_casemod

Thanks guys,

I sent the form filled as per PlymouthMaid advice.

I wasn't really aware my situation would get worse, normally at this time of the year one assumes it is a simple cold. It did after the 11th when I had another exam, probably stress and long journey played a factor. Since the exams were spaced two days apart I didn't really have much of a chance here.

My university is a bit funny with extenuation. Everything works on a ticket system, there isn't really much that can be done face to face. Thankfully I never had to complete one before but they are quite unhelpful in regards to this, probably as a deterrent. I guess the best course of action now is to apply and, if rejected, provide additional details.

Thank you both for the advice.