Alternative exam arrangements
Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEA) are changes to the scheduling of an assessment or examination during the final assessment period following each teaching period that are granted to eligible students. Alternative dates or times for examinations or assessments via this mechanism are normally only allocated within this period.
If you are unable to attend an assessment event that is scheduled during the teaching period please speak to your lecturer or Subject Coordinator.
You can apply for an AEA if you experience any of the following clashes with a scheduled exam or assessment:
- Armed Services duty, jury duty, Emergency Services employee/volunteer
- a religious event or sacred holy day
- a cross-institutional assessment clash
- are required to participate in a state or national sporting, artistic, cultural, academic, or civil event
- practical or clinical placements
How to register
If you cannot attend your scheduled assessment for any of these reasons, please submit an AEA form as soon as possible. Applications close 10 business days prior to the commencement of the official assessment period. Check the dates of the designated assessment period on the Exams and results page.
Ongoing conditions
Students may be eligible for a range of Reasonable Adjustments to their exams or other assessments, where they have an ongoing mental health or medical condition, neurodiversity or disability (including physical, neurological, intellectual, sensory, an acquired brain injury, or a specific learning difficulty). Such adjustments could include but are not limited to additional time, rest breaks or being seated in a room with fewer students.
If you have an ongoing condition that will affect your assessment, please contact AccessAbility and Inclusion, ideally at the beginning of the teaching period, to discuss what arrangements may be put in place for you.
Availability for Centrally Scheduled Assessments
The University advises all students to make themselves available for the duration of all official assessment periods. Holidays, travel plans and weddings are not valid reasons to request alternative assessment times.
Supplementary/Special Examination
You will be allowed to sit a supplementary exam in the next Supplementary Hurdle/Special Examination period if you have been awarded an SPE (Special exam) or SAHE (Supplementary additional hurdle exam) grade
The timetable will be published 2 weeks prior to the assessment period along with a confirmation email to your student email account.
Any attempted exam will not be marked and only the results from the special exam will count.
Seeking a review
If your alternative exam arrangement application was unsuccessful, you may appeal the decision if you have evidence the decision was not made in accordance with the criteria set out in the Assessment Procedures - Adjustments.
You have 5 business days from the date you were advised of your unsuccessful alternative exam arrangement application to submit an appeal.
It is important that you submit further supporting documentation or your application will be deemed unsuccessful.