Exams and Midterms

Academic consideration requests can be made for class and exam conflicts. See specific scenarios below. Submit conflicts at least one week in advance.

Class Conflicts

1. If you have a class conflict with an exam or test you may need academic consideration to receive accommodations for the exam or test. Submit a ticket through the Student Absence Portal.
   1. Upload supporting documentation (screen shot of exam/test (dates/times) on Brightspace or course outline as well as your timetable): **PDF or JPG preferred
      
      

The exception to this is when your class/tutorial or lab conflicts with your special exam. In these cases, the special exam takes priority, and you will be approved to miss the conflicting class/tutorial or lab (see Academic Calendar).

Midterm Exam Conflicts

If you have two midterms scheduled at the same time:

1. Review your course outline
   1. Check whether either course offers a makeup exam.
      1. If only one course has a makeup midterm, you should move that one and write the one that does not have a makeup.
      2. If neither course offers a makeup midterm, proceed to step 2
         
         
2. Contact both instructors
   1. Explain the scheduling conflict and discuss what alternate arrangements can be made (e.g. write back-to-back exams or an alternative time).
   2. If the conflict can not be resolved, submit a ticket through the Student Absence Portal to discuss the situation with the Advising team.
      1. Upload supporting documentation (screen shot of exam/test (dates/times) on Brightspace or course outline): **PDF or JPG preferred
          

In-class midterms take precedence over other midterm conflicts. Do not select to move an in-class midterm. Regularly scheduled classes, labs, tutorials take precedence over midterms. Submit conflicts at least one week in advance.

Final Exam Conflicts

You will be notified by the Registrar’s Office if you have a direct final exam conflict or a multiple exam situation.

For a direct conflict, you may:

• Write your exams back-to-back exams in the designated conflict room
  • You must reply yes to the Registrar’s Office email by their deadline.
    OR
• Request to defer one exam to the special exam period (see special exam section for important information)!
  • Submit a ticket through the Student Absence Portal. Upload supporting documentation (screen shot of exam/test (dates/times) on Brightspace or course outline): **PDF or JPG preferred.
    • If approved, you will have ONE opportunity to write a special exam without consequences.

For more information on exam conflicts please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website.

If you have a multiple exam situation, you can:

• Choose to write all exams as scheduled
• Request to defer one exam to the special exam period (see special exam section for important information)! If approved, you will have ONE opportunity to write a special exam without consequences.

For students registered with Accessible Education:

If you miss a makeup assessment for disability-related reasons, an alternative assessment option may be available. Please consult with your Accessible Education Facilitator if you have any questions.

Midterms

• At our discretion, the Faculty of Science will extend the University Exam Conflict Policy to midterms.
• Each midterm exam must be worth 15% or more to be considered.
• Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and students must indicate how much the course component is worth when completing the Exam Conflict Form through the Student Absence Portal. Course outlines will be required.
• If approved, students will be allowed to move one of their midterms.
• Please note that in-class midterms take precedence over midterms outside class time and should not be deferred.

Instructions:

1. Submit a ticket through the Student Absence Portal for the one midterm you want to defer or receive accommodations for.
   1. Upload supporting documentation (screen shot of exam/test (dates/times) on Brightspace or course outlines): **PDF or JPG preferred
      
      

Final Exams

You will be notified by the Registrar’s Office if you have a multiple exam situation as defined by University Policy (e.g. 3 exams in 23 hours, 4 exams in 47 hours, etc.)

If you have a multiple exam situation, you can:

• Choose to write all exams as scheduled
• Request to defer one exam to the special exam period by submitting a ticket through the Student Absence Portal. (see special exam section for important information)! If approved, you will have ONE opportunity to write a special exam without consequences.

Missed your midterm?

1. Read your course outline for next steps.
   1. Your instructor may offer flexibility in your course, a makeup assessment, or reweight the missed midterm to another course component.
   2. In some cases, you may need to submit a request for Academic Consideration through the Student Absence Portal (SAP) with supporting documentation.
      
      
2. If your request in SAP is approved:
   1. If there is a makeup midterm, write it.
   2. If there is no makeup midterm:
      1. If the final exam is cumulative, write the reweighted final exam.
      2. If the final exam is non-cumulative*, you have the option of staying in the course if you can still pass without writing the midterm exam OR drop the course by the drop deadline.
         • Reach out to Academic Advising to discuss the potential impact of dropping a course.
           
           

*Because the exam is non-cumulative, the midterm is the only assessment of the first half of the course, so it cannot be reweighted. Missing the midterm therefore follows the Faculty’s Special Exam procedures.

For students registered with Accessible Education:

If you miss a makeup assessment for disability-related reasons, an alternative assessment option may be available. Please consult with your Accessible Education Facilitator if you have any questions.

For more information about the final exam schedule, exam conflicts (direct conflicts, multiple exam situations) or writing with Accommodated Exams visit: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/examinations/index.html

Missed a final exam?

You may be eligible for a makeup (special) exam.

1. Submit a ticket through the Student Absence Portal.
   1. Upload supporting documentation (**PDF or JPG preferred)
      1. If approved, the special exam will be your ONE opportunity to write the missed final exam without consequences.
         
         

See the next section for more information about special exams or go here: https://www.uwo.ca/sci/advising/procedures/special_examination.html

A Special Examination (SPC) is any examination other than an examination scheduled during the regular or supplemental examination periods. A Special Examination may be offered only with the approval of the Academic Advising Office of the faculty in which the student is registered (Home Faculty). This approval is made in consultation with the course instructor and department chair.

Permission to write a special examination may be given on the basis or compassionate or medical grounds with appropriate supporting documentation.

If you miss a final exam during an official exam period, you must submit a request for Academic Consideration through the Student Absence Portal with supporting documentation.

If your request is approved and the final exam is the only outstanding course requirement, an SPC will be placed on your record, and the instructor will schedule the Special Examination in accordance with university policy.

Important Information

1. You are typically allowed one Special Examination

If you:

• Miss your original final exam
• Receive approved Academic Consideration

 2. When will the Special Examination be written?

• Special Examinations are normally written within 30 days of the end of the examination period.
• Extensions are granted only in exceptional circumstances and require approval from Academic Advising.
• You may be required to write up to two Special Examinations in one day.

3. What if I miss my Special Examination?

a) If Academic Consideration is approved

You will be:

Withdrawn from the course without academic penalty (WDN).

• In extenuating circumstances, such as a serious, prolonged illness that prevented you from completing academic work from the time of the original exam through to the Special Exam, you may request relief to the Associate Dean for permission to write the final exam the next time the course is offered. The decision is made on a case-by-case basis.

b) If Academic Consideration is not approved (or not requested)

You will receive:

• A grade of zero on the examination.

4. Can I request relief (appeal) the decision to get an additional SPC attempt due to extenuating circumstances?

In certain, extenuating situations a Request for Relief could be approved, and you'd be allowed to write the exam the next time the exam is offered. In this case:

• Your course load will be reduced in the term in which the examination is deferred, as outlined in the Definitions of Types of Examinations policy.

5. SPCs and Course Registration

If an SPC appears on a course that is a prerequisite for another course:

• Registration in the next course will require approval from both the department and Academic Advising until the SPC is replaced with a final grade.

If most of your courses in an academic year have SPC grades:

• Registration in additional courses will require approval from Academic Advising until those SPC grades are resolved and replaced with final grades.

Examples

Mid-Year Examinations (Full-Year Courses - 1.0 Credit)

For courses that offer a makeup mid-year examination:

If you miss the original mid-year exam

a) Academic Consideration approved

• You will typically be granted one makeup mid-year examination.

If you miss the makeup mid-year examination

a) If Academic Consideration is approved:

• You will be withdrawn from the course without academic penalty (WDN), following the same process that applies to final examinations.

b) If Academic Consideration is not approved (or not requested):

• You will receive a grade of zero on the makeup mid-year examination.