Exams: results and support available
We hope your exams went well, but if things didn't go to plan, it may be helpful for you to understand your options, as most formal processes have deadlines. The options available to you depend on your course and the type of issues that affected your exams.
Flowchart for Processes on Examination-Related Issues
If you experienced issues with the conduct of the examination or had mitigating circumstances such as illness or grave cause, our Flowchart for Processes on Examination-Related Issues could help you identify what options might be available to you. Through these processes, you can let the University know about the issues you experienced and the impact on your studies and exam results. Click to view.
Guide to Getting Through Exams
Our Guide to getting through Exams has guidance and information on any concerns you may have about your exams and tips on how to de-stress before the test. Additionally, sources of information on managing exam stress can also be found on the University Student Support pages and on the Student Minds webpage here.
- Exam Conduct
- Mitigating Circumstances
- Mark Checks & Feedback
ISSUES WITH THE CONDUCT OF THE EXAMINATION
An examination is an assessment that receives marks which count towards your University of Cambridge award.
Some examples of issues with the conduct of the examination may include:
- large amounts of external noise
- your reasonable adjustments were not put in place or adhered to
- bias during the assessment or the marking process
- mitigating circumstances for certain postgraduate courses (listed below)
- University's actions relating to industrial action that affected your exam results.
If your exam results were impacted by any of these or you experienced other issues with the conduct of the exam, you can submit an Examination Review within 28 days of receiving your results.
Evidence is required and this could be a medical letter, a letter from your invigilator, University regulations, a letter from your Tutor and/or your Director of Studies if applicable, etc.
The University's procedure can be accessed here.
Our guidance on examination reviews can help you understand the process independently and guide you through writing your application. Please see below.
Information Guide on the Examination Review Procedure
For issues relating to the conduct of the examination, all students can find more information in this guide. If you are registered for one of the following degrees: B.D, M.D, Vet.M.D, Ph.D., Bus.D, Eng.D, M.Sc, M.Litt, M.Phil. Degree by dissertation or Certificate of Postgraduate Study, and experienced mitigating circumstances, you can request an Examination Review.
Guidance for Filling in the Examination Review Form
This guidance is for students who submit an Examination Review and need assistance in filling in the Examination Review Form.
In this guide, you can find information such as what you might want to consider before filling in the form, an example of how a case could be presented, the next steps after you submit the form and where to access further support.
mitigating circumstances
If you are an undergraduate student or a student on certain postgraduate courses (listed below) and you experienced issues such as:
- a short illness such as a stomach bug or the flu
- a long-term or more serious illness which has recently been diagnosed and which affected your preparation and/or your performance in an exam.
- a recently diagnosed disability for which you did not have reasonable adjustments in place to mitigate any impact this may have had on your studies.
- a bereavement in the family or close friend.
- a family emergency such as illness of a family member.
You or your College could let the University know of your mitigating circumstances and the impact on your assessments by submitting an Examination Allowance within three months of receiving your exam results.
An application should be supported by evidence such as a letter from a doctor, College Nurse where appropriate, a hospital note and any other available evidence.
The University's guidance notes for examination allowances can be found here.
Our resources on examination allowances (see below) can help you understand the process independently, guide you through writing your personal statement, and help you gather your medical evidence.
Information Guide on Examination Allowances
Foundation Year students, Undergraduate and postgraduate students studying towards one of these degrees: EMBA, LLM, MASt, MBA, MCL, MEng, MFin, MMath, MMus, MSci and PGCE, MPhil by Advanced Study, MRes, MEd and MSt degrees and the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) and Postgraduate Diplomas in Economics, Legal Studies and International Law, and who have experienced mitigating circumstances, can submit an Examination Allowance.
Guidance on Medical Evidence
This guide is for students who submit applications on medical grounds to the University for an Examination Allowance, Examination Review or Intermission. You can share these notes with your medical practitioner to assist them in providing your medical evidence. Depending on your circumstances, this guidance might be helpful to you in other situations.
Mark Checks
If none of the above options applies to your situation and you feel you deserved a different result, you could request a mark check.
You, your Director of Studies or your Tutor could contact your department which should have a process in place to provide mark checks.
The mark check process should:
- check that your marks on individual questions/papers have been added up correctly
- ensure all your answer booklets have been marked by the Examiners
- check that any reasonable adjustments relating to the marking of your assessments have been put in place
Information from the University on mark checks can be accessed here.
exam feedback
According to information from the University, students can receive feedback from External Examiners' reports and any responses to them.
Students may also request internal Examiners' reports including comments about the cohort's performance as a whole.
You, your College Tutor or your Director of Studies could contact the department administrator who could provide further information on obtaining feedback on exams.
Further information can be found here.