Submitting your assessments on time helps you stay up to date with your studies, manage your workload effectively, and reduce stress - giving you the best chance to succeed. That said, we understand that sometimes life doesn’t go to plan – and that’s okay. If something unexpected affects your ability to complete an assessment, the University of Reading offers Assessment Adjustments to help you stay on track.

This process replaces what was previously known as Exceptional Circumstances and is designed to be more flexible, easier to access, and less demanding in terms of evidence – especially for short extensions.

The Assessment Adjustments policy includes a list of what the University considers to be exceptional circumstances (e.g. the death or serious illness of a close family member or friend, a serious short-term illness or injury; but please note that the list included in the policy is not exhaustive, and other reasons will be considered. If your circumstances are not on the list please talk to your Student Support Coordinator, School or Department Director of Academic Tutoring. Support Centres (or Henley Helpdesk or ILSI Admin Office) who can provide further advice and assistance. Please also refer to the policy for information about what are not considered exceptional circumstances and where you can find support for such matters.

Please note there are strict deadlines by when you should submit Assessment Adjustments requests. Requests submitted after a deadline are not normally considered. If they are considered, your progress through your degree will be delayed as your request will have been received beyond the point where your requirements can be accommodated in the current academic year.

Types of Assessment Adjustments

These tables summarise the types of assessment adjustments available. It includes categories of adjustments, submission deadlines, and whether supporting evidence is required.

Most commonly requested adjustments

Adjustment Type	Category	Deadline for Submission	Evidence Required
Short coursework extension (including dissertations)	Self-Certified	From 2 calendar days before the original submission deadline until 2 calendar days afterwards	No
Longer coursework extensions* (including dissertations)	Standard	Before coursework deadline	Impact statement only
Deferral of event assessment (e.g. in-class test, presentation)	Non-Standard	Before scheduled assessment	Supporting evidence required
Retake exam as first attempt (DNS) **	Non standard (via the Post-Results process ONLY)	Within 4 working days of results publication	Supporting evidence required

 *For longer coursework extension requests, continue to work to the deadline until you hear whether your request has been granted.

**Requests to retake examinations can only be made immediately after the publication of your end of year results. In most cases it is not necessary to pass every module, therefore you need to see your full set of results to identify whether you need to resit an examination. If a Semester 1 examination has been impacted by an exceptional circumstance you should collect the evidence at the time and keep it until after the publication of results at the end of the year when you will be able to submit your request.

Adjustment Type	Category	Deadline for Submission	Evidence Required
Removal of late penalty	Standard	As soon as possible after submission	Impact statement only
Authorised Absence	Non-Standard	As soon as absence is known	Supporting evidence required
Repeat Year (Part 0 or 1 – first request only)	Standard	TBC	Impact statement only
Repeat Year (Parts 2–4, PGT or second repeat at any Part)	Non-Standard	TBC	Supporting evidence required
Marking of late online exam submission	Non-Standard	TBC	Supporting evidence required
Coursework extension beyond registration period	Non-Standard	Before coursework deadline	Supporting evidence required

Requests submitted Post-Results via the PREC process

Adjustment Type	Category	Deadline for Submission	Evidence Required
Marking of late Semester 2 or August/September online exam	Post-Results (PREC)	Within 4 working days of results publication	Supporting evidence required
Retake exam as first attempt (DNS)	Post-Results (PREC)	Within 4 working days of results publication	Supporting evidence required
Repeat Year (Part 0 or 1 – first request only)	Post-Results (PREC)	Within 4 working days of results publication	Impact statement only
Repeat Year (Parts 2-4, PGT or second repeat at any Part)	Post-Results (PREC)	Within 4 working days of results publication	Supporting evidence required

Further possible requests and information on the types of evidence required can be found in the Assessment Adjustments policy

If you feel that your circumstances are likely to affect a lot of your study you should discuss this with your Academic Tutor or School Director of Academic Tutoring, Student Support Coordinator (or Henley Helpdesk or ILSI Admin Office) or Reading Students' Union Academic Advisor.

If you are a postgraduate research, University of Reading Malaysia, NUIST-based, Study Abroad or HBS Greenlands student please contact your support staff or school for information on how to submit an Assessment Adjustments request.

If you are suffering from a long-term condition, you may be considered disabled under the Equality Act and be entitled to reasonable adjustments. If so, please register with the Disability Advisory Service (DAS), who will be able to look at your circumstances, and consider if you would benefit from having an Individual Learning Plan in place, so that you have adjustments across all of your modules (including assessments). DAS will also be able to provide advice on further support available to you.

Our support package includes three different types of Assessment Adjustments requests depending on your particular situation. See below for an explanation of these and the links for more detailed information on how and when to submit a request, together with any questions you may have (FAQs).

Assessment Adjustments requests and your questions

• Self-certified short extensions
• Standard and non-standard Assessment Adjustments
• Post Results requests