Academic appeals
Ever been in the position where you have exams coming up and something unexpected happens in your life? Something out of your control that take your mind off your studies? What do you do?
In some circumstances, people think that they can juggle personal problems with academic work. Some people can do this, but most can’t. When a close family member or friend is ill, or perhaps even dies, it is very hard for us all to concentrate on our jobs, and we often cannot carry out our usual tasks to the best of our ability.
Sometimes departments can make mistakes in their procedures, for example the wrong revision notes may be given to you or you might be told the wrong location or time for an exam. These situations do sometimes arise and they are known as procedural irregularities.
If either of these situations, or something similar, happens to you, it is always important to talk in the first instance to your department. Sometimes a senior or personal tutor is a good start, but who else could you talk to?
The Information and Advice Centre (IAC) is here to act as an independent and impartial ear to all students who find themselves in this type of awkward situation. We are totally confidential and can give you options as to the best way forward.
In some circumstances, students carry out an exam with this sort of problem hanging over them and then afterwards realise that it affected their performance. In this situation, you may be able to launch an academic appeal on the basis of extenuating circumstances. To do this you will need good evidence, so for example if you had an illness you would need to provide doctor’s notes or proof of a hospital stay. It is easier to resolve if you bring these issues up before exams or coursework has to be handed in.
With procedural irregularities, again you will have to have proof of this on paper. The IAC can help you with all these issues by ensuring that you have enough evidence to proceed.
If you do wish to appeal when you receive your results, it is important to think about this long and hard before doing so. Consider the following:
• What basis are you appealing on?
• Have you got the evidence to support your appeal on paper?
• Will you be any better off if you win the appeal?
• What result do you want to see happen, and is it likely to be the outcome?
• Are the department willing to give you another chance anyway?
It is important to remember that you cannot appeal just because you are unhappy with the mark. Papers are often marked two or three times, so if the mark was wrong it would almost certainly have been noticed by now.
In all cases, be honest with yourself. If you honestly feel that you have a case then proceed, but if you just didn’t do enough revision then your appeal will be thrown out at the first level.
The IAC is currently producing an information sheet as a guide for students on how to appeal and the possible outcomes that can occur.
If you would like more information on academic appeals, please contact the Information and Advice Centre on 020 7594 8067 or advice@ic.ac.uk.
Remember, don’t let your concern turn into a crisis. Make the Information and Advice Centre your one stop shop for all your welfare issues.
