Whether you have been dealing with mental health issues, have struggled with private matters or anything else that has caused you to struggle during exam season, it’s ok to not get the results you expected! The fact that you were able to get through your exams is a huge deal and you should be proud of yourself for getting this far in the academic year, and your degree.
Here are some of the things to keep in mind in the case you don’t get what you expect:
Staying Calm
Firstly, when you open your results, breathe, don’t panic. If you are very upset about your results speak to someone; it will help you stay calm and you can speak to them about how you feel. Next you need to explore your options calmly, you don’t need to make hasty decisions in the heat of the moment.
Let’s discuss your options:
- Appeals
First, if you think that the grade you were awarded is not fair and you believe you deserve a higher grade, you can appeal your results! After receiving a decision from the exam board, you have ten working days in which to submit a formal appeal, using the appropriate form found here. Your appeal will be considered, and it may be accepted, or not. Further information may be requested, or an appeal panel may be called. After your appeal has been considered, you will receive and outcome letter which explains the decision that has been made. This should normally come within thirty working days of submitting an appeal.
- Condonable Modules
Secondly, if you fail any of your modules (anything below a 40%), it is important to remember the fact that up to 30 credits per year are condonable if you have an overall percentage of over 40%. If your module is condonable (you can check with your department to find this out), then the University will need to wait until your other module results are known to see if the module satisfies condonable conditions. It is worth noting that core modules are typically not condonable but, in some cases, they are; so again, check with your department/faculty or in the programme specification.
- Referrals
Thirdly, in some cases, your module may not be condonable. In this case, you may be referred to August where you will be able to re-take an assessment. If this is the case, you will be contacted in late June via your Exeter email address so keep an eye out as the email will give further details about the referred assessments. The submission deadline for referred coursework assessments will be the 31 July 2023. The referred exam period will commence Friday 11 August - Monday 21 August 2023.
- Changing your course
The next thing you may want to consider is that your course may not be the right fit for you. This is totally ok! You are not the only person that feels this way and often it is better to change your course rather than sticking to something you are not enjoying. You can change courses; however, this is not always possible. It depends on the stage you are at in your degree and if you meet the entry requirements for the different course. We would recommend that you reach out to your department and admissions to see if this is a possibility for you (find some more information here). If you want more advice on this matter, you can book a free advice appointment from our team here.
- Missing marks
Due to the current marking and assessment boycott, you might find that some of your marks are missing when you receive your results. If this is the case, the University will be in contact with you to discuss your options.
If you want to estimate your classification by inputting the marks you have received so far, you can use this calculator.
We know this is an anxious time, the University are working to ensure you get your marks as soon as possible. Read our update on the Marking and Assessment boycott here.
As you can see, you have various options available to you in case results don’t go your way. Obviously, we hope that all goes to plan for you but if it doesn’t, we want you to know that you have options available. Your grades do not determine who you are either, so please remember this. If you need any mental health support after your results come out, you can contact the Universities’ wellbeing support, Togetherall as well as NHS services. If you think you may need some guidance as you’re not sure where to go, book an appointment with our advice team and we can help you!