Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences
Further Information
Special consideration
If there been exceptional circumstances affecting your preparation for or performance in an exam, you may be able to apply for special consideration.
Missed an exam?
You must notify the PSB Academy Program Executive as soon as possible to provide an explanation for your non-attendance.
You should be aware of all the process and policies which must be followed.
Assignments
All assignments must have a cover sheet on the top acknowledging that the work is your own.
Assignments presented without a cover sheet will not be accepted.
Late assignments will incur penalties. If you need an extension for valid reasons (such as illness), you must contact the unit coordinator before the due date, with a medical certificate or other documentary evidence.
UWA takes academic dishonesty, such as plagarism, cheating and collusion, very seriously.
- You can view your unofficial academic records online through studentConnect.
- Examination results will not be given over the telephone by the University or PSB Academy.
- If you believe one of your marks is incorrect, see appeals against academic assessment.
Exams
Most units include an exam as part or all of the assessment. Check the requirements for your units in the Science Faculties' Examining Guidelines for the Bachelor of Science Degrees and Specialist Degrees.
Past exam papers can be used to help prepare for exams. View the UWA Library website.
Exam dates are given to students at the beginning of the term. You will be informed of any changes of date and time by email. It is your responsibility to check the exam timetable and find out the date, time and place of exam.
Students with a disability, including serious medical conditions or recent injury, which puts them at a disadvantage during examinations should contact PSB Academy before the examination.
To ensure the correct person is sitting an exam, students must place their current student identification card on the examination table beside their information slip. Students without their card must provide other acceptable identification (with photograph) in the exam room.
Deferred exams
You can apply to the Faculty to defer an exam if, through exceptional circumstances that arose unexpectedly and beyond your control, you were unable to sit the scheduled examination, or were substantially hindered in your preparation for the exam. You should do this beforehand if possible, or at the latest within three days of the scheduled time for the exam.
Deferred exams are normally granted only on grounds of illness or for compassionate reasons (in particular a death in your close family). In all cases you must provide detailed documentary evidence. You should be aware that deferred exams are not given automatically, and your request may be denied if the Faculty does not consider your reasons for deferring to be adequate. You will not be permitted to reschedule your exams to accommodate such things as holidays.
If you are granted a deferred exam, it is your responsibility to find out when it will be held. Deferred exams cannot normally be deferred a second time, or rescheduled. A supplementary exam cannot be granted for a deferred exam.
If you sit the deferred exam before the submission of final exam results to the Examinations Office, a result will be submitted in the normal way. If the deferred exam is not taken until after the Board of Examiners meeting then a Deferred Exam (DE) will be recorded on your results.
If a deferred exam is not awarded then your coursework, labs and other assessments will form the basis of your final mark and you will not be permitted to sit another exam.
To apply for a deferred exam:
1. Complete the form.
2. Attach relevant documentary evidence to support your application. If the application is for medical reasons, ask your doctor to fill in Sections 7 and 8 of the Special Consideration form, or attach a medical certificate that includes details of the nature of the illness, its severity and duration.
3. Hand the application form and attachments into PSB Academy.
Written advice will be emailed to your student email regarding the outcome of your application.
Supplementary exams
Supplementary exams are granted to students who obtain a mark of 45-49 per cent in ANHB1101, ANHB1102, CHEM1103, CHEM1104, SCIE1106, PSYC1101, PSYC1102, HMES1101, HMES1102 and HMES1103. In rare instances the Board of Examiners may set a form of supplementary assessment other than an exam. A result of SG indicates that a supplementary exam has been granted. If you pass the supplementary exam, your academic record will show PS. A fail is shown as FS.
No supplementary exams are available for Level 2 units. The only other supplementary assessment available is for one unit taken within the last 6 months of your course and with a mark of 45-49 per cent. You will be able to take this after you have completed all other requirements of the course.
Absence from a supplementary exam constitutes a fail. Failing may mean that you will need to drop back a cohort.
Special consideration
If you have been ill or there are exceptional circumstances, such as a death in the family, which have affected your preparation for or performance in an exam, then you can apply for special consideration. To do this you must complete the special consideration form explaining the circumstances. Supporting documents (such as a medical report, death certificate) must also be provided. You must do this no later than the third PSB Academy working day after the exam.
You may also apply for special consideration earlier in the semester, for example if you miss classes because of illness. Please note that applying for special consideration is not a remedy for not studying conscientiously - you must have a valid reason that can be backed up with documentary evidence.
You will still need to sit your exams at the regularly scheduled time unless you have been specifically granted a deferred exam.
Your application is treated with strict confidence. Unit co-ordinators will be advised about the period of illness and/or the special consideration requested, but will not be supplied with copies of medical certificates or other confidential documentation.
The Faculty does not accept applications for special consideration after the release of marks (except in cases of extreme hardship).
