Exams

BMBM123

Does anyone know if there is any special consideration available for exams? I don't wish to defer, I am going through a bad time in my life and finding difficulty in studying which is becoming a vicious cycle! If I spoke to one of my lecturers can they do anything?

Lapin

Yes.

Definitely speak to one of them or call in to see Catherine McCurry if you are a first year.

They'll do whatever they can to accommodate you.

BMBM123

Thanks lapin. So would this be taken into consideration if all goes pear shaped in the exams?

Lapin

Depends on the circumstances.

But they can do nothing about that unless you tell them in advance.

If you feel you are not up to the exams you could ask for a deferral and sit them in August.

But I wouldn't panic too much. They're still a week away and you'd be surprised what you can get done in that amount of time.

But if you really aren't ready for them, see someone as soon as you can and tell them. You're not the first and certainly won't be the last.

Lapin

Alternatively, you could just pull a sickie on the morning of your first exam. (Make sure you get a doctors cert). The downside to doing this is that you'll then have to sit all the Christmas exams in August, as missing one exam anymore means all subsequent exams are automatically deferred too.

It also effectively prolongs your college year and means sacrificing a lot of the Summer to revise first semester work after the second semester without the aid of lectures or tutorials.

The only real plus to doing this is buying time and saving the cost of deferral fees but in reality, its not worth the hassle. Better off to try your luck next week. At least it will give you a feel for exams if nothing else, and whats the worst that can happen. If you fail, there's always the second chance in August anyway.

But do talk to someone in the meantime.

BMBM123

Thank you for your help lapin. By any chance do you know is the health unit open this week since it's study week? I'm only imagining that there wouldn't be that many around maybe I'm wrong?

Lapin

Don't know. I'm not in myself today.

wmirl

BMBM123 wrote: »

Thank you for your help lapin. By any chance do you know is the health unit open this week since it's study week? I'm only imagining that there wouldn't be that many around maybe I'm wrong?

I believe it's open til the exams finish, since this would actually be a particularly busy time for them.

Alternatively, if you call into the counsellor's on Distillery Road in the afternoon, they'll also be able to help you.

I would also talk to some of your lecturers and let them know you're going through a rough patch. Exceptions can be made, but they would need to know in advance.

The Lost Sheep

BMBM123 wrote: »

Does anyone know if there is any special consideration available for exams? I don't wish to defer, I am going through a bad time in my life and finding difficulty in studying which is becoming a vicious cycle! If I spoke to one of my lecturers can they do anything?

Lecturers cant do much. They'll only advise going to counselling service or the health unit. As Lapin said if you defer one exam you defer all that follow it

BMBM123 wrote: »

Thank you for your help lapin. By any chance do you know is the health unit open this week since it's study week? I'm only imagining that there wouldn't be that many around maybe I'm wrong?

It is open afaik. There was plenty around today when I was in and cant see any real reason why it wont be open this week

Ficheall

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

[..] cant see any real reason why it wont be open this week

They wouldn't be the first in the university to take their holidays during their most busy period of the year...

mademoiselle_r

I arrived in late to college (week 5) so am feeling swamped too but the best thing to do is try to salvage what you can. At least if you sit the Christmas exams it'll give you an idea of the format of paper that will come up if you need to repeat and questions that might be asked.

Lecturers can grant extended deadlines when it comes to essays (if you attend student counselling/ the health unit) but as far as exams go, you really need to just sit them.

Good luck!

king_of_inismac

The thing to remember is that LOTS of students defer exams for all manner of reasons. The college and the lecturers are all well aware of the difficulties students have and in general do their best to support them.

Many students defer each and every year and if the reason is genuine, (most) lecturers will give them plenty of help.

As mentioned previously, talk to those in charge as early as possible. They'll talk you through all the options and then you can make an informed decision.

The university wants to help you and wants you to get your degree. Don't forget that.

Best of luck!