Sick Oxford Finalists Must Lose A Year
This year’s finalists celebrate the end of university but some are forced to lose a whole year because of illness.
A number of finalists have been forced to defer their exams after leaving the examination hall more than once during the same paper or suddenly falling ill. Research by The Oxford Student in only four colleges showed that 30 students have been forced to defer for a variety of reasons, frequently because they fell ill. This would suggest that over 100 have had to postpone their exams in the University as a whole.
This newspaper has gathered information which suggests that around 12 people at St Peter’s have been forced to withdraw. Examination regulations state that students may only leave the room once during a paper, but some students were unaware of this rule. As a result they were prevented from reentering the hall and finishing their exam.
Some students will therefore be forced to take their exams in a year’s time, as the University makes no provision for re-sits in September, in contrast to arrangements for some subjects with Prelims. Some may only have the first half of their exam marked, but the majority will have to take their exams in June next year.
A spokeswoman for the University stated that procedural changes in the last two years meant that a candidate who has to leave the hall because they feel unwell “may return to the room and continue sitting the paper.” “However, if a candidate feels unwell and has to leave the room more than once they may have to finish sitting that particular paper and seek a medical certificate”. She argued that such measures were not unfair on those who were unaware of the changes.
“Someone repeatedly leaving the room can be very disruptive to other candidates, and action may need to be taken accordingly”.
9th Jun 2005