Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS17 wants to skip school day for UCAT. AIBU to say no??

88 replies

PoisedTiger · 07/09/2026 21:58

DS17 has his UCAT coming up next week. He has asked to skip school this Wednesday so he can do some final preparation.

AIBU to refuse to lie to the school and call him in sick?

School attendance is important to me, and I don't want to set a bad example by lying.

I have absolutely no doubts about his time management, he is doing brilliantly academically and is currently predicted 4 As*.

Should I just support him and pull the sickie, or am I right to insist on the truth?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
WildClover · 10/09/2026 12:01

I would definitely let him have the time off. Missing one day of school is neither here or there

TeenLifeMum · 10/09/2026 11:33

I would support this but be honest with school. Sounds sensible to me. It’s not like he is bunking off for a concert and in the work place you’d book a day off before. Dd1’s school would have be fine with this.

Gengha · 10/09/2026 11:32

noblegiraffe · 07/09/2026 22:35

You don't need to phone him in sick, you tell them that he is preparing for an external exam. This is a reasonable excuse for absence!

This! Getting a good mark is critical to his career plans!

iPreferBooks · 10/09/2026 11:27

Let him stay off and tell sixthform/college the truth (personally I would say two days before).

If you say no, he could still just go to the library to revise instead.

Mapletreelane · 10/09/2026 11:08

School gave my son the day off for his TMUA . Was their suggestion we didn't ask. Normal state school.

Justonemorecoffeeplease · 10/09/2026 11:00

Don't lie, tell them it's for UCAT prep or test. It is important and I imagine he's already prepared for some time and this is the last push.

JustMeSimply · 09/09/2026 00:58

No wouldn't be lying or expecting my children to lie, tell the truth it would come out somehow anyway and of it's like our oldest who recently took a day to study the teachers were fine

EveryoneUsingOutro · 09/09/2026 00:48

No reply OP? @PoisedTiger

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 08/09/2026 17:17

UCAT is more important.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 08/09/2026 17:11

Let him stay off but tell the truth.

BlueMum16 · 08/09/2026 16:52

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 08/09/2026 12:56

You book a slot at a test centre. Often little choice but a Wednesday seems very sensible as it’s usually a half day in sixth form (sport fixtures in afternoon)

My DD’s grammar sixth form were ridiculous about attendance. She sat LNAT and I called out of courtesy to let them know and they didn’t know what it was and were really awkward. Another time they rang me to say she was absent and she was on an educational day trip abroad arranged through school. My fave was conversation late one afternoon. I said she’s told me she’s filled out the pink slip to notify you of uni open day attendance. Oh yes she has but it says open day is 9am tomorrow. I had to explain Queens Belfast was in NI and that it needed a flight to get there from England so yes that’s why not in her late afternoon lesson day before.

Show quote history

I get the UCAT can be midweek. My DS did it

The OP said his is next week but the OP DC wants this Wednesday off to revise. That's why I asked why this Wednesday? Why not this Thursday, Friday or weekend?

Zanatdy · 08/09/2026 16:14

At this point UCAT is more important.

RockinCara · 08/09/2026 16:13

UCAT is really important and he needs to feel prepared/confident about it. My stepson got three A*s but didn’t get onto his medicine course the first time he applied because of his UCAT score. He ended up taking the year out and reapplying.

Libre2 · 08/09/2026 15:52

Lovelyview · 07/09/2026 22:12

You don't have to lie. Just tell the school he's having a day preparing for the ucat.

Absolutely this. I have given DC various days off for various things over the years - never lied just told school what it is for. If they get an unauthorised absence, never mind.

Merrybandofpirates · 08/09/2026 15:50

I let my son have the day off to get in a final full day rehearsal for a musician competition. I just told the school the truth. They said it would be unauthorised but was his first day off that year so wouldn’t make any difference and told him good luck.

Just let him have the day off.

Grumpyoldcat · 08/09/2026 15:36

Your son is hardworking and sounds trustworthy. Let him have the day off and just tell college the truth. You dont need to lie!

UniquePinkSwan · 08/09/2026 15:15

He’s 17. He doesn’t need permission

ThisisPradadarling · 08/09/2026 14:16

For anyone else who had never heard of UCAT (like me) and needs the blanks filling in, it's this "The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by most medical and dental schools...."

Yes, he needs to take the day off college for it.

YourWildAmberSloth · 08/09/2026 14:11

For UCAT, why would you need to lie to the school? I would expect them to be supportive.

Helpmyarse · 08/09/2026 13:34

And Seriouly, sod attendance. It’s one day.

If they mark it down as un authorised, what do you think a university is going to say? “Oh dear, what a great score and excellent A levels, shame we can’t take him as his attendance is 99%”

Just tell them he won’t be in.

RampantIvy · 08/09/2026 13:30

TISSHA · 08/09/2026 13:29

UCAT is so so crucial.

It will absolutely define which universities will take him. It is a one shot exam and everything rides on it when it comes to med school applications.

The 4 A’s are irrelevant - the vast majority of candidates will have 4 As too.

A great UCAT score is what differentiates. Make or break.

This ^^

TISSHA · 08/09/2026 13:29

UCAT is so so crucial.

It will absolutely define which universities will take him. It is a one shot exam and everything rides on it when it comes to med school applications.

The 4 A’s are irrelevant - the vast majority of candidates will have 4 As too.

A great UCAT score is what differentiates. Make or break.

Deadleaves77 · 08/09/2026 13:24

A day off school is perfectly reasonable for the UCAT. Its an important exam, just tell the school hes taking a day off to prepare

GatherlyGal · 08/09/2026 13:20

I have just emailed DDs school to say she is missing 2 days to revsise and one day for the test.

They replied saying they have marked down her authorised and non-authorised absence.

The UCAT is as important as A levels. He can get A*s in everything but if he doens't perform well enough in the UCAT he can't do medicine.

Why would you not do anything to encourage him?

Ponderingwindow · 08/09/2026 13:18

He isn’t skipping play video games. He is focused on his future and prioritizing his time.