to miss an exam if my sister goes into labour?

[FedoraTheExplora]

I have a few exams coming up over the next few weeks (first semester at uni). My sisters also due to give birth to her first DC in the next couple of weeks. I'm her birth partner - she was mine and she was amazing; she is very nervous and hugely focused on the idea that I will help her through.

I know it's unlikely, but if she does go into labour at the same time as one of my exams, what do I do? I've received a first in every assignment so far. Shall I miss it and receive zero, given that first years marks don't 'count', though they may affect the likelihood of me getting a summer placement or similar? Will I be given the opportunity to retake due to extenuating circumstances? When I was pregnant, she told her work they would have to sack her if they didn't let her leave when I was in labour (half in jest but I know she would have stuck to her word if necessary).

So AIBU? WWYD?

Does your sister have a partner that could be there too? I think a university course is important and I wouldn't risk the first year, you'll be screwed if you fail the resit.

Also, whereas in the past maybe you wouldn't provide a copy of your transcript to employers etc as HEAR gets more widely taken up you may find that they ask to see your HEAR which is often online and could easily include your transcript.

She does have DP there, I think she just assumes he'll be a bit useless - although I thought the same about my DP and he was actually amazing and I probably didn't need her there at all. She doesn't know I have exams scheduled, my family aren't exactly the academic types so although they are very pleased I'm doing so well I don't really bother boring them with the details. She would understand if I missed it and would not be angry, I'm pretty sure of that - just think it will massively increase her anxiety.

I've taken in all of your advice - mumsnet is great for hearing from people you would never usually come into contact with, such as people who assess masters applications etc.

I will wait to hear back from my uni - we did a presentation (big chunk of module grade) the other day and were told that if we missed it we would get 0. An email was sent round that night saying anyone that missed it would get a chance to present on a different day instead. I find my uni to be quite prone to hand holding, probably as it's the first semester and required A level grades are relatively low - there's only been seen exams, multiple choice online tests etc. If I'm lucky, there may be a similar contingency plan in place.

If not, I think I will have to go the exam. She will understand, and I really really don't want all my hard work to go to waste. We are talking about 8 hours over a three week period though, which does finish just before her due date. So hopefully everything will work out ok

Agree with Tiggles - employers are increasingly less impressed by your end result and more interested in getting a more holistic view of what kind of student you were

a zero for non attendance might say more to some than overall grade for that year/module.

Don't chance it