Covid and exams

[olympicfan]

DC tested positive for Covid (LFT) after feeling unwell this morning. They had a university end of year (in person) exam this afternoon. They missed the exam, thinking they should isolate and let their academic tutor know.

Do students have to isolate? Should they have taken the exam? What happens if this occurs for A level students during their exam period? DC has been told they will score zero, then will have five days to appeal to sit the exam in August as a first sitting.

We had this situation with my daughter and her A Levels two weeks ago - Oral exam.

Government guidance is if 18 and under you can take exams 3 days after testing positive for Covid if you no longer have a temperature - it is 5 days for those aged 19 and over. Here are the links to the JCQ guidance and UK Gov guidance - written for A Levels but would seem useful for Uni students though each Uni may have its own guidance

JCQ Special Considerations Appendix for GCE exams just published in April 2022 www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-guide-to-the-special-consideration-process-202122-–-General-and-Vocational-qualifications-Updated-8-April-2022.pdf

UKHSA guidance - link there to a useful blog. educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/04/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-measures-during-exams-this-summer/

Hope they feel better soon.

What happens if this occurs for A level students during their exam period?

Their grade will be determined by the exams/assessments for that subject that they are able to sit, so long as it's at least 25% of the assessments. The exams should be spaced out enough that they wouldn't miss them all for a subject.

They need to fill out a form stating why they've missed the exam, signed by themselves, parents and school saying they are aware if they are lying, they would face disqualification.

Thank you.

Next exam is on Friday. DC will definitely sit that.

The JCQ arrangement for GCSE's and A levels are not relevant for your child. They need to contact university ASAP and follow their procedures.

Surely the university has a policy in place on Covid? Most are asking students to stay away from campus if they test positive. Giving a mark of zero and an opportunity to sit as a first attempt in the next assessment period is normal policy when an exam is missed due to illness.

They are planning to turn up and sit in an exam hall with Covid?

Yes at my university you'd provide proof of not being able to sit exam then redid in august. If they believed you, it would be marked properly, if not it would be capped at 50% (as masters level)

Make sure they officially log their lft results on the govt website if that’s still running. I know some uni students who didn’t do this, missed an exam due to being positive and will now be capped at the resit

I don't think that an LFT will count as proof.

My son is currently at college and their policy is you attend as usual unless you fee too poorly.

DC tested positive for Covid (LFT) after feeling unwell this morning. They had a university end of year (in person) exam this afternoon. They missed the exam, thinking they should isolate and let their academic tutor know.

Different universities will have different procedures for illness immediately before or during an exam. My university advises students to do the assessment, and put in a form for mitigation. There is then a Mitigation committee which will examine the evidence & assignment to determine whether or not performance was affected by the illness/circumstances.

COVID may be a little different - There should be extensive information about what to do on your DC's university webpage. My university homepage still pops up as a COVID advice page, and there are links and FAQs everywhere.

It is the student's responsibility to know about these things - COVID or otherwise - there should be accessible information in the Department Handbook, or by asking a Departmental administrator.

Don't test!!!