Still getting 40% for missed exam due to medical reasons

[Chiaseedling]

My DS has just got his final results. He’s done really well but unfortunately he wasn’t mentally well in Nov/Dec and missed two exams (one module). He was told he’d have to take these two exams in the summer season (uni were v supportive but this was the solution and he was fine with that).
Now it seems he got a pass for these missed exams which means overall he’s been awarded a first (he would achieve 65% without taking them, but he is def first material - most of his grades have been a first & he got one for his dissertation).
He’s trying to find out if he still needs to do the exams (which would be end July), but it looks like he won’t.
Is it normal to be awarded a pass for missed exams in this situation? He knows if he takes them he just needs to pass now, so it does seem a bit ‘academic’ at this stage if you pardon the pun.

He should still take them for his own satisfaction, that he knows he's been tested on each module of the course. Doing a degree isn't obligatory, but in his shoes a lot of people would feel dissatisfied for the rest of their life lnowing that despite having the actual degree certificate, that was only based on 7/8ths or 9/10ths of what was expected. Hopefully his degree subject is something he actually enjoys, otherwise what's the point? So hopefully doing some extra revision fir what was missed won't be any great hardship.

Is he final year? I ask because resits can only happen in earlier years of the course and only at final year exam board can units be discounted. Congrats to him on his well deserved first!

I don't understand - are you saying he got a first despite only being awarded 40% on two missed papers?

@CoverLikelyZebrahe loved his degree which is probably why he did so well (apart from being very able - most of his work was a first or high 2.1). I know what you’re saying - I suppose it’s up to him if he takes it. He very much likes to ‘do the right thing though so we’ll see.

Why bother sitting more exams in the summer if you don’t have to? Unless he wants to go for an ultra competitive industry where they look at his transcript, a first is a first. Well done him

Yes he’s final year. They do allow resits in final year - his friend failed an exam and he’s retaking it next month. Although technically it’s not a resit for DS as he didn’t take the exams in the first place.

Yes!

what if he wants to do a masters at some point? will the 40% scores cause an issue for him?

Hes def not the ultra competitive type but he wants to go for a scientific type job although not ‘ climb the career ladder’ as he put it. He decided against academia as well as realised it is uber-competitive.

Ha, he literally just got the answer that as he has actually already achieved a first (his calculations of a 2:1 were wrong then!) so the exam board discounted the module and he’s legit got a first! Hooray!

Tell him to have a look at the university compensation policy. It sounds as though the university have awarded him pass credits based on his overall performance. If his overall average is above a certain level they'll apply compensation regulations. Every university has some version of this scheme.
Also, they usually calculate degree classification based on your 120 credits at level 6. If a student could achieve a better degree if they substituted their best 20 or 40 credits from level 5 they'll do that. It sounds as though they have their versions of these policies and have applied them.
I teach at a university.

Congratulations !

Is there a chance he'll need to provide his mark breakdown for a future employer / Masters /etc? And if so are those modules particularly key?

Which university? I don't doubt what you're saying, but that sounds highly unusual.

I agree with @Fgfgfg . The compensation policy is being applied.

If DS was meant to take more exams he would not have been awarded a degree classification. Congratulations to him!

It could be classified on how many modules he got a first in. At my uni if you got 5, they automatically gave people 1st.

This is amazing! And very well deserved. His hard work paid off

As an employer though I would be happy with an explanation about what happened. It's clear his highly capable

No employer is looking at "module" grades. FFS

Some employers do ask for degree mark breakdowns, which is why I mentioned it. Not most employers or most jobs though!

can you name one?

In my team there is a particular module of the necessary degree that directly relates to the work people specialise in on the team. I don't insist on a particular mark but grads often like to share their marks to demonstrate enthusiasm for an an aptitude in that particular element of the degree

Lots of the big law firms look at module breakdowns.

Law firms is the example I'm aware of too.

https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/llb-first-years/do-law-firms-ask-for-first-year-grades

OP's son is applying for science jobs though which I know nothing about! So I don't know if they ever ask for mark breakdowns.

Ok that's fair enough, I expect that kind of requested detail is going to be relevant for Law.