DS has failed 2 end of year exams, what is likely to happen?

[Monr0e]

Just that really. He is doing a mechanical engineering degree and this is his second year. It has been very demanding, especially on the run up to end of year. He has been working on 2 group assignments for months then as soon as they were completed, started end of year exams.

He has failed 2 out of 5. He has admitted himself he could have put more effort in throughout the year on these specific modules, but the last few months were taking up so much with his group work. One of which, he was the only one who did any of the work out of 4 of them

He has been told he can resit. But I am spiralling (I have started another thread today about my increasing anxiety!)

What is likely to happen if he fails his resits? Will that mean leaving the course? Can he redo 2nd year? (He really won't want to)
Will it be resitting the same exams or will they give them another one to do?

He failed one by 3 marks and one by 6. He is more than capable but only has 2 weeks before the resits and I'm really struggling with the idea that he may fail thses also.

Thank you for any advice

My daughter also complained at uni about being the only one who actually did the work in group projects. I think they do just have to deal with that, or raise it at the time with tutors.

(my son would have been one of the annoying group members leaving the bulk of the work up to someone else).

He can apply for unequal contribution, which if he did do all of the work is easy to prove.
If he struggles academically he can put in for EC's and see if he can get extra support going forward.

Thanks again everyone. I agree the time to say anything was during the group work assignment. He didn't want to do it then and he definitely doesn't want to say anything now. During the presentation, the lecturer aimed all his questions at the 3 others and DS spoke for around 30 seconds. He worries about this at the time but I think it was because he knew ds had done the work and he was checking the others had any clue what had been completed.

There have been a few things that have contributed. He had flu (proper genuine couldn't get out of bed flu) in October so missed almost a month, then not long after he was back they had 4 weeks off over Christmas. The lecturer for the module he failed by 6 marks on never put any lecture notes on, so he struggled to catch up. He has since been replaced due to complaints but there are still no lecture notes for the module only past papers.

Not trying to make excuses for him well, I am a bit but it has been a combination of things, plus his own lack of study that has brought him here. Ultimately though, he said everyone else has managed the same workload and he only blames himself.

I agree with you about why DS wasn’t asked to say more during the group presentation, OP.

@Monr0e it’s positive that he has recognised where he could have out more effort in and what went wrong for him- he won’t make the same mistakes again. Good luck for his resits.

Thank you very much

Here’s a link to the Salford Uni assessment regs https://www.salford.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/academicregulationstaughtprogrammes2526_0.pdf section 6 explains reassessment. At a glance it looks like if he fails this reassessment he can pay to resit the module and therefore get another attempt at the assessment, probably as a part-time student.

Just saw your comments about the lack of lecture notes. If he fails again he’d probably have good grounds to appeal.

Thank you so much

I've come home from work and he has told me the lecture notes have now been added, he isn't sure if it's all of them as some weeks are still left blank but there are definitely some on there now along with past papers and answers. So hopefully with the right study materials he will be able to do what he needs to do.

I still feel really anxious, but that's a me problem and something I'm working on!

So he has just said there are only half the lecture notes
4 weeks instead of 8, no tutorials and 1 past paper he can access. The resit is tomorrow and he is really not feeling confident. Im trying my best but worried sick, all he can do is his best but I really hope if he fails again he considers an appeal as they have been really let down by the uni

That is too bad. At the risk of asking the obvious, are there other resources on the course site or Virtual Learning Environment students would be expected to use? These might arguably function equivalently to lecture notes.

I ask because if not, this is a serious shortcoming and the School should be made aware of it. But for now please just try to boost DS’ confidence. Best wishes to him.