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.

Hello everyone, so it's been a long wait since his resits but he got the results today and he has thankfully passed them both.

It has definitely been a wake up call for him and despite the issues he had with the course he has absolutely taken responsibility for not passing first time and has hopefully learned a lesson about upping his game for third year. He has also said he will be quicker to reach out for help as well if he is struggling with anything.

A huge thank you to everyone, especially @poetryandwine for sharing your stories and knowledge. They really helped 💐

That's great news! It takes a lot of resilience to pick yourself up and get through resits.

I don't think it's that uncommon. DD went to visit her friends over the summer and said a lot of them were doing resits.

Thank ypu, @Monr0e . I thought there were many useful contributions here. Very best wishes to DS going forward.

From my experience on uni (I've been to few) there is always one opportunity to resit, normally with the grades capped at a minimum pass. E.g. you might score 80% on the resit but you will only obtain 40% or pass not merit or distinction.

If he fails the resit then there should be an opportunity to resit the year / modules. If it is only two he has missed he might be allowed to just study those two modules. This would make him a part time student with implications for finance.

Depending on which modules he has passed he might be able to take some year 3 modules.

I did my degree part time and in a joint honours so at some points I was taking year 3 modules in subject A but year 2 in subject B.

The options of what to study will depend on the prerequisites he has passed. So say there are 3 maths modules and you have to pass maths 1 to take maths 2 and you have to pass maths 2 to study maths 3.

So if he has passed, in my example Maths 2 then he should be able to take maths 3 but if one of his fails is maths 2 he won't be able to progress.

As a PP said it does depend on the rules in the individual university so please don't get excited about what I say next. Sometimes it is possible to to take modules from different discipline.

*I'm using 'module here' but each uni uses different terms, some call them units.
BTW I have the upmost sympathy for your son with the group work, it can be a nightmare, I did one in my second year, out of 4 of us, one left the course, I became homeless and 1 had to bring her children.

In the end we got a really high mark but the one with child care issues complained.

In my third year when I had group work I started out by saying, "If you let me lead this, we will get an A", I did and we did.

I think with group work at UG level you want to work like democracy, and that doesn't work.

Thank you very much foe your detailed reply.

Thankfully he has passed his resits so can move on to third year.

Everyone's information has been really helpful

@Monr0ewell done to your son what a relief! Can I tag on a question please as my DC is in a similar boat having failed the resit by 2 marks. She was having panic attacks at the time but no evidence! All other papers/modules are excellent marks and overall score is a high 2:1 equivalent. First year and so disheartened. We are trying to speak to her academic tutor, but any wise words of how do we salvage this without losing the whole course or next whole year?

Which uni is it? It will really depend on the specific institution.

Some would allow her to pass by compensation, given her high average in other modules, that it was only one exam that was resat and how close she was to passing.

Others will allow her to progress to second year, but make her resit the module again, but perhaps with a capped pass score.

Some will make her take the year off books, resitting the exam next summer and only allowing her to progress if it has been passed

I'm glad this has had a happy resolution and that your DS can progress to his final year.

If my DD had caused me as much worry over her university course as your son has obviously caused you, to the extent that you have started two MN threads about it, I'd be asking her to write a detailed plan for the final year of the course, including revision for finals, and sitting down with her so she could go through it with me and reflect on what she had learnt from the difficult aspects of her second year. Your DS's would need to include in particular what he's going to do differently in group assignments, so he doesn't end up doing the lion's share next time (if there is one).

Hopefully, the penny will drop that as an adult, his actions have consequences for people other than himself - a useful lesson for the workplace as well as the family. I feel quite cross and upset on your behalf, OP, that a DS old enough to know better has you spiralling into anxiety in the way you describe.

@Skule it’s Southampton & an essay subject. The given paper was an essay.

Has the School been in contact with your DD? This is such a narrow miss that, for example, my School would present her with reasonable options. The details would depend on the course module.

Sorry, I missed this post. What have the School told DD about follow up to this?

@poetryandwine - she’s just seen her marks on the system, not received any official ‘verdict’ with it. Trying to reach her tutor to discuss and hopefully influence the verdict if possible.

just few weeks ago she went to her uni town to meet him in person to do even better in year2. This was before she knew this result.

It’s wonderful that she has already met with her tutor about doing better in Y2. He will carry that conversation into the exam board, or, if not attending, very likely relay it to the Chair.

I think DD will either be waved, or waived, through, or required to carry the course unit as described by @Skule. Just a hopeful guess, however. It is defo what we would be doing. 🤞

@poetryandwinethank you for your kind words. She’s been on a rough ride with a late adhd diagnosis in y12 and was determined to get a first at uni. Even though first year grades don’t count towards it she was aiming high. This is why she went to meet the tutor. She’s very sad. Hoping to reach the tutor soon. Thank you for giving me some hope, I will report back when we know.