Sidney Smith Commons

Online resource for A & S students

I can’t make a test or exam, what do I do?

It’s not uncommon that illness or a personal issue, like a death in the family, can interfere with a test or exam and there are supports in place to help you. Your options will depend on whether you are writing a midterm test, an online final assessment or an in-person final exam.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency and cannot make it to a test or exam, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Record your absence using the Absence Declaration tool in ACORN.

CAN’T MAKE A MIDTERM TEST

  1. Consult your course syllabus: Before contacting your instructor or TA, be sure to read through the syllabus as it will likely tell you what to do. Some instructors will permit a make-up test or an alternative to a missed test.
  2. If you’ve been ill, report your absence. You can self-declare your illness on ACORN using the Absence Declaration tool.
  3. Contact your instructor or TA: If your syllabus advises you to, or doesn’t state otherwise, contacting your instructor or TA is a good idea. Let them know you’re unable to write the test and ask about your options.
  4. Contact your College Registrar’s Office: You may need support from your College Registrar’s Office to write a make-up test.

CAN’T MAKE AN IN-PERSON FINAL EXAM

  1. Complete the Absence Declaration in ACORN.
  2. Submit a petition to defer your exam. This petition will allow you to write the exam at a later date.  The deadline to submit a petition is five business days after the end of the final assessment period.
  3. Contact your instructor and let them know that you have submitted a petition to defer the exam.

CAN’T MAKE AN ONLINE FINAL ASSESSMENT

If you are unable to write an online final assessment, contact your instructor to discuss rescheduling the assessment for a different date before September 1, 2022. If you cannot write the final assessment before September 1, 2022, you will have to submit a term work extension petition with your College Registrar’s Office.

FEELING ILL DURING A TEST OR EXAM

If you feel ill during the test/exam and are too ill to complete the test, make sure to let your instructor or exam facilitator know before leaving the exam room or signing off the online test website. They may ask you to sign a form and can explain the next steps to you. For in-person exams, you may file a petition to defer your exam.