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Home > I need Help, Now > School Work > I can’t make an exam, what do I do?

I can’t make an exam, what do I do?

Exceptional circumstances such as illness or a personal issue, like a death in the family, can interfere with an exam and there are supports in place to help you. Below are the steps that you need to follow:

FEELING ILL BEFORE A FINAL EXAM

If you are feeling too sick to write your exam or you are experiencing a medical emergency, do not begin your exam. You can submit a petition to defer the exam. This request is to write your exam during an upcoming exam period. The deadline to submit a petition with supporting documentation is three business days after the date of the exam.

MIDTERM TEST FOR Y-COURSES DURING DECEMBER OR JUNE EXAM PERIOD

  1. Consult your course syllabus: Absence Declaration cannot be used for term tests for Y-courses during the December and June exam period. Read through the syllabus as it will likely tell you what to do for missed term tests. Some instructors will permit a make-up test or an alternative to a missed test.
  2. 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.
  3. Contact your College Registrar’s Office: You may need support from your College Registrar’s Office to write a make-up test.

BECOMING ILL DURING A FINAL EXAM

In-person exams

If you experience an acute medical emergency during an in-person final exam and must abandon the exam, you are required to inform an exam facilitator before leaving the exam room. You will be required to sign a form and will be provided with information on your next steps. You may submit a petition to rewrite your exam. You will need to submit the petition and supporting documentation including the U of T Verification of Student Illness or Injury form (VOI) within three business days after the date of the exam.

Online exams

  • If you become ill during your online exam and you are unable to complete your exam due to circumstances beyond your control, you should inform your instructor immediately and submit any work completed (e.g., save and log out of exam, email solutions to instructor).
  • If you abandoned your online final exam due to acute illness or injury, your supporting documentation must include the U of T Verification of Student Illness or Injury form (VOI) dated for the day of your exam.
    • Visit an authorized medical practitioner to complete the VOI Form.
    • Have it signed on the day of your exam. Visit the Exam Rewrite Petition page for more information about documentation.
  • You must submit a petition to request a rewrite of your final exam and supporting documentation within three business days after the date of the exam.
  • Consult your College Registrar’s Office for advice and support throughout this process.

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Things to consider

If you miss a term test for disability-related reasons, first consult your course syllabus for what to do and then contact your Accessibility Advisor as soon as possible.

Travel plans are not a reason to miss a test or exam. Exams may be held on Saturdays, Sundays or in the evenings. It is important to remember that if you make personal commitments during the final exam period, you will not receive special consideration and no special arrangements will be made in the event of conflicts resulting from personal commitments.

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