My best mate at uni's dad died at Christmas.
When he came back me and him were walking into uni so he could get an extenuating circumstances form because he'd obviously done worse than he would in normal conditions for his January exams. We're in first year so obviously only need to get 40% to pass etc.
So he got the forms, and they said he'd get his grades bumped up by ten or fifteen perfect, I can't remember. Without really thinking I went "you know, it's annoying your dad didn't die next year because then the extra ten percent would count towards your final grade". I still grimace thinking about it.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 14:44, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

it's true though

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 14:47, Reply)

well, except unis don't increase marks, for this or for anything, though.
well, apart from an actual problem with the exam.

At least, none I know of do.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 14:51, Reply)

There are definitely extenuating circumstances things at ours.
But I think it only covers big things like the above. I know he had to give them a photocopy of his old man's death certificate. I couldn't help but think the whole process was beyond grim.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 14:54, Reply)

oh, totally you'll get extenuating circumstances, we have all sorts of options there
but you shouldn't be able to change absolute marks. You can sometimes, say, agree to give an "A" for 55% if the person is clearly an A candidate but had a good reason for fucking up an exam. But changing the actual 55% value is getting into naughtiness territory. I know some of the "newer" unis do it, but it's really bad practice. You got what you got. The reason we sit in exam boards is not to debate what you got, but what it is worth.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 15:21, Reply)