Supplementary exams & alternative arrangements
Your guide to the exam alternatives we provide & how to apply for them
On this page: learn about supplementary exams at UNSW and eligible reasons for alternative arrangements.
We're committed to making your exam experience fair and stress-free.
Unable to sit your final exam as scheduled due to circumstances or commitments beyond your control?
In most cases, you'll have to submit a Special Consideration application with supporting documentation. From there, if approved, we can organise other opportunities for you to meet your exam requirements.
See also
The supplementary exam period is an official exam session held after the main exam period to deliver deferred or make-up exams.
You should make yourself available for the supplementary exam period if you miss your main exam.
Supplementary exams aren't required to be identical in form to the main exams, as long as they assess the same learning outcomes. You should expect different questions to the main exam.
Please note: Supplementary exams for AGSM, ADFA, Art & Design and the School of Optometry are not centrally managed by the UNSW Examinations Team. For further information about their exam alternatives, contact these schools directly.
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You are considered a potential graduand when you are in your final term of study. As a potential graduand, you do not need to complete a Special Consideration application, since you can be awarded a supplementary exam at the discretion of your school or faculty. If approved, you can check the details of your supplementary exam on myUNSW.
Unsure if you are eligible?
Contact The Nucleus: Student Hub to inquire about your eligibility to sit a supplementary exam. If you're not sure of your potential graduand status, you can confirm whether you are in your final term of study using myPlan.
Important note: If you receive a potential graduand supplementary exam due to a Fail grade based on your overall course result, your final mark for the course will be capped at 50%.
There is only one opportunity to do a potential graduand supplementary exam. There is no special consideration if you are unable to attend.
How we organise supplementary exams
- After you apply for Special Consideration, your application is assessed to determine if you are eligible for a supplementary exam. Please keep an eye on your student email for updates about the outcome of your application.
- The supplementary exam timetable is finalised once all Special Consideration applications have been assessed.
- We release your supplementary exam details via myUNSW no later than seven days before your supplementary exam *. Please continue to check your Exam Timetable the week before the supplementary exam period.
* The seven day notice does not apply for potential graduand supplementary exams.
If you have been awarded a supplementary exam and your Exam Timetable in myUNSW has not been updated by the Friday before the supplementary exam period, please contact us via exams@unsw.edu.au.
If you have particular commitments or restrictions preventing you from taking the exam as scheduled, you may be eligible to get alternative arrangements. See below for the specific eligibility criteria.
With the approval of the relevant academic member, the UNSW Examinations Team may arrange an alternative exam for you by either:
- scheduling the same examination at a different time
- setting a different examination of similar content and difficulty.
Unlike supplementary exams, exams with alternative arrangements can be scheduled during the main exam period, even on the very same day.
Important note: When the same examination is rescheduled on the same day, you will have to remain under supervision until both the morning and afternoon exam sessions finish. During this period, you will not be permitted to use any electronic devices capable of transmission, including computers, mobile phones, tablets and smart watches. We advise you to bring your lunch and any study materials with you.
How to request alternative exam arrangements for:
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If you have a timetable clash, the Examinations Team will reschedule your examinations and notify you about the new arrangements approximately one week before the exam period.
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If you have registered with Equitable Learning Services (ELS) and have an active Equitable Learning Plan (ELP), the ELS team will reach out to the UNSW Examinations Team for you and organise alternative arrangements for your exam where required.
Please note:
Special Consideration is ideal for unexpected, short term circumstances beyond your control.
If you have a long-term physical or mental health condition, are living with a disability or are the primary carer for someone with a disability, we highly encourage you to register with Equitable Learning Services (ELS) to receive appropriate, ongoing support throughout your studies.
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At UNSW, we recognise that your religious faith may prohibit you from sitting examinations at certain times. Wherever possible, the University will attempt to accommodate your commitments so that you may fulfil both your religious and academic obligations.
If you cannot attend a final examination on the scheduled date or time for religious reasons, the UNSW Examinations Team can work with your course coordinator to reschedule your exam during the main exam period.
To apply for an exam reschedule for religious reasons, you must:
- Get a supporting letter, on appropriate letterhead stationery, from an authoritative member of your religious community which confirms you can't attend your final exam at the originally scheduled time.
- Submit a Special Consideration application with your supporting letter no later than two weeks after the release of the final exam timetable.
When your request has been assessed, and approved, your exam details will be updated on myUNSW, notifying you of the reschedule or other alternative arrangement for your exam.
If you have not been notified of a reschedule or alternative arrangements 5 working days prior to your scheduled exam, please email the Examinations Team for clarification at exams@unsw.edu.au.
Important information:
The UNSW Examinations Team cannot guarantee alternative arrangements for your final exam within the main exam period. Your examination may be moved to the supplementary exam period if your Special Consideration application is:
- Submitted later than two weeks after the release of the final exam timetable
- Filled out incompletely and/or with deficient supporting documentation *
- Appealing for an examination which cannot be rescheduled in the main exam period.
* Providing falsified documents in support of your application will result in one of a range of penalties from failure in the course to suspension or exclusion. In some cases, the matter could also be reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). As a student, you must be aware of your obligations and responsibilities under the Student Code.
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If you have a training or competition as part of the Elite Athlete Program (EAP) that clashes with an examination, you should consult with the EAP office in the first instance. If unavoidable, you may submit a Special Consideration application with a letter from your team manager or competition owner that confirms the date of your commitment.
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When illness or other circumstances beyond your control affect your ability to undertake an examination, you may be eligible to apply for Special Consideration.
If approved, you will be rescheduled to a supplementary exam.
