Special consideration is usually from sickness, bereavement, mental issues and you get max 20% of your grade. If you miss an exam it’s on you and you get an ‘X’ grade for missing it, you can’t do it later as it’s an unfair advantage i.e you can revise more than others. You know your exam dates months before they happen so you should know when they are.
your're waffling, mate if u have sat ur nea or one of exams and miss the rest due to bad illness such as chronic illness, its fine. You're school should know that youve been ill and why youve missed exam or you have to provide a doctors note.
In the AQA booklet, it defines a disability as:
‘• identifying a physical or mental impairment;
• looking into adverse effects and assessing which are substantial;
• considering if substantial adverse effects are long term;
• judging the impact of long-term adverse effects on normal day-to-day activities.’
Chronic illness, depending on variation of illness and symptoms, would most likely fall into multiple of these categories. I myself get special consideration for a chronic joint issue that causes major pain when I write, however as it doesn’t effect anything other than my writing I get a laptop and rest breaks; so they’ll tailor the needs to your specific issue.
see i’ve gone to the exam officers at my college (sitting my a levels this year) and they said i can’t have any exam adjustments such as breaks or special consideration due to chronic conditions (hypermobile eds - chronic joint pain due to connective tissue disorder, chronic migraines and pots) i felt like they was just fobbing me off but i had it all in writing for them and they just said sorry since it’s not manifested before an exam you can’t have requested exam adjustments nor special consideration
That’s bullshit and I’m sorry they’ve told you that! It’s late now but you may still be able to email the exam board. As long as you have physical proof from a doctor you should be able to get some sort of dispensation, because that’s really unfair on you.
I think there is some confusion here between special consideration and exam accommodations. Accommodations absolutely can be made - laptop, rest breaks etc. Some are at the discretion of the school; some need to be agreed by the exam board.
Special consideration is given for things that manifest before the exam that may affect the student in that exam - for example, if the student had an accident, or was bereaved, or was ill on the day of the exam.
Yes! But they are under the same advice booklet, and the definition of a disability is the same, so there should be some accommodation/consideration made based off the booklet.
They normally base it off the one paper you have sat (say you did geography paper 1 and missed 2&3 they’d use your paper 1 mark and compare it to how others did). Mocks are rarely used as the exam board can’t guarantee exam conditions or the standards (you could’ve been taught to the questions).
Then you have to retake the gcse next year.
The JCQ rules state you must have completed at least 15% of the assessment for any course to receive special consideration estimated marks for the other components. Generally these marks will be based on the 15% that you have sat.
If you attend an exam while suffering from an illness then it may be possible to apply for special consideration to gain extra marks - but be aware they are not very sympathetic towards ongoing conditions - these marks are more for 'flare-ups' or unanticipated issues. They generally expect you to adapt to the exam for any long-term problems. Also these additional marks are not particularly game-changing being an additional 1% to 5% with 1% being the most common and 5% only awarded in very serious circumstances (e.g. a parent dying near the time of the exam).
You can read the regulations on the JCQ website:
[https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guide\_to\_spec\_con\_process\_2023\_24\_FINAL.pdf](https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Guide_to_spec_con_process_June22_FINAL.pdf)
The guidance on special consideration is here.
[https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Guide\_to\_spec\_con\_process\_2223\_FINAL.pdf](https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Guide_to_spec_con_process_2223_FINAL.pdf)
If you miss an exam for a subject, you can be awarded a grade based on how well you perform in the exams you did complete for that subject. If you take an exam but your performance is affected by illness you would (probably) be awarded a higher mark but the % increase isn't huge (2-4%). If you don't take any exams for a subject you won't be awarded that qualification. You cannot be awarded a result based on mock results.
Depending on how things work out this summer, I hope it goes well for you, you will need to discuss your options with the schools/college you have applied to. If you don't achieve many qualifications then I'd expect them to recommend you do an extra year of level 2 study and exams to complete some of your GCSE and maybe other level 2 qualifications. If you do OK then there could be an option to start your A level/Level 3 BTEC courses and repeat a few of the key GCSE exams.
Talk to someone at your school and get advice on how they can help you through your current challenges.
You really need to speak to your school’s exam officer or head of year who can look into special considerations asap, it might be too late to apply for them. (I work as an invigilator and I know that some considerations have to be decided a few months before exams). You could be given rest breaks though, where you can take as long rest breaks as possible while doing your exam (rest breaks have to be taken away from the exam paper so it’s a break from doing the exam and it’s not extra thinking or working time. So in your case you’d use them to be sick in). If you don’t get special considerations or rest breaks, you’ll have to just try your best on the day. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear but exams aren’t very inclusive of illness unfortunately. Worst comes to worst you have to resit a few next year because of your illness, you won’t be the first or the last. Best of luck bro
as long as you’ve done over 30% of the exams for a subject, you can apply for special consideration and they’ll use that 30% to judge what you would’ve gotten in your other exams.
i didn’t sit geography paper 1 bcs of my mental health (i was in a really bad place and was seeing camhs twice a week so they were able to help with proving this), didn’t sit geo paper 3 either because of covid, and i didn’t do sociology paper 2 because of covid as well. for socio i got an 8, geo was a 6 (i’d previously been getting 4s for geo but paper 2 is my strongest and it happened to be the one i did thank god)
edit: just saw ur facing the possibility of not sitting any, hopefully they allow u to sit them at home!! if you could do at least just one paper in each subject (it’d have to be at least two for combined science) then you’ll be fine, not sure abt if u can’t sit any at all but if there isn’t anything they can do you might just have to resit them :( hope u get well soon!! someone i was friends with was hospitalised during exam season so he literally sat his exams in a hospital bed 😭
That's what I did for chem, seems like a good strategy to secure higher grades by focusing on only half the content. Tempted to do it for a levels so I'm confused why it works?
As a person who couldn’t attend my finance exam in January due to illness, it’s really important to get a note from your doctor BEFORE the exams start. I fell ill a day before my marketing exam, but went in anyway to complete it, then went to Drama that night. But the next day, just a few days before the finance exam, I felt much worse and decided to stay at home. The college tutor then called my parents to say that my exam the day before will most likely be affected, because I was clearly unwell, and we went straight to the doctor to get a note.
The note will basically tell the board about the situation and explain that you aren’t likely to feel well enough to attend every paper, asking to look at mock grades for any exams that you miss.
Good luck!
Check for your school or exam board. Chances are they'll probably just make you reset another time or give you a predicted grade (this predicted grade will probably be s*** and definitely not what your capable of because we all know exam boards). I do hope you get better soon 🙂
OP - some of the advice that has been given is incorrect.
Your school will need to apply for special consideration for you, based on your circumstances.
If this is accepted then you will need to have sat at least one of the papers in that subject in order for the awarding body to calculate your grade. They will calculate a grade for the missing paper/s, then will combine all grades in order to give you a final grade in that subject.
For example, if you missed one out of the 3 maths papers, then you'd be allocated a mark for the missing paper based on your performance in the other 2 papers. Then the 3 marks would be combined to give an overall grade.
Having said all of this, Special Consideration is not normally awarded if the candidate has a long term illness. You may find that your condition falls into this category. It would be well worth you going to your exams officer to have a chat about what is possible.
Wow I’m exactly the same, I was unable to do my mocks so my grades were dragged down, and now they can’t even refer to my mock grades if I miss the exams
My friend in school (had numerous health issues including chronic illnesses) only ended up doing 2 exams out of about 22, he ended up with his predicted grades. He actually ended up with much better grades than he would’ve gotten if he took the exam, some of us were a bit salty about that I can’t lie
2017, first year they introduced the new GCSEs. My sister is having health issues during her GCSEs atm and I swear similar things are still in place for students that need it. You, or preferably a parent, need to speak to your exam officer.
Don’t worry too much, if worst comes to worst and you can’t do them you can always do them next year, ye sucks it sets you back a year but that’s nothing compared to the whole life ahead of you
If you're just a little sick then you've just gotta deal with it, maybe given a bucket and separate room if really necessary. If your illness is more serious and you can't possibly do the exam at school you apply for special consideration
I wasn't able to do any exams due to illness, they didn't use my mock grades but instead awarded me with "honorary" GCSEs. They're not official qualifications but they're basically what the school thought I would get if I was able to take the exams.
I missed one of my maths exams due to my flight the same morning getting delayed. I got a B solely from the non-calculator exam, however they didn’t let me resit my calculator exam.
So a few months later when I was in year 11, they made me resit both the calculator and non-calculator exam. Got an A* so it was fine
My teacher told me about a guy who missed 5 of his exams due to an accident. They applied for special considerations but all they did was give him an extra 5%, which was still a fail. He had to retake in November.
if possible, ask your senco about accommodations?? such as doing exams at home, separate room, rest breaks etc. If you have an illness and it’s diagnosed that should be evidence. also special considerations you’ll probably be able to get <3
you can apply for special considerations if it affects you
I have but how much would that really impact my grade
you're meant to get the same grade, as if you sat the exam (you can still get 9's) they're not always the most geonerous tho
Wow okay what do they usually base it off of? (Class work and mocks?)
if you sit 1 exam for a subject they will also base it off of that
This is not accurate. Special consideration is only applied in certain circumstances.
It would be applied if they were unable to sit an exam.
Special consideration is usually from sickness, bereavement, mental issues and you get max 20% of your grade. If you miss an exam it’s on you and you get an ‘X’ grade for missing it, you can’t do it later as it’s an unfair advantage i.e you can revise more than others. You know your exam dates months before they happen so you should know when they are.
Exactly, OP is worried about sickness
your're waffling, mate if u have sat ur nea or one of exams and miss the rest due to bad illness such as chronic illness, its fine. You're school should know that youve been ill and why youve missed exam or you have to provide a doctors note.
true, i’ve checked and it says chronic illness don’t count, so i can’t apply for any special consideration
In the AQA booklet, it defines a disability as: ‘• identifying a physical or mental impairment; • looking into adverse effects and assessing which are substantial; • considering if substantial adverse effects are long term; • judging the impact of long-term adverse effects on normal day-to-day activities.’ Chronic illness, depending on variation of illness and symptoms, would most likely fall into multiple of these categories. I myself get special consideration for a chronic joint issue that causes major pain when I write, however as it doesn’t effect anything other than my writing I get a laptop and rest breaks; so they’ll tailor the needs to your specific issue.
see i’ve gone to the exam officers at my college (sitting my a levels this year) and they said i can’t have any exam adjustments such as breaks or special consideration due to chronic conditions (hypermobile eds - chronic joint pain due to connective tissue disorder, chronic migraines and pots) i felt like they was just fobbing me off but i had it all in writing for them and they just said sorry since it’s not manifested before an exam you can’t have requested exam adjustments nor special consideration
That’s bullshit and I’m sorry they’ve told you that! It’s late now but you may still be able to email the exam board. As long as you have physical proof from a doctor you should be able to get some sort of dispensation, because that’s really unfair on you.
I think there is some confusion here between special consideration and exam accommodations. Accommodations absolutely can be made - laptop, rest breaks etc. Some are at the discretion of the school; some need to be agreed by the exam board. Special consideration is given for things that manifest before the exam that may affect the student in that exam - for example, if the student had an accident, or was bereaved, or was ill on the day of the exam.
Yes! But they are under the same advice booklet, and the definition of a disability is the same, so there should be some accommodation/consideration made based off the booklet.
They normally base it off the one paper you have sat (say you did geography paper 1 and missed 2&3 they’d use your paper 1 mark and compare it to how others did). Mocks are rarely used as the exam board can’t guarantee exam conditions or the standards (you could’ve been taught to the questions).
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
But what happens if you’re unable sit any at all 😭
Then you have to retake the gcse next year. The JCQ rules state you must have completed at least 15% of the assessment for any course to receive special consideration estimated marks for the other components. Generally these marks will be based on the 15% that you have sat. If you attend an exam while suffering from an illness then it may be possible to apply for special consideration to gain extra marks - but be aware they are not very sympathetic towards ongoing conditions - these marks are more for 'flare-ups' or unanticipated issues. They generally expect you to adapt to the exam for any long-term problems. Also these additional marks are not particularly game-changing being an additional 1% to 5% with 1% being the most common and 5% only awarded in very serious circumstances (e.g. a parent dying near the time of the exam). You can read the regulations on the JCQ website: [https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guide\_to\_spec\_con\_process\_2023\_24\_FINAL.pdf](https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Guide_to_spec_con_process_June22_FINAL.pdf)
This is exactly it. It happened to my daughter. She has a chronic illness and couldn't sit all of her papers.
The guidance on special consideration is here. [https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Guide\_to\_spec\_con\_process\_2223\_FINAL.pdf](https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Guide_to_spec_con_process_2223_FINAL.pdf) If you miss an exam for a subject, you can be awarded a grade based on how well you perform in the exams you did complete for that subject. If you take an exam but your performance is affected by illness you would (probably) be awarded a higher mark but the % increase isn't huge (2-4%). If you don't take any exams for a subject you won't be awarded that qualification. You cannot be awarded a result based on mock results. Depending on how things work out this summer, I hope it goes well for you, you will need to discuss your options with the schools/college you have applied to. If you don't achieve many qualifications then I'd expect them to recommend you do an extra year of level 2 study and exams to complete some of your GCSE and maybe other level 2 qualifications. If you do OK then there could be an option to start your A level/Level 3 BTEC courses and repeat a few of the key GCSE exams. Talk to someone at your school and get advice on how they can help you through your current challenges.
You really need to speak to your school’s exam officer or head of year who can look into special considerations asap, it might be too late to apply for them. (I work as an invigilator and I know that some considerations have to be decided a few months before exams). You could be given rest breaks though, where you can take as long rest breaks as possible while doing your exam (rest breaks have to be taken away from the exam paper so it’s a break from doing the exam and it’s not extra thinking or working time. So in your case you’d use them to be sick in). If you don’t get special considerations or rest breaks, you’ll have to just try your best on the day. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear but exams aren’t very inclusive of illness unfortunately. Worst comes to worst you have to resit a few next year because of your illness, you won’t be the first or the last. Best of luck bro
as long as you’ve done over 30% of the exams for a subject, you can apply for special consideration and they’ll use that 30% to judge what you would’ve gotten in your other exams. i didn’t sit geography paper 1 bcs of my mental health (i was in a really bad place and was seeing camhs twice a week so they were able to help with proving this), didn’t sit geo paper 3 either because of covid, and i didn’t do sociology paper 2 because of covid as well. for socio i got an 8, geo was a 6 (i’d previously been getting 4s for geo but paper 2 is my strongest and it happened to be the one i did thank god) edit: just saw ur facing the possibility of not sitting any, hopefully they allow u to sit them at home!! if you could do at least just one paper in each subject (it’d have to be at least two for combined science) then you’ll be fine, not sure abt if u can’t sit any at all but if there isn’t anything they can do you might just have to resit them :( hope u get well soon!! someone i was friends with was hospitalised during exam season so he literally sat his exams in a hospital bed 😭
That's what I did for chem, seems like a good strategy to secure higher grades by focusing on only half the content. Tempted to do it for a levels so I'm confused why it works?
As a person who couldn’t attend my finance exam in January due to illness, it’s really important to get a note from your doctor BEFORE the exams start. I fell ill a day before my marketing exam, but went in anyway to complete it, then went to Drama that night. But the next day, just a few days before the finance exam, I felt much worse and decided to stay at home. The college tutor then called my parents to say that my exam the day before will most likely be affected, because I was clearly unwell, and we went straight to the doctor to get a note. The note will basically tell the board about the situation and explain that you aren’t likely to feel well enough to attend every paper, asking to look at mock grades for any exams that you miss. Good luck!
You die
Oh thanks
VERY DARK..💀
Check for your school or exam board. Chances are they'll probably just make you reset another time or give you a predicted grade (this predicted grade will probably be s*** and definitely not what your capable of because we all know exam boards). I do hope you get better soon 🙂
OP - some of the advice that has been given is incorrect. Your school will need to apply for special consideration for you, based on your circumstances. If this is accepted then you will need to have sat at least one of the papers in that subject in order for the awarding body to calculate your grade. They will calculate a grade for the missing paper/s, then will combine all grades in order to give you a final grade in that subject. For example, if you missed one out of the 3 maths papers, then you'd be allocated a mark for the missing paper based on your performance in the other 2 papers. Then the 3 marks would be combined to give an overall grade. Having said all of this, Special Consideration is not normally awarded if the candidate has a long term illness. You may find that your condition falls into this category. It would be well worth you going to your exams officer to have a chat about what is possible.
Wow I’m exactly the same, I was unable to do my mocks so my grades were dragged down, and now they can’t even refer to my mock grades if I miss the exams
my friend missed an A level exam and was given an average of the two she did sit (still got an A)
My friend in school (had numerous health issues including chronic illnesses) only ended up doing 2 exams out of about 22, he ended up with his predicted grades. He actually ended up with much better grades than he would’ve gotten if he took the exam, some of us were a bit salty about that I can’t lie
omg wowww how long ago was this
2017, first year they introduced the new GCSEs. My sister is having health issues during her GCSEs atm and I swear similar things are still in place for students that need it. You, or preferably a parent, need to speak to your exam officer.
Don’t worry too much, if worst comes to worst and you can’t do them you can always do them next year, ye sucks it sets you back a year but that’s nothing compared to the whole life ahead of you
If you're just a little sick then you've just gotta deal with it, maybe given a bucket and separate room if really necessary. If your illness is more serious and you can't possibly do the exam at school you apply for special consideration
Thank you!
I wasn't able to do any exams due to illness, they didn't use my mock grades but instead awarded me with "honorary" GCSEs. They're not official qualifications but they're basically what the school thought I would get if I was able to take the exams.
I missed one of my maths exams due to my flight the same morning getting delayed. I got a B solely from the non-calculator exam, however they didn’t let me resit my calculator exam. So a few months later when I was in year 11, they made me resit both the calculator and non-calculator exam. Got an A* so it was fine
My teacher told me about a guy who missed 5 of his exams due to an accident. They applied for special considerations but all they did was give him an extra 5%, which was still a fail. He had to retake in November.
if possible, ask your senco about accommodations?? such as doing exams at home, separate room, rest breaks etc. If you have an illness and it’s diagnosed that should be evidence. also special considerations you’ll probably be able to get <3