FAQ 867
What does my Mitigating Circumstances Decision mean?



There are several Mitigating Circumstances Decisions that can be made, based on a number of factors including the type of assessment and the evidence submitted in support of the application.

You can find explanations of the different decisions and the terminology used below.


Assignments

Short term extensions can be granted for assignments, and the maximum extension allowed is 14 days. If a student requires longer than that to submit the work they would have to apply for an RA1. An RA1 is a re-assessment without penalty, marked as a first attempt, and this would be undertaken later in the academic year, often during the re-assessment periods in April (semester 1) and August (semester 2). The referral will be a different piece of work to the original.


Exams

Obviously, extensions cannot be granted for exams. You can apply for an RE1, which is a re-assessment exam without penalty, and this would be taken in the re-assessment exam period - either April (semester 1) or August (semester 2).

 

Projects/dissertations

Extensions can be granted for these as well which are typically 14 days, but unlike normal assignments a longer extension can be granted.

 

Re-assessments 

Re-assessments and exams are normally capped at a maximum mark of a D- if they were awarded for reasons other than mitigation (e.g. failure or non-submission). If you have an ordinary re-assessment that you wish to claim mitigation for, you can do so, but extensions cannot be given for re-assessment assignments, only the possibility of completing the work in a later re-assessment period (usually the next academic year). The work would still be capped, and so the decision is referred to as an RAd- or REd-.

 

What to do once given a decision

If you are awarded an RA1, you will need to contact your tutor to find out when you are expected to hand in the work and what you have to do.

If you are awarded an RE1 for an exam, you should also contact your tutor, and check the re-assessment exam timetables on BREO - these are published after the main exam periods in January and May.