Requesting alternative assessments

Learning outcomes and core competencies

In assessing the possibility of an alternative assessment, it is imperative that the specified learning outcomes of the module are not compromised. Any alternative assessment should assess the module’s learning outcomes to the same depth as the original assessment. It is not reasonable to request an alternative assessment that fundamentally risks the integrity a module’s academic standards.

In the case of core competencies, these have to be assessed in a way deemed appropriate by both the university and any external agency that oversees the content of an academic programme, e.g. the General Medical Council. There is no legal requirement to adjust or dilute a genuine competence standard.

Examples of alternative assessments

Examples of alternative assessments previously agreed by the university include:

• Students being permitted to take shorter exams than their peers, with supplementary essay questions to complement a closed book exam
• Adjustment to the weighting on the diet of examinations so that greater emphasis is placed on coursework
• Students being given permission to deliver oral presentations to smaller groups of people, e.g. staff in the School or Institute rather than staff and the student cohort

Procedure for agreeing an alternative assessment

How to submit your requests

For some formative assessments, as well as mid-term or in-class assessments, local discretion may be applied by the relevant School in granting requests for alternative assessments. In instances like these there is no need to involve the Disability and Dyslexia Service if both the student and their School are satisfied with the outcome.

In those instances where local agreements cannot be made, or for summative assessments, including end of semester exams, students are advised to request an alternative assessment by contacting the Disability and Dyslexia Service and the relevant student support contact in their School, e.g. Student Support Officer / Manager.  Details on where students can find their student support contact can be found here.

The simplest way to do this is to email us and the relevant contact in the School with the term ‘alternative assessment’ in the subject title, along with the module name and code.

What will happen next

The Disability and Dyslexia Service will then arrange an appointment with the student to find out more about the desired assessment and the disability related justification for it; following this meeting the relevant adviser will contact the student’s School / Institute to discuss the possibility of agreeing the assessment. This discussion will include asking for clarification on:

• Existing assessment methods
• Module learning outcomes
• Any precedents for agreeing on alternative assessments

The School / Institute will then make a decision on whether or not it possible to agree an alternative assessment. If an agreement can be made, this will require a formal sign-off at the relevant Subject Exam Board.

The final decision on whether to agree an alternative assessment rests with the relevant School or Institute.

Timing of your request

Applications for alternative assessments should be made as early as possible in the semester in which the module is taken, as academic staff need time to write new essay or exam questions and to gain the agreement of the School and colleagues in Academic Registry and Council Secretariat.

The university cannot guarantee that it will be possible to implement any requests for alternative assessments made after the Examination Access Arrangement deadline in each semester.  See the Disability and Dyslexia Service’s exams webpage for more information.