If you are unable to complete an exam on the scheduled date due to serious and unavoidable circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a deferred assessment.
A deferred assessment allows you to complete an exam or other assessment task at a later date if you cannot attend the original scheduled time due to circumstances beyond your control. Deferrals are not automatically granted and require formal approval.
Applying for a deferred assessment
Students applying for deferred Mid-semester or Final Exams (Timed Assessments) * must lodge their application with Student Assist before the exam starts or within two (2) business days following the day of the scheduled exam.
Refer to: Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedure
* Timed Assessments are Mid-Semester and End of Semester Exams.
- Mid-semester Exams are scheduled in Weeks 6-8, 50 minutes and greater in duration, and at least 30% in weighting.
- End of Semester Exams are scheduled in Weeks 13-14 and are 2hrs15mins to 3hrs in duration.
Please note: For other interim assessments that are eligible to be deferred, you will be required to contact the relevant academic staff member from the faculty to apply.
A deferred exam may only be granted where you can demonstrate either:
- An inability to sit, complete the original exam or perform at the minimum level of your demonstrated abilities, for medical or compassionate reasons; or
- Unexpected and exceptional circumstances beyond your control
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Acceptable grounds for deferral
The following reasons would normally be considered acceptable grounds for deferring an exam:
- Illness or medical reasons
- Accident
- Serious personal or emotional trauma (e.g. bereavement)
- Events or sporting commitments at a state, national or international representative level
- Pre-existing Religious commitments or obligations
- Three scheduled assessments commencing within less than 24 consecutive hours
- Attendance at a graduate recruitment activity endorsed by the Career Development Centre in consultation with the relevant Faculty
- Complete failure of IT during the original examination, as confirmed by IT Services
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Unacceptable grounds
Approval will not be granted where it is reasonable to expect that the circumstances could have been avoided. The following reasons would be considered unacceptable grounds for deferring an exam:
- Travel or holiday arrangements
- Misreading the assessment timetable
- A desire to spread assessment tasks to yield improved performance
- Events and sporting commitments that are not at a state, national or international representative level
- Social functions
- Applications received after the prescribed deadline
- Where the student has already completed the examination
Supporting documentation
If an application is based on medical grounds, a student must submit supporting documentation completed by an AHPRA-registered Australian healthcare practitioner. Certificates provided by pharmacists will not be accepted. Certificates from online providers will only be accepted if the certificate clearly indicates that a consultation has been provided.
- Bond University Student Medical Certificate (PDF 187KB)
Applications based on non-medical grounds must be accompanied by documentary evidence supporting the case plus a signed statutory declaration. Statutory declarations must declare the reason for the deferral and must be signed in the presence of an eligible witness. You can visit the Bond JP/Commissioner for Declaration service webpage for more information and assistance or download the Commonwealth Statutory Declaration form below.
- Commonwealth Statutory Declaration Form (PDF 15.2KB)
You may seek advice from Student Assist to ensure you are providing the appropriate information for your application.