Exam appeals - what is the procedure?

The Examination Order (cf. Sections 32-35) sets out the procedure for processing exam appeals. A new Examination Order has been issued, which entails changes in respect of the way exam appeals were previously processed. The new Examination Order applies to exams held after 1 September 2010.

 

Content and submission of the appeal

You must submit your written appeal no later than two weeks after the exam result has been announced; however, calculated at the earliest from the date fixed for the announcement of exam information on the website (see dates here). It is important that you state the reasons for your appeal in detail; if not, the appeal cannot be considered.

The appeal should be sent via email to or in a letter to Study and Students’ Affairs (UogS).

 

It is a good idea to talk to the lecturer involved before you elect to submit an appeal. For one thing, this can give you a sense of whether an appeal is relevant, and you will also be able to provide better reasons for your appeal after you have talked to the lecturer. If you are unable to get hold of the lecturer involved within the deadline for the appeal, e.g. because he or she is on holiday, you can send an email to and ask for an extension of the deadline.

 

You can submit appeals about:

1) Legal issues

2) Exam basis (questions, assignments etc.)

3) Exam process

4) Assessment

 

Processing your appeal

If your appeal concerns the assessment or other aspects involving the assessors, Study and Students’ Affairs will send your appeal to the original assessors (internal examiner and external examiner) for a statement. The assessors must submit their statement within two weeks; however, the entire month of July does not factor into this calculation.

 

Study and Students’ Affairs will send the assessors’ statement to you so that you may comment on it. You have one week to do so.

 

On behalf of the dean, Study and Students’ Affairs will subsequently make a decision in the case on the basis of the assessors’ statement and your comments. If you do not submit your comments within the deadline, the case will be determined solely on the basis of the assessors’ statement.

 

If your appeal concerns legal issues or matters which do not involve the assessors, Study and Students’ Affairs will make a decision in the case without a statement from the assessors.

 

In both cases, the decision may take the form of:

1) an offer of a new assessment (reassessment); however, not in connection with oral exams*

2) an offer of a new exam (re-exam)

3) a rejection of the appeal

* Including also exams involving an oral defence of a written report.

 

Appeal accepted

If you are offered a reassessment or re-exam, you will have two weeks within which to accept this offer. If you do not respond within this deadline, the offer of a reassessment will lapse, and no further steps will be taken in respect of your appeal.

 

If you accept the offer of a reassessment or re-exam, the reassessment or re-exam must be conducted as soon as possible, and new assessors will be appointed for this. Please note that the reassessment or re-exam may result in you obtaining a lower grade than the one you obtained in the original assessment. You cannot appeal against the new grade awarded.

 

Appeal rejected; do you want to appeal against the decision?

If your appeal is rejected, you may choose to appeal against the decision. Appeals cases are processed in accordance with Sections 36-41 of the Examination Order.

 

You must submit your written appeal no later than two weeks after having received the decision. The appeal must be reasoned. A board of appeals is set up to process your appeal. The board of appeals consists of two external examiners appointed by the chairman of the external examiners and a lecturer and a student appointed by the study board. The board of appeals has two months within which to process the case, not including the month of July.

 

The decision of the board of appeals may take the form of:

1) an offer for the appeals board to assess the exam; however, not in connection with oral exams*

2) an offer of a new assessment (reassessment) conducted by new assessors; however, not in connection with oral exams

3) an offer of a new exam (re-exam) conducted by new assessors

4) a rejection of the appeal

* Including also exams involving an oral defence of a written report.

 

If you are offered a reassessment or re-exam, you will have two weeks within which to accept this offer. If you do not respond within this deadline, the offer of a reassessment will lapse, and no further steps will be taken in respect of your appeal.

 

If you accept the offer of a reassessment or re-exam, the reassessment or re-exam must be conducted as soon as possible, and new assessors will be appointed for this. Please note that the reassessment or re-exam may result in you obtaining a lower grade than the one you obtained in the original assessment. You cannot appeal against the new grade awarded.

 

If the board of appeals does not accept your appeal, you cannot submit any further appeals concerning this case. You can, however, appeal in respect of legal issues.

 

Questions?

If you are considering appealing against an exam or if you have questions about the procedure for processing your appeal, cf. the description above, please feel free to contact Student Services on tel. +45 3533 3533 or at .