Extensions and Assessment Concessions

If the unexpected happens or things don’t go to plan, you may be able to apply for an extension or an Assessment Concession (formerly Affected Performance Consideration).

If you read the information on this page and you are not sure which process to use, please speak with your lecturer, course coordinator or Academic Programme Manager, or contact one of our student support services for advice.

Choose the right process

Choose the right Assessment Concession that suits your situation.

Our commitment to you is to help you complete your assessments.

If you are not sure which process to use after reading the information on this page, please speak with your lecturer or Academic Programme Manager or contact one of our Student Support services for advice.

The information on this page is important because if you submit an assessment late without an extension or an assessment concession, you may lose a percentage of marks (check your Programme Regulations in Moodle for details) or lose your right to be a resubmission opportunity.

The Student Regulations has more information if you would like to find out more.

Extensions

For an extension of up to 5 days, you do not need to complete the application form, all you need to do is to ask your lecturer for the short extension.

For an extension of more that 5 days you will need to complete the application form and send it to your course lecturer.

You can apply for an extension if:

• You are unable to complete an assessment by the due date and need more time; and
• You apply for the concession as soon as possible after you become aware they may need an extension; and
• You are affected by legitimate circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness, injury, bereavement); and
• You provide sufficient evidence to support your request (examples of suitable evidence is provided below on this webpage).

Applying for an extension of more than 5 days

Some programmes do not allow extensions. You can check by asking your lecturer or by reading the course information and programme regulations in Moodle or Canvas or on the website programme page.

• An extension must be applied for using the Assessment Concession Application form as soon as possible after you become aware they may need an extension. 
• All applications for an extension will need to provide legitimate evidence of the circumstances beyond your control to explain why you need more time (examples of suitable evidence is provided on the web-page below). 
• Email the completed form and supporting evidence to your lecturer with details of your request. 
• Applying for an extension does not guarantee it will be granted. 
• If you submit an assessment late without an extension, you may lose a percentage of marks (check your course information or programme regulations in Canvas or Moodle for details). 

Reasons that may not be accepted for an extension

• If an extension is not allowed for an assignment, exam or test (you can check by asking your lecturer or by reading your Programme Regulations).
• If the circumstances are of your own making, such as time management issues, for example, sleeping through an exam or assessment event, being exhausted because of studying all night prior to an exam, or not leaving enough time to get to campus.
• Events such as birthdays, holidays and weddings.
• If it is considered that it would be unfair to other students.
• If the integrity of the assessment may be compromised.
• If an extension would compromise the assessment objectives of the assessment in question.
• The lecturer does not agree that the reason was valid.
• The application does not contain sufficient or compelling evidence that supports the request.

What you need to do if the extension request is granted

• Complete your assessment by the agreed new date. No further extensions will be granted.

Resubmission/Resit

You can apply for a resubmission if:

• You failed an assessment and wish to resubmit it; or
• You failed an examination/test and wish to resit it; and
• Your preparation for, or performance in undertaking the assessment was impaired due to circumstances beyond your control.

Applying for a resubmission or resit

Some programmes place restrictions on resubmissions or do not allow them in some courses. You can check by asking your lecturer or by reading the course information and programme regulations in Moodle or Canvas or on the website programme page. 

In most cases a resubmission cannot be applied to an exam or test, but you can request a Re-sit, which will involve a different set of questions, if this is allowed.

You can check by asking your lecturer or by reading the course information and programme regulations. You can find course and programme regulations in Moodle/Canvas or on the website programme page. 

• A resubmission or resit must be applied for using the Assessment Concession Application form within five (5) working days of receiving the marked assessment. 
• Applications will need to provide persuasive evidence to support your request explaining the circumstance that led to the need for a resubmission (examples of suitable evidence is provided on the web-page below). 
• Email the completed form and supporting evidence to your lecturer with details of your request. 
• Applying for a resubmission or resit does not guarantee it will be granted. 

Reasons that may not be accepted for a resubmission

• If the original submission was handed in late and did not have an approved extension.
• If the original submission is not regarded as a serious attempt at completing the assessment.
• The application does not contain sufficient or compelling evidence that supports the request. For instance, if the circumstances were of your own making, such as time management issues, for example, sleeping through an exam or assessment event, being exhausted because of studying all night prior to an exam, or not leaving enough time to get to campus or events such as birthdays, holidays and weddings.
• If an alternative exam or test is unable to be offered (you can check by asking your lecturer or by reading your Programme Regulations).
• The application to resubmit or resit is received later than 5 days after you received the grade.
• The original marked assessment is not attached to the application.

What you need to do if the resubmission/resit is granted

• Include the original marked assessment with your resubmitted assessment. If resubmitted work is not accompanied by the original marked assignment, the resubmitted work will not be marked, and the original grade will stand.
• Complete your resubmission by the agreed new date. (No extensions will be granted for resubmission.) OR
• Complete the rescheduled examination or test on the scheduled new date.

Affected Performance

The purpose of applying for an Assessment Concession (Affected Performance) is to ensure your academic progress is not unfairly affected by critical personal circumstances beyond your control.

You can apply for an Assessment Concession (Affected Performance) if:

You were unable to prepare, attend, submit or do your best in an exam, test, or assessment that awards marks towards your final grade; and/or

An illness or other personal circumstances beyond your control, has affected your ability to perform or study; and/or

Circumstances that affected your ability to focus, concentrate, think clearly or put aside strong emotion for the period of the assessment, or a significant portion of the study period; and/or

Circumstances that you could not change or influence, such as anxiety, illness, bereavement or other critical personal event that affected your performance.

Applying for an Assessment Concession (Affected Performance)

• An application for the concession should be made as soon as you become aware of the potential that your performance in an assessment will be adversely affected; and
• Applications must provide supporting evidence to show how your performance has been affected. See webpage below for examples of appropriate evidence.
• Email the completed form and supporting evidence to the designated contact for your programme (see contact list pdf attached here) with details of your request.
• Applying for an Assessment Concession (Affected Performance) does not guarantee it will be granted.

Reasons that may not be accepted for an Assessment Concession (Affected Performance)

• If the circumstances are of your own making, such as time management issues, for example, sleeping through an exam or assessment event, being exhausted because of studying all night prior to an exam, or not leaving enough time to get to campus.
• Events such as birthdays, holidays and weddings.
• The application does not contain sufficient or compelling evidence that supports the request.
• A restriction applies to the assessment or course (you can check by asking your lecturer or by reading the course information and programme regulations).
• The application is submitted less than ten working days before the assessment due date.
• If granting your application would be unfair to other students.

What you need to do if the concession is granted

• Complete any requirements or conditions stated in the approval details.

Examples of suitable evidence

Physical illness or injury

Mental illness or emotional distress

Birth or death

Traffic issue or accident, fire or theft

Jury service, court or crime

Employment commitment

Review and outcome of your AC request

Your application will be reviewed, and you will receive an email with the outcome. The outcome will be one of the following options:

• Upheld – If the application is upheld, your application has been accepted and you will be given an alternative to make sure you have another opportunity to complete the assessment, for example, an alternative submission date.
• Hold/Pending – If the application is pending, a final decision will be made when the other assessments are all completed.
• Decline – If the application is declined, you will receive an email explaining why the application was unsuccessful. For example, attending a wedding or going on holiday would not be an acceptable reason to apply for an AC.

As part of the review, Unitec may contact the person named in the evidence you provided to verify the illness, injury or other critical personal circumstances.

Not satisfied with the AC outcome

If you are not satisfied with the outcome, email your Academic Programme Manager to request that the Programme Academic Quality Committee (PAQC) reconsider the decision.
If you are not satisfied with the PAQC decision, you can submit a complaint.

Student support services

You may find it helpful to discuss your application with one of the following support services before applying:

Student Central (Te Pae Kōrero) is your one-stop-shop for help on campus, where you can ask anything. Visit their page to find out how they can help you, or visit them on campus.

Student Support Advisors are available to provide guidance and support around informal and formal complaints. Book an appointment to speak with an Advisor.

International Student Advisors are available to international students for support and guidance. You can book an appointment to talk to them.

Student Council (Te Kaunihera Akonga o Wairaka) offer further support. Connect with your Student Reps, visit the Student Voice page to find out how.