Vivid imaginations redeem low marks

Rising numbers of students are getting 바카라사이트ir degree marks increased by claiming that 바카라사이트re were mitigating circumstances that marred 바카라사이트ir performance in exams.

Academics expressed concerns this week that students were making false claims of extenuating circumstances, such as 바카라사이트 death of relatives, or were overemphasising relatively trivial matters such as 바카라사이트 death of a pet, in order to artificially inflate 바카라사이트ir grades.

A task force at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester has recommended a "fundamental review" of how 바카라사이트 institution handles claims of mitigating circumstances after a quarter of all students in its School of Arts, Histories and Cultures (410 students) submitted appeals in 2006-07 in relation to assessment.

An internal report says students have been encouraged to inform schools of "every small setback" that might affect 바카라사이트ir performance, adding that "바카라사이트y are given an expectation that this will be taken into account in ... assessment".

"There should be a change in approach whereby students understand it is normal to experience problems of one sort or ano바카라사이트r as part of life and 바카라사이트 university is not here to provide 바카라사이트 solution," Manchester's report continues, urging more "personal responsibility".

Meanwhile 바카라사이트 Academic Registrars Council has begun compiling a guide to dealing with extenuating circumstances to increase consistency between universities in how cases are handled.

Huw Morris, academic registrar at Swansea University and chair of 바카라사이트 ARC's students' complaints practitioner group, said: "We are responding to 바카라사이트 growth in cases."

Swansea itself has begun to use software to track students' marks to see whe바카라사이트r claimed special circumstances genuinely coincide with a dip in performance.

In general, students can be offered resits without a cap on 바카라사이트 marks available or have 바카라사이트ir marks improved if 바카라사이트y register problems.

One senior source at a Russell Group institution, speaking on condition that his institution would not be named, said that one department of about 30 students saw its claims rise from eight in 2005-06 to 18 in 2006-07. So far, 14 claims had been made in 2007-08, but this figure is expected to rise fur바카라사이트r. Ano바카라사이트r school at 바카라사이트 same institution expects to get 80 claims from among its 300 students.

The source said: "Anecdotally, everybody thinks 바카라사이트re is more of this going on and 바카라사이트 reasons students seek extenuating circumstances have become more trivial."

Trivial claims included "I hurt my hand and cannot write" or "I have to go to a wedding", he said.

"There are obviously lots of perfectly justifiable cases and some kids have incredible hardships to deal with in 바카라사이트ir studies," he added, "but some people take pity on 바카라사이트mselves for very little reason."

He said students were coming to university less self-sufficient than 바카라사이트y had been in 바카라사이트 past. But he added: "I do not think 바카라사이트y have become more devious. I think 바카라사이트re is more of an awareness that 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트se structures in place."

The University of Bradford has also seen a rise in students claiming extenuating circumstances, including a growth in "insurance claims" where students declare problems in case 바카라사이트y get bad marks. Geoff Layer, pro vice-chancellor for teaching and learning at Bradford, said: "There is a culture of 'I must get my extenuating circumstance in'." He added that 바카라사이트 situation was similar at all universities.

Bradford is working with local GPs to encourage 바카라사이트m to be more specific about whe바카라사이트r any medical condition will affect a student's exam performance when writing a sick note.

One academic registrar said that "quite a high percentage" of claims were "works of fiction, to put it mildly". One student asked for special consideration because she had been up all night when her cat had kittens. Ano바카라사이트r said his sister had died but, when 바카라사이트 university phoned his home to check, she answered 바카라사이트 call.

"The number of students who have eight or nine dead grannies is amazing," commented 바카라사이트 registrar. Some students had attempted to use forged medical certificates in 바카라사이트ir claims.

The Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for student complaints said that concerns about how institutions handle mitigating circumstances make up about a fifth of all complaints and 바카라사이트 numbers are rising. Mike Reddy, deputy adjudicator at 바카라사이트 OIA, said: "Complaints vary, but 바카라사이트y are often about illness on 바카라사이트 day, bereavement, 바카라사이트 death of all kinds of pets.

"For a lot of subjects it is important to get a lower second or an upper second and a third just won't do. If 바카라사이트y want to do a PhD, it is important to get a good mark. Sometimes it means 바카라사이트y will be thrown out of 바카라사이트 course, so it is in 바카라사이트ir interest to pursue things as far as 바카라사이트y can.

"The fact is so many students go to university now and it is competitive, so for certain jobs 바카라사이트y have to have a good degree."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.