The temporary illness, injury, trauma or serious event occurs just before (within a week of a candidate’s first examination) or during the examinations.
Derived grades are not available for:
- Level 1 and 2 Visual Art
- MCAT – Mathematics Common Assessment Task
- Scholarship.
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Examples of a temporary illness, trauma or serious event
Examples of a temporary illness, trauma or serious event include:
- COVID-related isolation
- gastroenteritis
- notifiable diseases e.g. measles, whooping cough
- hospitalisation of a parent with a serious medical condition
- death of a grandparent
- flooding causing a bridge closure with no alternative route for candidates to get to their examination.
There must be a clear, visible negative effect on the candidate
The temporary illness, trauma or serious event must have a clear, visible negative effect on the candidate’s performance or stopped them from attending the examination.
Candidates must provide evidence gathered at the time of the examination or preparation period to confirm their eligibility.
The temporary illness, trauma or other serious event must be of a significant nature.
The following are not normally grounds for a derived grade:
- stress or anxiety due to having to sit examinations
- minor ailments such as minor cough, cold or headache
- self-interest absence or parents being on holiday
- day-to-day family or school-based disturbances
- death or euthanasia of a pet
- minor traffic incidents.
Significant conditions or events after 1 October
Significant conditions or events after 1 October which have a significant and visible negative effect on the candidate’s performance and/or attendance, might be accepted.
The candidate must demonstrate that effective preparation was not possible and provide evidence, gathered at the time of the examinations, that the candidate was under continuous and well-documented care by a registered or independent professional.
Significant conditions or events could include:
- a life-threatening illness e.g. meningitis diagnosis
- accident causing a significant concussion diagnosis
- hospitalisation for a serious medical condition
- death of close family member e.g. a parent or sibling.