Has anyone ever passed first year without attending lectures/tutorials?

Short story: I'm first year maths student, I've been unwell all year and were able to attend no lectures or tutorials at all. Now I've seven exams in May. I learned the material for three, and I'm in the middle of learning the fourth one now. I haven't done any past papers apart from three papers, one for each of the courses I've learned the material for. Moreover, each exam is worth only 80% of the module, and the other 20% was taken as tests during the year all of which I had missed.

Am I doomed or am I just panicking? I want to pick the collective wisdom of TSR on this - what should I do? Has anyone here ever been in a similar situation to mine? If so, how did you manage it? :frown:

Reply 1

claireestelle

Original post by NoNickname

Speak to your unis student support service, you can probably get ec's so you can sit them in august instead if necessary.

Reply 2

Origami Bullets

I agree with claireestelle.

You need to make the Uni aware of your illness and get mitigating circumstances BEFORE the exams. Note that you will need to provide a doctor's note. Is your ill health caused by something that's likely to end soon?

I suspect that at this stage resitting the year will be the best solution - if you haven't learned the material from first year, then you're going to struggle to build on it in second year.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 3

University of Glasgow

Official Rep

Original post by NoNickname

Hey,

Sorry to hear about this - definitely take the above advice. In some cases it's possible to sit later exams (typically when re-sits are) and they'll count as your first sitting. This will vary from university to university, though, talk to your department and it sounds like you're eligible for mitigating circumstances. That will help clear things up and will hopefully give you more time.

As for the exams themselves, I missed the majority of my 2nd year classes but still did very well. Focus on your notes first, and then past papers. Learn the theory, that way you can answer whatever questions they ask you. I'm currently in my 4th year, and I honestly barely look at past papers and just thoroughly learn the notes provided.

Let us know if you have any other questions! :smile:

Scott
Undergraduate Rep
School of Engineering

Reply 4

NoNickname

Original post by claireestelle

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Original post by Origami Bullets

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Original post by Glasgow Uni

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Many thanks for the invaluable advice! I'll inform the university right away.

Reply 5

NoNickname

Original post by claireestelle

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Original post by Origami Bullets

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Original post by Glasgow Uni

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I can't thank you enough. I was really desperate not knowing what to do when I had posted this thread four weeks ago.

The university agreed to defer my exams after I informed them of my circumstances & submitted the required evidence.

Reply 6

999tigger

How did you think iit was a good idea not to keep in touch with your tutor? Glad you got EC, but havent you effectively paid them 9k for soemthing you have now taught yourself? They didnt chase you up for missing all tutorials?

Reply 7

NoNickname

Original post by 999tigger

I know. It's messed up. I guess my own health issues overwhelmed me too much; and the (wrong) assumption that there's nothing the university could do to help with my situation. Yes, it appears they don't care about the tutorial attendance in my course, even though I think the rule is you have to attend at least 70% of them.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 8

999tigger

Original post by NoNickname

I know. It's messed up. I guess my own health issues overwhelmed me too much; and the (wrong) assumption that there's nothing the university could to help in my situation. Yes, it appears they don't care about the tutorial attendance in my course, even though I think the rule is you have to attend at least 70% of them.

I'm more alarmed that you could go an academic year without your tutor or department ringing the alarm bell.

Also your own role in not liaising with them, especially of the reasons were mental or another ongoing condition. Do that for your own interests. Glad to see you got the deferment.

Reply 9

Costalo

Yes.

I didn't attend a single lecture or tutorial for an entire module in my second year for reasons I wish not to discuss. I also only spent one day going over the material for the exam, and I achieved a first (70%) in the exam and a 2.1 (64%) in the essay.

If you study smart, it's very possible. Then again, this was for an arts degree.