The Student Room Group

I didn’t get my rest break back

I am entitled to rest breaks due to a medical condition. I took a rest break in my history AS exam last Wednesday and wasn’t allocated the time back therefore didn’t complete my exam in time.

I’ve spoken to my school about and put it in writing however no one seems to be doing anything about the situation. My emails have been ignored and the exam officers are impossible to find now that A level and GCSE exams are on.

What should I do
Original post
by rearose95
I am entitled to rest breaks due to a medical condition. I took a rest break in my history AS exam last Wednesday and wasn’t allocated the time back therefore didn’t complete my exam in time.

I’ve spoken to my school about and put it in writing however no one seems to be doing anything about the situation. My emails have been ignored and the exam officers are impossible to find now that A level and GCSE exams are on.

What should I do

You say that "no one seems to be doing anything about the situation". What do you want them to do, given that the exam took place last Wednesday?

If you'd have pointed out the issue at the time and said, "No, I'm not due to finish now as I took 10 minutes of rest breaks, so have 10 minutes of my exam time left", they they could have potentially realised the mistake and done something about it.

When you leave for a rest break, do they not make a note of the time? And then make a note of the time when you return? Are you saying that this didn't happen? Or that they got the maths wrong when totaling-up how much time you had remaining?

Reply 2

Original post
by DataVenia
You say that "no one seems to be doing anything about the situation". What do you want them to do, given that the exam took place last Wednesday?
If you'd have pointed out the issue at the time and said, "No, I'm not due to finish now as I took 10 minutes of rest breaks, so have 10 minutes of my exam time left", they they could have potentially realised the mistake and done something about it.
When you leave for a rest break, do they not make a note of the time? And then make a note of the time when you return? Are you saying that this didn't happen? Or that they got the maths wrong when totaling-up how much time you had remaining?


I’ve never had a rest break before. I wasn’t sure of the process until i casually mentioned it to my teacher the after the exam because I thought that I should’ve been entitled to the time back but wasn’t 100% sure.

There was a failure in the exam and I would like it resolved I don’t think that’s too much to ask for seeing as it will be my grade which will be affected.

They didn’t make note of my leaving and return.
Original post
by rearose95
I’ve never had a rest break before. I wasn’t sure of the process until i casually mentioned it to my teacher the after the exam because I thought that I should’ve been entitled to the time back but wasn’t 100% sure.

There was a failure in the exam and I would like it resolved I don’t think that’s too much to ask for seeing as it will be my grade which will be affected.

They didn’t make note of my leaving and return.

OK. So if "They didn’t make note of my leaving and return" then they have no mechanism to keep track of how long you've been out for rest breaks, and therefore no means of establishing what time you should finish the exam. Is it possible that the invigilator had no idea that you were allowed rest breaks? That seems the most likely explanation to me.

I understand that you "would like it resolved". My question was: what do you want to happen? You don't say how much time you missed, but let's say it's 10 minutes. Do you want to be given that 10 minutes back by them retrieving your exam paper from the exam board (which is where it will be right now), and have you sit in a room for those additional 10 minutes, to allow you to finish the paper? Despite the fact that you could have spent the last few days looking-up the answers, or discussing the paper with friends? That's clearly not going to happen. So when you say that you "would like it resolved", how would you like it resolved? What do you want to school to do?

Reply 4

Original post
by DataVenia
OK. So if "They didn’t make note of my leaving and return" then they have no mechanism to keep track of how long you've been out for rest breaks, and therefore no means of establishing what time you should finish the exam. Is it possible that the invigilator had no idea that you were allowed rest breaks? That seems the most likely explanation to me.
I understand that you "would like it resolved". My question was: what do you want to happen? You don't say how much time you missed, but let's say it's 10 minutes. Do you want to be given that 10 minutes back by them retrieving your exam paper from the exam board (which is where it will be right now), and have you sit in a room for those additional 10 minutes, to allow you to finish the paper? Despite the fact that you could have spent the last few days looking-up the answers, or discussing the paper with friends? That's clearly not going to happen. So when you say that you "would like it resolved", how would you like it resolved? What do you want to school to do?


I think its important to note that is not my wrongdoing. From your responses I can sense an element of hostility coming from you and just wanted to make that clear.

I’m unsure how things work in your school - from the way you’re talking to me I assume you must work in exams,no? - But in my school exams I have a lovely large bright yellow box with my name as well as a very clearly written “MEDICAL REST BREAKS“ in black sharpie. There is no way on gods green earth that they wouldn’t be aware I was allowed rest breaks.

When I say I would like it resolved, I’m unsure what they can offer me hence why I turned to student room to get some guidance. You seem to be incredibly educated in what the exam board will or will not offer me so I will take your word for it!

Thank you so much for your input on this matter. I hope you have a lovely evening!

Reply 5

You can ask the examinations officer at your school to raise an investigation. If there has been a mistake (due to invigilator error), They can submit something explaining the circumstances to the exam board and request special consideration for your paper. This can happen if a student was very ill or something during the exam. It’s at the exam boards discretion but I understand they could offer an extra couple of percent marks if for example you were on the cusp of a grade boundary. I think you should pursue it as I don’t believe it can go against you. Good luck

Reply 6

Original post
by Anonymous
You can ask the examinations officer at your school to raise an investigation. If there has been a mistake (due to invigilator error), They can submit something explaining the circumstances to the exam board and request special consideration for your paper. This can happen if a student was very ill or something during the exam. It’s at the exam boards discretion but I understand they could offer an extra couple of percent marks if for example you were on the cusp of a grade boundary. I think you should pursue it as I don’t believe it can go against you. Good luck


Brilliant thank you for letting me know!!!
Original post
by rearose95
I think its important to note that is not my wrongdoing. From your responses I can sense an element of hostility coming from you and just wanted to make that clear.

I’m unsure how things work in your school - from the way you’re talking to me I assume you must work in exams,no? - But in my school exams I have a lovely large bright yellow box with my name as well as a very clearly written “MEDICAL REST BREAKS“ in black sharpie. There is no way on gods green earth that they wouldn’t be aware I was allowed rest breaks.

When I say I would like it resolved, I’m unsure what they can offer me hence why I turned to student room to get some guidance. You seem to be incredibly educated in what the exam board will or will not offer me so I will take your word for it!

Thank you so much for your input on this matter. I hope you have a lovely evening!

Apologies if my responses came across as containing an "element of hostility". That was not my intention. I was trying to do two things:
1. Establish more clearly exactly what had gone wrong.
2. Point out that it's difficult to resolve issues like this retrospectively, especially as "no one seems to be doing anything about the situation", "emails have been ignored" and "the exam officers are impossible to find".

Regarding the mention of special consideration in the post above, I'd encourage you to read "A guide to the special consideration process".

In it, you'll note that it says one of the conditions which is eligible for special consideration is "Failure by the centre to implement previously approved access arrangements for that specific examination series." What they don't indicate, however, is the degree by which your mark might be adjusted to make allowances for this. I suspect that it might be limited to a 1% or 2% uplift.

The problem with special consideration is that you can't apply for it. Only your school can. And if they're not interested in helping you, then you have a problem. :frown:

Reply 8

Original post
by rearose95
I am entitled to rest breaks due to a medical condition. I took a rest break in my history AS exam last Wednesday and wasn’t allocated the time back therefore didn’t complete my exam in time.
I’ve spoken to my school about and put it in writing however no one seems to be doing anything about the situation. My emails have been ignored and the exam officers are impossible to find now that A level and GCSE exams are on.
What should I do


Ask for special consideration, that’s completely unfair!! Anyways best of luck!!

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