Do I defer my exams to 2026 or take them next month?
I am a final year student who unfortunately had a very unlucky year and its caused my january exams and my may/june exams to have to be pushed to August together.
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
Reply 1
Original post
by AnonymousI am a final year student who unfortunately had a very unlucky year and its caused my january exams and my may/june exams to have to be pushed to August together.
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
I’d defer a year if getting the right grade is highly important to you. You can always work for a year and save money and do some revision in your own time over that year as you’ll know roughly what to expect now. Good luck in the future!
Original post
by AnonymousI am a final year student who unfortunately had a very unlucky year and its caused my january exams and my may/june exams to have to be pushed to August together.
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
Yesterday I was given the option to defer my exams to next year. I am currently sitting at a high 2:2 and need to average out approximtely 69% across all exams to achieve a 2:1.
Some exams are worth more than others and are easier than others. However I have always performed poorly in exams generally throughout my academic life.
In my current situation, there are 5 exams I have to sit, one is a resit so it is capped at 40%.
2 exams are worth 10 credits, 1 is worth 7, and the hardest one is worth 5.
I have caught up on all the content and practice for the two 10-credit exams. However, the other 2 I need a huge refresher on, and one of the 2 (5 credit exam) I haven't completed all the content for either. Additionally, the one I failed is an entirely new module with no past papers or questions to practice with.
Should I defer the year, work and reset revision with my completed notes in january or just go for the exams now?
Hey,
It’s really impressive that you’re thinking things through so carefully, especially after such a difficult and disrupted year. Managing five exams in August, especially when you’ve had setbacks out of your control, is a huge ask, and it’s understandable why you’re unsure about whether to go for it now or defer to next year.
From what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re in a bit of a balancing act: on one hand, you’ve caught up and feel more confident about the two 10-credit exams (which is a great position to be in), but on the other, the remaining three are still uncertain, and those uncertainties could affect your overall average. Given that you need to achieve close to 69% across these to reach a 2:1, every mark counts.
Since one of the exams is capped at 40% (being a resit), that already limits your ability to pull your grade up through that module, meaning there’s even more pressure on the others to bring your average up, and you’ve also mentioned that you tend not to perform your best in exams. That doesn’t mean you can’t rise to the occasion, but it’s important to be realistic, especially with the time pressure.
Deferring could give you a real advantage: more time to go over the content, solidify your understanding, and tackle the tougher modules with proper preparation and a clearer head. It could also give you the space to look after your mental wellbeing and potentially work part-time, so when January comes around, you're refreshed, stable, and ready.
Ultimately, it comes down to how confident you feel that you can realistically perform at the 2:1 level in these August exams. If you feel rushed, unsure, or like you’d just be surviving rather than performing at your best, deferring might give you the better shot at not just passing but getting the grade you’ve worked for over your degree.
Whatever you decide, just remember deferring isn’t a failure, it’s a choice to set yourself up for success. You’ve already shown resilience by pushing through to this point.
Good luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative
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