What to Do if You Miss a Final Exam in 2022 – Don’t panic!

Missing a final exam can be an upsetting experience, but don’t fret; there are steps you can take to reduce its effects. Here are some tips for when you find out what should be done if you miss a final exam:

What to do if you miss a final exam: First, talk to your professor.

Your first step should be to reach out to your professor as soon as possible. They may be able to arrange for a make-up exam or alternate assignment, though success depends on several factors.

One factor is your professor. Some are more accommodating than others, and having a good relationship with them can make all the difference. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if you’ve been attending class and turning in assignments on time up until now; otherwise, sympathy may be harder to come by.

Your reason for missing the exam is important when asking a professor if you will be excused. A legitimate excuse, such as illness or a death in the family, will likely be accepted more readily than simply not showing up at all. On the other hand, simply skipping out because you didn’t feel like taking it is likely not going to fly with most professors.

Good reasons for missing an exam

1. Medical or psychiatric emergency – If you can provide a doctor’s note or other proof, many colleges will make an exception as a matter of policy.
2. Be wary that students often embellish the details of death in the family or funerals, believing their professor won’t challenge their story if you presented it honestly. At smaller schools, professors may even consult with colleagues to verify if your story holds up. However, if someone close to you truly passed away, don’t feel embarrassed to share that fact.
3. Natural disaster or severe weather conditions (especially if you commute to school) may prevent you from making it to the exam safely; however, if the university didn’t cancel it due to lack of cancellation, you may find it difficult to convince them that this was an avoidable issue.
4. Internet Outage (For an Online Exam) – Even now that COVID restrictions have been relaxed and most classes have returned to the classroom, online exams remain commonplace. If your internet goes down right before or during an exam, you’re obviously going to have difficulty finishing it; unfortunately this excuse often gets made by students without documentation; therefore, contact your professor immediately if experiencing problems trying to log back online.

Bad reasons for missing a final exam

1. “I forgot” – It is your responsibility to stay on track with your own schedule. If you struggle with remembering exam dates, try taking a nootropic supplement like ISO Brain for enhanced cognitive function and better memory.
2. “I overslept” – It can happen, and your professor might be understanding, but don’t count on it. It helps if your grades and attendance have been excellent up until this point.
3. “I was too hungover” – however absurd this excuse may sound, professors hear it more often than you might expect. Unfortunately, this excuse rarely works; always plan to party after your exams, not before!
4. “I was in jail” is a valid excuse, but your professor likely won’t be sympathetic unless you can prove that you were wrongfully arrested. To ensure a favorable response, it may be beneficial to involve the dean and/or academic office in this matter.
5. “I had a prior engagement” — whatever the engagement was, if you couldn’t back out of it, make sure you address this ahead of time.
6. “I didn’t study, so I knew I would fail anyway” – If you think this excuse will get you out of taking your exam, the solution lies outside the scope of this article.

When explaining why you missed the exam, it’s best to be honest. Your professor likely has seen hundreds of these requests before and has heard every excuse in the book. If your excuse involves a medical issue or family emergency, be ready with evidence such as a doctor’s note or death certificate.

Another critical factor is how long it’s been since your exam was originally scheduled. Reaching out to your professor as soon as possible will increase their willingness to collaborate with you.

It’s essential to accept that even in a perfect world, you will need to make up the exam at some point. Make it clear to your professor that this is okay when approaching them; offering an alternative solution (e.g. suggesting a make-up date) will demonstrate your intention rather than skipping it altogether.

What to do if you miss a final exam and your professor won’t give you a make-up

If your professor is unwilling to accommodate you, your next step should be speaking with an academic advisor. They specialize in knowing what to do if a final exam is missed and may be able to offer guidance on what steps to take next. Your next steps will depend on school policies and your individual situation; however, most likely involves meeting with either a dean or other administrator from the college.

What happens next is ultimately up to your university policy. You aren’t the first college student to miss an exam, and your institution likely has a formal policy for handling such circumstances. In some cases, you may be able to take an incomplete and finish coursework at another time or you may need to retake the entire class.

If taking an incomplete grade for your course is an option, you should seriously consider it. Doing so gives you extra time to finish up any missed work and can give you an extension on exams that may come after the end of the semester. Once all missing material has been turned in, professors will grade it and change the “incomplete” on your transcript to your final grade for the class; depending on which school you attend, there may still be a mark indicating an initial incomplete; keep this in mind when making up your mind.If taking an incomplete grade for your course is an option, you should seriously consider it. Doing so gives you extra time to finish up any missed work and can give you an extension on exams that may come after the end of the semester. Once all missing material has been turned in, professors will grade it and change the “incomplete” on your transcript to your final grade for the class; depending on which school you attend, there may still be a mark indicating an initial incomplete; keep this in mind when making up your mind.

If taking an incomplete grade for your course is an option, you should seriously consider it. Doing so gives you extra time to finish up any missed work and can give you an extension on exams that may come after the end of the semester. Once all missing material has been turned in, professors will grade it and change the “incomplete” on your transcript to your final grade for the class; depending on which school you attend, there may still be a mark indicating an initial incomplete; keep this in mind when making up your mind.

Another thing to keep in mind when asking for an incomplete is that it adds extra work for your professor, so be extra kind and apologize whenever possible. Even if the university requires them to offer you an incomplete, it’s still their fault for not checking on you during the exam. Therefore, strong-arming them with university policy likely isn’t a wise idea.

Another potential option is to petition the academic office for a waiver. However, this usually only happens in exceptional circumstances such as illness or family emergencies. You will likely need to provide evidence in such cases so don’t try to fake it. Even if you do have a legitimate excuse that can be proven, make sure you first consult with your professor first and only seek a waiver if they refuse assistance.

Finally, you can always withdraw from the course. However, this should only be your last option as it will affect your GPA and grant no credits for it. If the course is required for your degree program, retake it over summer or during a later semester; if not, make up any missed credits by taking an additional course later on. So even if withdrawal from a class is an option, it shouldn’t be chosen lightly.

Missing a final exam can cause academic setbacks, but with proper management it doesn’t have to be an unmitigated disaster.

What to do if you miss a final exam: don’t miss it in the first place

Of course, the ideal scenario is to not miss an exam at all. There are various strategies for keeping track of your exam schedule. You can set up calendar alerts on your computer or phone, or write down important dates in a planner. Whatever works for you best, make sure there’s an organized system so you don’t forget about an important exam until it’s too late.

With all the courses, extracurriculars and social life that college brings, getting enough sleep can be a struggle. Sometimes an extra couple hours of shut-eye will do more harm than good for performance than any additional studying you could get done. Furthermore, skipping too many nights could cause you to fall asleep through your alarm and miss the exam; if this hasn’t been addressed previously then an all-nighter might be necessary; otherwise try your best not to put yourself in this predicament in the first place!

If exams are stressing you out, consider taking a nootropic supplement like ISO Brain. Not only does this supplement reduce stress but its ingredients have been clinically validated to improve cognitive function – helping you study more efficiently, remember more, and focus better during the exam itself. While supplements cannot replace studying completely, they can certainly maximize the impact of your study time.