This chapter summarises candidates who are absent from a timetabled component or unit for acceptable reasons.

Key points:

• Adjustments can be made when a candidate has missed a timetabled component and the centre supports an application for special consideration.
• For unitised GCSE, GCE AS and A-level qualifications, the unit must have been missed in the final examination series and the minimum requirements for enhanced grading must be met. The requirements for enhanced grading will vary according to the qualification. You can read more on this in 4.5.
• Awarding bodies cannot give advice as to whether a candidate is fit to take an examination.
• Centre staff must follow their internal procedures if candidates feel unwell on the day of an examination.
• For unitised examinations taken in an examination series prior to certification, candidates must be re-entered for any missed units at the next assessment opportunity.
• In rare and exceptional circumstances where the centre cannot identify additional reasonable adjustments which would allow a candidate with a disability to sit their examinations, the relevant awarding body must be contacted.

4.1 When a candidate has missed a timetabled component or unit for acceptable reasons and the centre is prepared to support an application for special consideration, an adjustment may be made to the grade.

4.2 For unitised qualifications, the unit must have been missed in the terminal series and the minimum requirements of paragraph 4.5 (below) must be met.

4.3 Awarding bodies cannot give advice as to whether a candidate is fit to take an examination. Centre staff must follow their internal procedures for dealing with candidates who feel unwell on the day of an examination.

4.4 For unitised examinations taken in an examination series prior to certification, candidates must be re-entered for any missed units at the next assessment opportunity. Unless there are difficulties arising, e.g. group performances which cannot be repeated, special consideration will not be awarded.

This principle also applies where entire cohorts miss units for any reason, such as adverse weather conditions, or where individual candidates miss units because of a change of centre.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ENHANCED GRADING IN CASES OF ACCEPTABLE ABSENCE

4.5 The minimum requirements for enhanced grading in cases of acceptable absence are detailed below. In all cases, candidates must have been fully prepared and covered the whole course.

GCE AS and A-level qualifications (AQA, OCR, Pearson and WJEC specifications):

One whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed.

Please note that partially completed AS or A2 units are not acceptable.

• AS linear specifications: one whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed.
• AS unitised specifications: one whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed.
• Enhancement given at AS level (unitised specifications) will be carried forward to A-level.
• A-level linear specifications: one whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed.
• A-level six-unit award (unitised specifications): one whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed with at least one A2 unit completed.
• A-level four-unit award (unitised specifications): one whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed with at least one A2 unit completed.
• An A-level award (unitised specifications) will not be issued based on AS unit results alone.

GCE AS and A-level qualifications (AQA, OCR, Pearson and WJEC specifications):

One whole component, which is a minimum of 15% of the total assessment, must have been completed.

For CCEA GCE AS and A-level qualifications and GCSE qualifications:

25% of the total assessment must have been completed. The minimum requirements for the November 2025, March 2026 and June 2026 examination series are detailed below.

• For CCEA GCE AS qualifications, 25% of the total AS qualification must have been completed.
• For CCEA GCE A-level qualifications, 25% of the total A-level qualification must have been completed, with at least one A2 unit completed.
• For CCEA GCSE qualifications, 25% of the GCSE qualification must have been completed.

These arrangements only apply to candidates certificating in the series where the examination has been missed. Those candidates not certificating in the series where the examination has been missed must take the examination in the next available series.

Please note that partially completed GCSE, GCE AS or A2 units are not acceptable.

Retrospective applications for special consideration for enhanced grading cannot be made based on these criteria.

BTEC Firsts, BTEC Nationals: 25% of the total qualification must have been completed.
BTEC Tech Award: one whole component must have been completed.

City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 Technical qualifications: the synoptic assignment(s) must be completed.

NCFE (numerical marked examinations): 25% of the total qualification must have been completed.

OCR Cambridge National, Cambridge Advanced Nationals and Cambridge Technical qualifications: one whole unit must have been completed. This can either be a timetabled examination or a moderated unit. Enhanced grading in cases of acceptable absence is only possible in the certification series.

Projects (including Extended Project): where the project is not completed, a grade cannot be issued.

T Level Technical qualifications: one whole sub-component, which can either be an examination or an employer-set project, must have been completed.

NCFE T Level Technical qualifications and City & Guilds T Level Technical qualification in Animal Care and Management: 25% of the Occupational Specialism must have been completed. Enhanced grading cannot be applied to practical assignments.

TQUK (numerical marked examinations): 25% of the total qualification must have been completed.