When students at the University of South Africa (Unisa) expect to have problems writing their online examinations they may apply for an “aegrotat exam” which is a delayed paper written at another time. The latest applications for aegrotat exams, however, have seemed to be more than the university expected.
“The Directorate Student Assessment Administration is currently receiving an increasing number of applications for aegrotat examinations from students who were unable to write their October/November 2021 examinations,” Unisa writes in an announcement.
“Students are kindly requested to bear with us as we process the applications. The evaluation of applications and the deferments of modules to the January/February 2022 examinations will be completed as soon as possible.”
Aegrotat exams have, in the past, existed as a function usually to deal with situations such as sickness or bereavement which may have stopped students from physically attending their written papers, or hampered their ability to write.
When Unisa moved its exams online to allow for safer assessments it opened up new problems which the University had to tackle on the fly.
The latest problem is loadshedding which is why Unisa reminded students that they can apply for aegrotat exams last week. The bout of loadshedding that prompted that reminder has come and gone only to be replaced by another round of electricity cuts.
This continued unreliable supply of electricity compounds problems such as data required to write the online exams and server issues.
Unisa students are reminded to follow the steps below to apply for aegrotat exams. More details about the application process can be found here.
- Login to myUnisa and go to MyAdmin.
- Select the examination timetable on Assessment Admin.
- Click on Display to view your Oct/Nov timetable.
- Click on “Apply for AegrotatExamination” and enter the details required. You are required to attach supporting documentation; an affidavit may suffice.
