Mitigating Circumstances

If you are experiencing disruption to your revision before your exam you should think carefully as to whether or not you should attempt it. By attending an exam you are confirming that you are in a position to do so.

If you are unsure of what might be considered mitigating circumstances please refer to the mitigating circumstances policy.

The Policy outlines what can be considered reasonable grounds for applying, for example illness of a serious nature; and what is considered sufficient supporting documentation.

You should read the policy carefully before applying.

If you have an ongoing condition you may wish to consider applying for access arrangements instead.

Online exam incidents
If you encountered any issues whilst sitting your online exam that prevented you doing your best (for example fire alarms or power shortages), you can apply for this to be taken into consideration.
Read the Exam guidance and behaviours document
Download the form to report any incidents

How can I apply?

If your application shows that your exam performance was impacted by events involving unforeseen circumstances or illness, further consideration may be given to the final result you have achieved.

You will need to send a Mitigating Circumstances application form to Education Services within 7 calendar days following the assessment date, together with your supporting documents. If you are applying for more than one assessment in your application it is 7 days from the date of the last assessment taken. If you need more time to collect the supporting evidence then you must submit the application form within the required time frame and submit your evidence separately, within 28 calendar days of the assessment.

If you are unable to obtain supporting documentation before the mitigating circumstances application deadline, please inform the Education Services team.

The IFoA reserves the right to reject applications if they do not meet the criteria set out in the Policy.

What happens if my application is accepted?

Appropriate consideration will be given to candidates facing difficult circumstances during their exam sitting. Successful applications may result in an adjustment in your overall mark to be equal to that of the pass mark.

You can read more about how applications are reviewed in the Policy itself.

Download the Mitigating Circumstances Policy