The University has robust policies in place to ensure that all examination results are accurate. The term 'examination' can include any assessment that is submitted that receives marks that are counted towards your University of Cambridge award. Essays or work submitted only for feedback and development of your learning cannot be reviewed using this procedure.
If you have taken any University of Cambridge examination, including a PhD probationary examination, and believe that:
- a procedural irregularity in the examination process has adversely impacted on your examination results; or
- demonstrable bias or the perception of bias has occurred within the examination process; or
- the withdrawal of academic provision, which had adversely impacted on your examination results and of which the Examining Board were not aware [this ground is for students whose assessment results have been adversely affected by industrial action].
You can request that your examination results are reviewed using the Examination Review Procedure outlined below. Before submitting an exam review you can seek advice from your College Tutor or relevant departmental staff. Students can also seek advice from the Student Advice Service. If a student believes there has been a mathematical error in the calculation of their marks within a paper or their classification, then the student should request a mark check from the Department or Faculty to ensure that the marks have been appropriately calculated.
Examination Review Procedure
Students can request a review of their results using the Examination Review Procedure using the Examination Review form within 28 days of receiving their formal examination results either through their electronic student record (CamSIS) or formal letter from the Examiners. Forms should be submitted to examreview@admin.cam.ac.uk, including all evidence the student wishes to be considered, and without unnecessary information about other people in your request.
If a student is dissatisfied with the decision of their examination review, there is an opportunity to request a review of the decision. If a student remains dissatisfied following the further review,, the student will have access to the external ombudsman, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator complaints scheme.
If your personal circumstances affected your examination - exam allowances
The University has processes that provide for an allowance or an adjustment to be granted in certain circumstances - in particular, on account of illness or other grave cause in preparing for, or taking, the examination or part of the examination for the degree or other qualification concerned.
- If you are an undergraduate, MASt, MBA, EMBA, MCL, LLM, MEng, MFin, MMath, MMus, MSci, or PGCE, M.Res, M.St. or M.Phil. Degree by advanced study, find more information at: www.student-registry.admin.cam.ac.uk/about-us/EAMC
- If you are a Postgraduate B.D, M.D, Vet.M.D, Ph.D., Bus.D, Eng.D, M.Sc, M.Litt, M.Phil. Degree by dissertation or Certificate of Postgraduate Study student, you can use the Examination Review Procedure outlined above to review your examination results where "serious illness or other grave cause which has clearly impacted upon the examination itself and of which, for sufficient reason, the Examining Body were not aware" has taken place. Tick the relevant ground on the Examination Review Form.
External ombudsman scheme
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) runs an independent scheme to review student complaints, including examination reviews. We are a member of this scheme. If you are unhappy with the outcome you may be able to ask the OIA to review your examination review. You can find more information about making a complaint to the OIA, what it can and can’t look at and what it can do to put things right here: https://www.oiahe.org.uk/students.
You normally need to have completed the Examination Review Procedure before you complain to the OIA. We will send you a letter called a “Completion of Procedures Letter” when you have reached the end of our processes and there are no further steps you can take internally. If your examination review is not upheld, we will issue you with a Completion of Procedures Letter automatically. If your examination review is upheld or partly upheld you can ask for a Completion of Procedures Letter if you want one. You can find more information about Completion of Procedures Letters and when you should expect to receive one here: https://www.oiahe.org.uk/providers/completion-of-procedures-letters.