Being able to apply for derived exam ratings safeguards an equitable results outcome for students affected by significant illness or other exceptional circumstances.

Students are encouraged to attend their exam where they are able to do so safely. Minor non-infectious illnesses, routine ailments, exam stress or concerns about performance are not normally grounds to receive a derived exam rating. Students who complete an exam are generally expected to accept the result of that exam.

See below for what to do if you have a significant illness or an emergency.

Ensure your school is aware of your circumstances. If you are experiencing difficulties submitting a derived exam rating application, contact TASC as soon as possible so we are aware of your circumstances and can provide advice. Don’t wait until the application deadline if you need assistance.

Applications for a derived exam rating are accepted only during the specified application period. Use the Derived exam rating application timetable to see to the permitted application dates for your external assessments.

The application period:

  • Opens seven (7) days before the written exam, practical/performance or presentation
  • Closes two (2) business days after.

Both of the following must occur within the application period:

  • Your medical appointment with a registered GP, paediatrician or a hospital doctor
  • Your submission of the online Derived Exam Rating Application and Consent Form.

Your medical practitioner is to submit the medical certificate form directly to TASC within three (3) days of your appointment.

For written exams, applications can be submitted no earlier than 2 November and no later than 23 November, depending on the date of the relevant exam.

Complete BOTH steps:

  1. Complete the online Derived Exam Rating Application and Consent Form (for students).
  2. Attend an appointment with a medical practitioner (in-person or telehealth) and have a TASC Medical Certificate completed. The certificate can only be completed by a registered GP, paediatrician or a hospital doctor.

Your medical practitioner can complete one of the following:

  • The printed TASC Medical Certificate form in the Student Exam Guide
  • The fillable PDF form at TASC Medical Certificate
  • A medical certificate that includes all the required information on the form and supporting documentation. (General ‘unfit for duties’ certificates will not be accepted as they do not include the required information).

Your medical practitioner must submit the form directly to TASC within three (3) days of the appointment.

To be eligible for a derived exam rating, the dates of illness or incapacity recorded on the medical certificate form must match the exam dates you list in your Derived Exam Rating Application and Consent Form.

TASC will email you to confirm we have received a TASC Medical Certificate. If you don’t receive an email within one week of your medical appointment, contact the medical practitioner or TASC to confirm the form was submitted/received.

  1. Tell your school as soon as possible.
  2. Attend a medical appointment, preferably on the day of the exam.
  3. Complete the online Derived Exam Rating Application and Consent form.
  4. Have the registered GP, paediatrician or hospital doctor complete the TASC Medical Certificate.
  5. Ensure the medical practitioner submits the certificate directly to TASC within three (3) days of the appointment.

TASC will assess the application and advise you of the outcome by email.

    1. Immediately notify the Exam Supervisor.
    2. The Exam Supervisor must record your name, the time and circumstances on the Supervision Report.
    3. If necessary, leave the exam and arrange a medical appointment as soon as possible, preferably on the day of the exam.
    4. Tell your school as soon as possible.
    5. Complete the online Derived Exam Rating Application and Consent form.
    6. Have the registered GP, paediatrician or hospital doctor complete the TASC Medical Certificate.
    7. Ensure the medical practitioner submits the certificate directly to TASC within three (3) days of the appointment.

    If you completed the exam, a derived exam rating will only be considered where there is evidence that a significant illness or medical incident materially affected your performance during the exam.

    You must have notified the Exam Supervisor of your illness before leaving the exam. If you do not notify the Exam Supervisor at the time you become unwell, TASC may be unable to verify the circumstances and may refuse the application.

    TASC will assess the application and advise you of the outcome by email.

      1. Tell your school the reason you can’t attend the exam.
      2. Write to the Deputy Director, TASC at deputydirector@tasc.tas.gov.au on the same day as your exam (or no more than two business days after the exam) to apply for an emergency special arrangement. You must detail the reasons for your absence, and provide supporting evidence as outlined in the Emergency special arrangement application checklist below.
      3. You will be advised by TASC by email if your application has been accepted and you will receive derived results.

      Emergency special arrangement application checklist

      This checklist is to help you include all the information needed to assess if an emergency special arrangement should apply and make a decision about deriving your exam results.

      If the reason you cannot attend an exam is that you have a significant illness, complete the TASC Medical Certificate process above.

      To apply for an emergency special arrangement your email to the Deputy Director, TASC at deputydirector@tasc.tas.gov.au needs to include:

      Your details

       
      • Full name.
      • TASC ID.
      • Phone number and email address.
      Details of exam/s you are applying for derived exam rating/s for
      • List the course/s and exam date/s.
      • If a course has a practical externally assessed exam (such as a performance, display or oral exam), state if you are applying for derived ratings for the written and/or practical exam.
      Description of circumstances

       
      • Describe the reason why you can’t attend your exam and an emergency special arrangement should apply. Ensure you include relevant details, where possible, such as dates, times, and locations.
      Supporting evidence

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      		 Required supporting evidence will vary based on the specific circumstances of the application. Please refer to the suggested forms of evidence below for general guidance.

      • An unexpected death during the exam period.
        Evidence: Signed letter/email from a medical practitioner or allied health professional (i.e. GP or psychologist/social worker) or the school Principal. This letter should describe the relationship with the deceased individual and how the death will impact the student’s ability to sit their exam.
      • Other sudden, traumatic event/emergency during the exam period.
        Evidence: Signed letter/email from a medical practitioner or allied health professional (i.e. GP or psychologist/social worker) or the school Principal. This letter should outline the impact of the traumatic event or emergency on the student’s ability to sit their exam.
      • Student unexpectedly selected to take part in a recognised National or International sporting, academic or cultural event that will occur at the same time as their exam.
        Evidence: Submit all the materials (1-3) listed below:

        1. Official letter of selection confirming:
          – the date of selection
          – that the event is a National or International event (is officially sanctioned by a central organisation and has a limited entry basis where a restricted number of young people represent the State of Tasmania, nation of Australia, or a specific cultural group).
        2. The organisation’s contact details.
        3. A travel schedule/itinerary and competition/performance schedule with the following evidence of clashing with the same (2-3hr) time period as the scheduled exam:
              • If the air travel clashes with the same time as the exam, that the air travel cannot be re-booked earlier/later so the student is available to sit the exam (either in Tasmania or at a special exam centre) and/or
              • That the main competition/performance/essential ceremony clashes with the same time as the exam and is an essential component that cannot be missed.

          Note: Students must submit an application for a special exam centre if their recognised National or International sporting, academic or cultural event attendance is likely to overlap with the two-week written exam period, and the date of their selection for the event is before 1 July (the closing date for special exam centre applications). As the exam schedule, National or International event competition/performance schedule, and travel schedule/itinerary become known it will be possible to determine if there is a same (2-3hr) time period clash with the student’s exam/s and if a special exam centre is able to go ahead without risk to the integrity of the exam paper. If TASC determines that a special exam centre cannot go ahead the student will be eligible to receive derived exam ratings for that exam.

      Remember:

      • Double check that you have used the correct email address: deputydirector@tasc.tas.gov.au. TASC will email you to confirm we have received your application.

      Derived exam ratings will be applied to determine the results of your written exam, practical/performance or presentation if your application is approved.

      A derived exam rating application can only be submitted for the TASC external assessments listed in the Derived exam rating application timetable. These external assessments are the TASC written exams, practical assessments, performances or presentations.  Derived exam ratings cannot be produced for folio assessments, assessments in interstate-run NIAL courses, or the University of Tasmania’s HAP and UCP units.

      To be eligible, you must:

      • meet all application requirements
      • provide the required supporting evidence
      • submit your application within the specified timeframes.

      Derived exam ratings are available only where unfortunate and unplanned circumstances, such as significant illness, an emergency or other exceptional unexpected circumstances, affects your ability to attend or complete an external assessment.

      Minor non-infectious illnesses, routine ailments, exam stress or concerns about performance are not normally grounds to receive a derived exam rating. Students who complete an exam are generally expected to accept the result of that exam.

      Derived exam ratings are NOT:

      • Available for a family holiday or travel
      • An alternative method of obtaining an external assessment result
      • A backup option if you are concerned about your performance
      • A way to improve a result after completing an exam.

      The derived exam rating process is a safeguard designed to ensure an equitable results outcome for students affected by significant illness or other exceptional circumstances.

      The derived exam rating is based on your internal assessments during the year and then determined by the exam performance of other students in your course who have performed at a similar level in their internal assessments.

      For more information, see Derived Exam Ratings.