Announcements
January/February 2023 post examination student communication
Dear Unisa Student
Unisa has concluded its January/February 2023 examination period. Efforts made in improving our students' online examination experience have come to fruition as we proudly announce that our January/February 2023 examinations took place seamlessly without any technical glitches. We have also noted a significant decline in the non-usage of proctoring tools as our students have become accustomed to Unisa's proctoring and invigilation tools.
Below outlines the pertinent information that brings to conclusion the January/February 2023 examination period:
1. Results codes on students’ academic records
We have noted that students may require additional explanations on the results codes reflecting on their academic records. The below table reflects the description of the results code and the required actions:
Result code |
Description |
Result code description |
| 1 | Pass | A student "passes" a module when they have received a final mark of 50% and above. |
| 2 | Pass with distinction | A student "passes with distinction" when they obtain a final mark of 75% and above. |
| 3 | Failed |
A student "fails" a module when they have received a final mark of less than 50% and is not eligible for further supplementary assessment opportunities. The student is required to re-register for the module. |
| 5 | Absent from examination |
A student is deemed to be "absent from examination" when the university did not receive the student’s submission within the allowable submission period. If an undergraduate student is absent from their second examination opportunity, theyare required to re-register. Postgraduate students are expected to re-register for module. |
| 6 |
Supplementary |
A student attains a "supplementary examination" |
| 7 | Results outstanding |
A student receives a "results outstanding" outcome when the student’s submission is received but the marking of the submission is still in progress and the final mark is outstanding. A student may start following up on their outstanding result from 17 March 2023 by sending an e-mail enquiry to exams@unisa.ac.za |
| 8 | Not admitted to an examination |
A student receives a "not admitted to examination" outcome if the student did not meet the examination admission criteria relevant to the module. A student is required to reregister for the module. |
| 24 | Absent – supplementary |
A student receives an "absent-supplementary" outcome when students failed to utilise the required proctoring tool during their first examination opportunity. Students who fail to utilise the proctoring tool in their second examination opportunity are required to re-register. |
| 28 | Script rejected |
A student receives a "script rejected" outcome if a student did not use the required proctoring tool or submitted a password-protected or corrupt file. |
| 29 | Disciplinary pending |
A student receives a "disciplinary pending" outcome if a student is suspected of academic dishonesty (see section 6 below). We recommend re-registration of the module while the disciplinary process is still pending. |
2. January/February 2023 examinations
The January/February 2023 examination period catered for year modules with the original scheduling of the January/February 2023 examination period, year module supplementary examinations and modules converting to different assessment types in the 2023 academic year. Most modules were administering second examination opportunities to students in the January/February 2023 examinations. Students who were unsuccessful in their second examination opportunities are advised to re-register for their modules. Unisa does not grant third examination opportunities to students to rewrite their missed examinations.
3. Undergraduate students are granted two examination opportunities
Unisa implemented a new provision in the Assessment Policy, which grants an undergraduate student writing a module's examination in the first examination opportunity, an automatic additional opportunity to rewrite their examination.
Paragraph 6.6 of the Assessment Policy refers:
A student registered for an undergraduate module is entitled to use two consecutive opportunities per module to take the examination. Except if College rules provide otherwise, a student may write the examination during either the first or the second examination opportunity.
A student who takes an examination for the first time during the second examination opportunity and fails is not entitled to an additional examination opportunity. Where a special FI concession was granted to an individual student for a specific module, the student will not be granted a supplementary examination after failing the FI assessment.
For the above reasons, the aegrotat system will not apply for undergraduate students. In accordance with policy, Unisa does not grant third examination opportunities to students to rewrite their missed examinations. In such cases, students are required to re-register for the module.
Please note: Modules with portfolio (evidence-based) assessment, continuous assessment, practical assessment or experiential assessment and those modules that require research reports do not have a second examination opportunity.
4. Aegrotat applications
Aegrotat applications will only be permitted for postgraduate students who missed their first examination opportunity to write their online examinations. Postgraduate students who were adversely affected by loadshedding and/or network challenges during their examinations or who experienced the death of loved ones or illness during the examinations are requested to apply online for an aegrotat within 10 days of their scheduled examination sitting. Aegrotat applications are not considered after the release of marks. Aegrotat applications will not be processed for postgraduate students who missed their second opportunity. Students are advised to visit the Aegrotat and Special Exams (unisa.ac.za) web page for the application process.
Please note: Modules with portfolio (evidence-based) assessment, continuous assessment, practical assessment or experiential assessment and those modules which require research reports are not granted an aegrotat opportunity.
Students are advised to send all examination-related enquiries to exams@unisa.ac.za
5. Non-use of the proctoring (invigilation) tools
Unisa utilises three proctoring tools for its examinations. Students were forewarned that non-use of the proctoring tools would result in their marks being withheld. Such students would have received either an "absent-supplementary" or an "exam script rejected" outcome as their examination result. A student who did not use any of the required proctoring tools when writing a module's exam in the first examination opportunity, will be granted another examination opportunity in the next module examination. A student who did not use any of the required proctoring tools when writing a module's exam in the second examination opportunity, will have to re-register for the relevant module. Further transgressions in this regard will result in formal disciplinary proceedings. A student who feels aggrieved by their outcome after non-use of the proctoring tool may appeal the university’s decision by completing the appeal form and will have their marks released should they be successful. Students have until 30 April 2023 to submit their appeal on the Microsoft form.
CSET and CTA students are requested to refer to their college communication regarding its application of non-use decisions (rules).
6. Academic dishonesty
We continue to maintain our zero-tolerance stance against cheating and plagiarism during online examinations. Students who have been identified through the proctoring tools or other evidence to have transgressed the examination rules have been referred to the Student Disciplinary Office. Those students who receive communication from the Disciplinary Office should await further communication from the Disciplinary Office on the type of sanction they have received. Enquiries relating to disciplinary processes may be sent to Examscriptdisciplinary@unisa.ac.za
7. Students who submitted their examination answer scripts on the Invigilator App and not the official examination platforms
Students were instructed to submit their examination answer scripts via the official myExams platform. In cases where students experienced challenges with the myExams platform, they were advised to submit their answer scripts using the contingency links. We have noted that some students did not submit their answer scripts via these platforms, but rather via the Invigilator App. The university has resolved to accommodate these students by processing their marks through alternative processes.
8. Corrupted and password protected scripts
Students who submitted irrecoverable corrupted scripts will be granted an additional opportunity to write in the next module examination. This concession will only apply to first-time writing students (see section 3 above). No further opportunities are granted to students after their second opportunity. Such students are requested to re-register for the applicable module(s).
Students who submitted password-protected scripts were contacted during the marking period to provide the relevant passwords. Students with unresolved password-protected scripts are requested to re-register for the applicable module(s).
Students may send their e-mails to exams@unisa.ac.za for queries regarding irrecoverable corrupted scripts and password protected scripts.
9. January/February 2023 mark release
The university has commenced the staggered release of the January/February 2023 examination results. We anticipate that most marks will be released by 17 March 2023. All mark release inquiries should be addressed to exams@unisa.ac.za.
Students may apply to purchase a copy of their examination scripts or to have their scripts remarked by 27 March 2023. The online remark application form is available on myUnisa. Log into myUnisa and navigate to the Examination Results tool in the administrative section. Applications for remarks can also be sent to remark@unisa.ac.za Students may purchase their scripts by sending an e-mail to purchasescript@unisa.ac.za Your student number must appear in the subject heading. Please note that the remarking or the purchasing of a script is not possible where the script is flagged for a disciplinary offense.
Please note: Unisa will only attend to enquiries received from your myLife e-mail address.
We wish our students well as they embark on their learning journey for the 2023 academic year.
Kind regards
University Registrar
Publish date: 2023/03/14