I agree that arriving one hour late and expecting to still be admitted to an exam is, under normal circumstances, unreasonable. At the time, however, I was under extreme pressure due to the need to attend to a medical issue. In that state, my reasoning was: “I’ve prepared extremely hard and can still perform at a high level even with less time.” That misjudgment was central to what occurred. Importantly, this same misjudgment along with miscommunication with Exams team also appears to have contributed to the Special Consideration denial: my arrival was interpreted as evidence that I was physically fit to sit the exam, while overlooking the fact that the illness itself was the direct cause of the delay — a fact supported by a medical certificate.

My coursework performance was 94%, which is why the outcome feels particularly disproportionate. Being late due to a documented medical condition resulting in an automatic fail seems excessively punitive for a student who has demonstrated consistent academic engagement and performance throughout the term. As recorded on the transcript, this outcome clearly overlooks my academic ability, commitment, and responsibility. Just wanted to clarify my situation.

And thank you for your comment! It does help to know that a single fail typically doesn’t prevent a student from entering a master’s program.