Exceptional variation of assessment

Sometimes even with the best planning and intentions, unexpected and serious life events can get in the way of your assessments. Here’s what to do if you need an adjustment for them.

You can apply for an assessment adjustment, exemption or withdrawal if exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an exam or assessment. This process is called an Exceptional Variation of Assessment (EVA).

Adjustment types

What you can apply for depends on the length of the impact on you and your university assessment type.

You can apply for an EVA if:

You can’t submit your assessment (including dissertations, essay, assignments) within 48 hours of the due date.
You're unable to attend or complete a timed assessment (including tests, laboratories, and presentations).
You need to withdraw from your unit after the academic withdrawal date.

Besides an EVA, you can also apply for other adjustments like:

Exam adjustments for ongoing health conditions are available through UniAccess.
Supplementary assessments are granted automatically to eligible students.
Remission of fees applications are managed via the Remission of Fees information page.

Eligibility

Circumstances	Examples of eligible circumstances	Examples of supporting evidence	Examples of circumstances that are not eligible
Falling ill during an exam	Feeling unwell and being unable to continue during a supervised exam	Medical certificate covering the exam date and evidence of notifying the exam supervisor immediately	Leaving an exam without notifying a supervisor first
Serious illness or medical emergency	Severe short-term illness, emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation	Medical certificate, hospital discharge papers, or documentation from counselling/wellbeing services. If you're impacted for seven days or more, you'll also need an EVA Verification	Minor illness such as a cold, general stress, or exam anxiety
Exacerbation of an ongoing condition	Sudden worsening of a diagnosed physical or mental health condition	Medical certificate or UAP, or EVA Verification form completed by a health practitioner depending on your circumstances	Long-standing condition without sudden impact
Death or serious illness of a close family member or friend	Bereavement, family member hospitalised	Death notice, obituary, counselling documentation, EVA Declaration Form	Social obligations or non-immediate loss
Hardship or trauma	Domestic violence, sudden homelessness, serious accident, unexpected financial crisis	Police report, support letter, medical certificate, hospital documents, counselling documentation, EVA Declaration Form	Ongoing personal challenges without sudden impact
Unavoidable commitments	Jury duty, court appearance, compulsory religious observance, unavoidable medical procedure	Official letter, court/jury notice, religious leader confirmation, medical certificate, EVA Declaration Form	Work shifts, regular study commitments, holidays
University or career commitments	University competitions, approved internships, interviews, exams at another institution	Letter confirming dates and compulsory attendance from university, competition organiser, or employer, EVA Declaration Form	Voluntary activities or scheduling preferences
Elite athletes or performers	State/national representation, UWA Elite Athlete Program commitments	Letter from coach, club, competition organiser, or Head of School, EVA Declaration Form	Recreational sport or non-elite activities
Defence, emergency, or essential service duties	Australian Defence Force (ADF) service, State Emergency Service (SES), or volunteer firefighter deployment	Official movement order or letter from organisation	Voluntary or optional service
Birth of a child	Birth of own or partner's child	Birth certificate or hospital admission/discharge papers	Supporting someone else's family event
Technical issues during an online exam	System failure during a timed online assessment	Screenshots of issue and evidence of reporting it immediately	Personal computer problems outside the exam window, late reporting of issue

How and when do I apply?

Understand when and how to apply.

1. Understand the deadline

Apply no later than 3 calendar days after your assessment's due date. If you're aware of an upcoming impact, apply before your assessment's due date. If you’re unable to submit your application on time due to exceptional circumstances, include supporting documents that verify this impact with your application.

2. Prepare your supporting documents.

Your application must include independent documentation that covers the dates you were impacted, or prior to the due dates, please note that if you were impacted post the assessment due date, in the 2-day penalty waiver, you will not be eligible. For examples see the eligibility guide.
If your supporting documents are not in English, provide a certified translation.
Important: Do not upload sensitive or graphic images as evidence.
If you are unsure, or if you are unable to get supporting documents, please contact your Student Advising Office for help. You may be asked to complete an EVA Declaration or Verification form.

3. Submit your online EVA application

Once you have your documents ready, complete the application.
Online Application Form

4. Complete your assessment

If you're able to do so without compromising your health or the health of other people, continue to work on your assessment.

5. Await the outcome

Keep an eye on your student email for updates. You should receive an outcome within four days, and your Student Advising Office may reach out for a meeting or to request additional documents.

What happens next

We understand this can be a stressful time, so we’ve made the process as clear as possible.

After you submit, here's what happens:

Confirmation: After you submit your application, you’ll receive an immediate confirmation.
Assessment: Your application and documents will be reviewed by the relevant team. This is done to ensure the process is fair and consistent for all students.
Outcome: In most cases, you will receive a written notification of the outcome to your student email within four days. If your application is approved, this email will explain the new arrangements for your assessment.

For full details, you can review the official University Policy on Assessment and the specific policy on Exceptional Variation of Assessment.

Students walking near Tropical Grove at UWA campus

Do you have a medical condition and/or disability?

If you have an ongoing health condition (physical or mental) or a disability, UniAccess is the primary service designed to support you. Instead of using the one-off EVA process for issues related to your condition, register with UniAccess to get a comprehensive support plan for all your assessments.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit my assessment late?
You should submit your assessment on the due date unless you have an approved adjustment.

Submission within 48 hours:

If you submit your assessment within 48-hours of the due date, it will be marked late, but no penalty is applied. This is called the 2-day penalty waiver. Please be aware that after the due date has passed, no resubmissions of your assessment are possible.

The penalty waiver does not apply to timed assessments such as labs, presentations, tests, quizzes and group assessments.

Submission after 48 hours, penalties apply:

A 15% deduction is applied on Day 3 (after 48 hours), with an additional 5% per day (to Day 7). Work submitted more than 7 days after the due date is not accepted.

Extensions and EVA

If you’re applying for EVA, your application and supporting documents must cover you on or prior to the due, not from the 48 hours.

If you’re granted an EVA, late penalties apply immediately after the extended due date—no two-day waiver applies to extensions.
What happens if I miss an exam?

If you miss an exam due to exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a deferred exam using the same EVA process. You have three University calendar days of the original exam date to apply.
When do I need to use an EVA Declaration?

If you're applying for EVA on any grounds other than medical and are unsure of what supporting documentation to use, you can provide a completed EVA Declaration [PDF 144KB] signed by a relevant authorised professional.
When do I need to use an EVA Verification?

If your application for EVA is on medical grounds and you've been impacted for 7 days or more (either in one application, or multiple applications adding up to 7 days), you will need to provide an EVA Verification [PDF 186KB] in addition to your supporting documentation.
What if my unit isn’t showing in the application?

After the teaching period is over, your unit may not be visible in the EVA form. Submit your application through askUWA as an enquiry with your supporting documents.
How do I apply for EVA for a group assessment?

Apply for EVA as normal, and let your group know as early as possible. Check your unit outline for more details, the outcome will depend on the assessment.
Can I apply for an additional extension after I have already received one?

An extension is granted with the expectation that you will be able to complete the assessment by the new deadline. If you were already granted an Exceptional Variation to Assessment (EVA), and a new, unforeseen, and severe circumstance occurs that prevents you from meeting the extended deadline, you should submit a new application with appropriate supporting documents.

Late penalties apply immediately after the extended due date, no two-day waiver applies to extensions.
Can I start an application and come back to it later?

Yes, you can save your application and return to it later. However, remember that your application must be fully submitted before the deadline.
What to do if you can't get supporting documents?

We understand that in some situations, getting immediate, independent evidence can be difficult. If you cannot obtain a document like a medical certificate or police report, your first step should be to contact your Student Advising Office. They can discuss your circumstances and may advise you to complete a formal EVA Declaration or Verification form, which acts as your evidence.

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