What Happens If My Child Is Ill During GCSE Exams?

Key Takeaways

• If your child is ill before or during a GCSE exam, contact the school immediately.

• The school can apply for special consideration if illness affected your child’s performance.

• If your child misses an exam but has completed at least one paper, they may still be able to receive a grade.

• Clear medical evidence and prompt communication with the school are important.

Introduction

Wondering what happens if your child is ill for a GCSE exam can be stressful. You may be worried about your child’s health, but also about how missing or underperforming in an exam could affect their results. Many parents are unsure whether anything can be done to help students who are unwell.

This guide explains what happens when a student is sick before or during a GCSE exam. We look at how special consideration works, what evidence is needed, and what options exist if an exam is missed entirely, so you feel clearer and more confident about what to do.

What to Do If Your Child Is Ill Before or During a GCSE Exam

If your child becomes unwell around exam time, act quickly and contact the school. What happens next will depend on the timing and severity of the illness.

Contact the School Immediately

If your child is unwell on the day of an exam, contact the school, ideally before the exam starts. Most schools have a clear process for this. 

You will probably need to speak to the exams officer or a designated member of staff in the exams team. Explain your child’s symptoms, how severe they are, and whether you think they will be able to attend. 

Notifying the school immediately allows staff to make appropriate arrangements and, if necessary, begin preparing for a special consideration application.

If your child is already at school and becomes unwell, the school will assess the situation and advise you on the best course of action.

Obtain Medical Evidence

In most cases, the school will ask for medical evidence to support any absence or special consideration request. Try to arrange this as soon as reasonably possible after the exam. 

The evidence should clearly state what was wrong with your child and, where relevant, how this could have affected their exam performance.

Understanding Your Options

What happens next will depend on the circumstances. If your child is well enough, the school may recommend that they still sit the exam, possibly with reasonable adjustments such as a separate room or supervised rest breaks.

If your child attends but is clearly unwell, the school can later apply for special consideration to reflect this.

If your child is too unwell to attend, the school will advise you on whether special consideration for a missed exam is possible or whether a resit is likely to be needed. 

The exams officer will guide you through the appropriate pathway for your child.

What Is Special Consideration?

Special consideration is a process used by exam boards when a student has been disadvantaged by something beyond their control, such as illness, injury, or a significant personal event.

It doesn’t mean your child automatically gets extra marks. Instead, the exam board takes their circumstances into account when finalising results, using national rules set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (opens in a new tab) that apply to all students.

For many families, knowing that this safeguard exists provides some reassurance during a very stressful time.

Who Is Eligible for Special Consideration?

Your child may be eligible for special consideration if they sat the exam, but their performance was affected by illness, injury, or a diagnosed mental health condition.

They usually need to have completed at least part of the course or assessment in that subject. If they have not taken any of the exams at all, special consideration is usually not possible.

Ultimately, eligibility is decided by the exam board. Their decision is based on the information and evidence the school provides.

How Special Consideration Affects Results

If special consideration is granted, the exam board makes a small adjustment to your child’s mark on the affected paper. This recognises the disadvantage your child faced, but does not replace the exam.

The change is usually quite modest in practice. It can sometimes make a difference if your child was very close to a higher grade, but it is unlikely to move them up by a whole grade on its own.

The exact adjustment depends on your child’s circumstances and is decided by the exam board. Schools and parents cannot choose or change the level of adjustment.

How to Apply for Special Consideration

The school submits applications for special consideration, not parents. Your role is to inform the school promptly and provide any medical or supporting evidence they request.

There are deadlines for submitting applications, so it is important to communicate quickly. The exam board considers the evidence and applies any adjustment when results are issued.

What If My Child Misses a GCSE Exam Completely?

If your child is too unwell to attend an exam at all, this is obviously worrying. But there are still possible routes forward, and the school will guide you through them.

In most cases, the exams officer will look at your child’s situation, the evidence you can provide, and what other assessments they have already completed. They will then advise you on the best next step.

For further details on this, read our guide on What happens if you miss a GCSE exam?

Can My Child Resit the Exam?

In many cases, your child can resit a missed GCSE exam. 

Some subjects offer a November resit series, which can be helpful if your child recovers quickly and wants another chance soon after the summer exams. For other subjects, the next opportunity may be the following summer.

Your child’s school will explain the available options and the likely timing. They can advise on whether a resit is the most sensible route. Find out more in our guide to GCSE resits.

Will My Child Still Receive a Grade?

Possibly. If your child has taken at least one other paper in that subject, the exam board may be able to award a grade based on completed components and any approved special consideration. This means that missing one paper does not automatically mean having to start again.

However, if your child has missed all the assessments for a subject, the exam board usually cannot award a grade. In that case, a resit would typically be needed.

Your school will talk you through this clearly and help you understand what is most likely in your child’s particular situation.

What Evidence Do You Need to Provide?

Schools and exam boards need medical evidence before they can apply for special consideration or consider a missed exam.

Acceptable evidence usually includes:

• A GP note or hospital letter

• A medical certificate

• Written confirmation from another healthcare professional

The evidence should confirm your child’s illness and the relevant dates. You do not need to share detailed medical information.

If your child was treated at home and did not see a doctor, tell the school as soon as possible. They can advise you on what alternative evidence might be acceptable.

How Schools Support Students Who Are Ill During GCSEs

Schools play a central role in supporting students in these situations. The exams officer will liaise with the exam board, submit any applications for special consideration, and keep you informed throughout the process.

Meanwhile, your child’s teachers and pastoral staff may offer additional support to help your child manage stress, catch up on any missed work, and plan for the rest of the exam period if they have been unwell.

Don’t worry: you will not be left to navigate this alone. Schools are used to dealing with these situations and will guide you step by step. We have a handy guide for how you can help your child prepare for their exams, too.

Can My Child Sit an Exam If They’re Unwell?

In some situations, yes. This depends on whether they feel able to cope and the school can put support in place.

The school’s priority will always be your child’s wellbeing, but they will also help you weigh up whether attending the exam is likely to be manageable and fair.

Access Arrangements for Students Taking Exams Whilst Ill

If your child attends an exam while unwell, the school may be able to make reasonable adjustments to help them cope. These might include:

• Sitting the exam in a separate, quieter room

• Allowing supervised rest breaks if needed

• Providing water, medication, or access to a toilet

• Ensuring they are seated near staff who can monitor their wellbeing

These arrangements do not change the exam itself. However, they may make the environment more manageable for your child.

Weighing Up the Decision

Deciding whether your child should attempt an exam while ill can feel very difficult. It can help to consider a few key questions:

• How severe are their symptoms right now?

• Are they likely to be able to concentrate for the whole exam?

• What does the school recommend based on their experience?

• Would attempting the exam cause significant distress or make them worse?

In some cases, sitting the exam with support may be the best option. In others, it may be kinder and more sensible for your child to rest and rely on special consideration or a resit instead.

What About Mental Health Issues?

Mental health difficulties can be considered under special consideration in the same way as physical illness, provided there is appropriate medical or professional evidence. Schools will usually ask for written confirmation from a GP, psychologist, or counsellor.

If your child has ongoing mental health needs, the school may also discuss longer-term support or reasonable adjustments for future exams. 

Schools and exam boards do take mental health seriously, so it is always worth speaking to the school early if your child is struggling.

Deadlines and Key Dates

It is important to act quickly. Schools usually need to notify the exam board of any issues on the same day as the exam, and medical evidence must be submitted within a set timeframe. 

Your child’s school will inform you of the relevant deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can My Child Get Special Consideration for Multiple Exams?

Yes. If your child was unwell across more than one exam, the school can apply for special consideration for each affected paper, provided the circumstances and evidence meet the exam board’s criteria.

What Happens If My Child Is Ill During Coursework Deadlines?

Speak to the school as soon as possible. They may be able to grant an extension or put alternative arrangements in place, depending on the circumstances and the rules for that qualification.

Will Universities and Colleges Know About Special Consideration?

No. Exam certificates and results do not usually show that special consideration was applied. Universities and colleges normally see only the final grades.

Can My Child Appeal If Special Consideration Is Denied?

If you are concerned about a decision, talk to the school first. They can explain the outcome and advise whether there are grounds to request a review or appeal.

Final Thoughts

If your child is ill during GCSE exams, the most important steps are to communicate quickly with the school, provide clear medical evidence, and work closely with the exams team. While this situation can feel overwhelming, try not to worry. There are well-established processes in place to make sure students are not unfairly disadvantaged.

If you are looking for extra support as your child prepares for future exams or resits, Save My Exams can help. With clear, exam-board-specific revision notes, practice questions, flashcards, and past papers used by over two million students, Save My Exams can help to reduce anxiety and build confidence.

References:

• A guide to the special consideration process | JCQ (opens in a new tab)