Absences from Tests and Examinations

Tests and examinations are an integral part of formative and summative assessments, thus students are expected to attend all school assessments.  Schedules will be provided in advance to prevent absences due to clashes with personal matters. Students will receive a zero for missed tests and examinations. Students who participate in competitions representing the School or Hong Kong should fill in an Application Form obtainable via the School website or from the General Office.

The Application Form should be submitted with relevant supporting documents to the Dean of Studies at least 10 working days before the scheduled test or examination.

If an application for absence from a test is approved by the School, the student will receive a projected test mark based on the subsequent examination mark. If the student is also absent from the subsequent examination, he will receive a zero for both the missed test and the missed examination, along with the remark “ABS” on the report card for the missed examination.

If an application for absence from an examination is approved by the School, the student will be given a makeup examination (except for Chinese Composition, English Composition, and English Literature) as soon as possible, before the answer scripts are returned to students. A student who has been granted a makeup examination but does not take it will have no further opportunity to take another makeup examination. He will receive a zero and be given the remark “ABS” on the report card for the missed examination. Students missing the Chinese Composition, English Composition, and English Literature examinations will only receive a projected examination mark based on the relevant CA mark.

Students missing tests without approval from the School will receive a zero for the missed tests. Students missing examinations without approval from the School will receive a zero and the remark “ABS” on the report card for the missed examinations.

IB students should refer to the DBS IB Policies and Guidelines due to specific requirements set by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Download: Absences from Tests and Examinations Application Form