Absences from Tests and Examinations

Tests and Examinations are an integral part of formative and summative assessments, thus students are expected to attend all assessments arranged by the School. The School will provide assessment schedules in advance so absences from tests and examinations due to clashes with personal matters can be avoided.

Students will receive a zero for missed tests and examinations. In the case of missed assessments, the School allows a formal written appeal addressed to the Headmaster which consists of completing an Application Form obtainable from the School website at http://www2.dbs.edu.hk/academics/absenceform.pdf or 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 test or examination is due to take place. The School will only consider exceptional or unavoidable circumstances as acceptable excuses, e.g. the student is competing as a representative of the School or Hong Kong. Other excuses will be considered case by case and are subject to approval at the discretion of the Headmaster.

If an application for absence from a test is approved by the Headmaster, the student will receive a projected test mark based on his subsequent examination mark. If the student is also absent from the subsequent examination, he will receive a zero for the missed test and the missed examination and receive the remark of “ABS" on the report card for the missed examination.

If an application for absence from an examination is approved by the Headmaster, the student will have a makeup examination (except 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 other opportunity to take another makeup examination. He will receive a zero and be given the remark of "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 CA mark.

Students missing tests without approval by the Headmaster will receive a zero for the missed tests. Students missing examinations without approval by the Headmaster will receive a zero and be given the remark of “ABS" on the report card for the missed examinations.

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

Download: Absences from Tests and Examinations Application Form