Requesting an explanation and filing a complaint

Grade explanation

• Information about grade explanation:

  You are entitled to an explanation of the grade given by your examiner. Before you ask for an explanation, you should study the assessment guidelines for the exam. You will find that on Canvas.

  If you wish to be given an explanation of the outcome of an oral exam, you must ask for an explanation when you receive your grade.

  For written exams, you have one week from the result’s publication to ask for an explanation.

  See the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page for details of how you go about asking for an explanation of your exam grade.

Right to appeal against a grade

• Information about appealing against a grade:

  If you think the grade you have been awarded does not reflect your exam performance, you are entitled to file an appeal. Please note that you cannot appeal the outcome of an oral exam or other practical exams that cannot be verified in retrospect.

  Before you file a formal appeal, you should have read the assessment guidelines and asked for an explanation of the grade awarded. Please note that you may be given the same or a lower grade after your appeal has been reviewed.

  The grade you are given after your appeal has been reviewed will be your final grade. You may withdraw your appeal as long as a new grade has not been determined or published electronically.

  In connection with a group exam, each member has the right to appeal individually, even though the others in the group choose not to do so.

  If the grade is changed on appeal, it will be changed only for the student who filed the appeal.

  As long as you have an appeal under review, you have no valid result in that subject. To receive your final certificate, all grades must be valid.

  See the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page for details of how you go about filing an appeal.

Right to complain about formal errors with the exam

• How to complain about formal exam errors:

  If you wish to complain about formal errors in the exam paper, the way the exam was conducted or the assessment process, you must do so in writing (in a letter of complaint, not a separate form). You must provide your name and write about the matter you are complaining about.

  If an error has been made, and this could have affected the outcome in a positive or negative way, the exam will be annulled. The exam could be re-marked or you may have to resit it.

  Your complaint must be dated. Send your complaint to postmottak@phs.no.

How to ask for an explanation

• Oral/practical exams

  If you wish to receive an explanation of the grade set in connection with an oral exam or assessment of practical skills, you must ask the examiner for an explanation immediately after you have learned what grade you have been given.

• Written exams

  Before you ask for an explanation, you should have read the assessment guidelines.

  The deadline for requesting an explanation is 7 days after the grade has been published on Studentweb.

  Step-by-step guide:

  1. Log in to Studentweb
  2. In the drop-down menu “Mer” (more) select “Begrunnelse og klage” (explanations and complaints).
  3. Then find the list of subjects it is possible to request an explanation for via Studentweb. The subjects will only appear when the exam results have been published.
  4. Click on the subject concerned and press “Send” to ask for an explanation. This button will be displayed until the deadline for requesting an explanation has expired.
  5. The explanation will normally be accessible on Inspera within 1 week. The examiner decides whether the explanation will be provided orally or in writing. (If the explanation is provided orally, the examiner will use Inspera to post their contact details and a list of times when you can contact them.)
  6. You will be notified by e-mail when the explanation has been provided. In Studentweb, there will be a link to Inspera, where you will find the explanation (under “Arkiv” (archive), the name of the subject and “Se flere detaljer” (see further details)).

   

How to complain about a grade

• Oral exams/assessments of practical skills

  It is not possible to appeal the grade awarded for an oral exam or an assessment of practical skills. This is because the student’s performance during these kinds of exam cannot be verified in retrospect.

• Written exams

  Before you appeal a grade, you should have read the assessment guidelines and asked for an explanation.
  
  Step-by-step guide:

  1. You can appeal your grade via Studentweb. You must file your appeal no later than 3 weeks after the grade was published.
  2. Go to the menu item “Mer” (more) and select “Begrunnelse og klager” (explanations and appeals).
  3. Select the subject whose grade you wish to appeal.
  4. Click on the box “Klage på sensur” (appeal an exam grade). Here you will see the deadline for submitting an appeal.
  5. Check both boxes and select “Send”, see picture below.
  6. You will receive confirmation that your appeal has been received.
  7. Please note that as long as you have an appeal under review, you have no grade in that subject.

  Reassessment following an appeal
  The result of the reassessment is normally announced 15 days after the appeal deadline has expired.
  After the reassessment, you will see a new result in Studentweb under “Begrunnelse og klager” (explanations and appeals).

  Explanation of the decision
  You will not receive an explanation along with the decision regarding your appeal. To obtain an explanation, you must send an e-mail to your local campus administration. State your name, subject, student ID no. and say that you would like an explanation of the decision regarding your appeal. You must request an explanation no more than 7 days (1 week) after the decision regarding your appeal has been posted.

  Grade discrepancy
  If your new grade deviates from the original grade given by two or more grades, a new assessment will be made before a final grade is set.
  In the event of a grade discrepancy, the final outcome will not be announced for a further 2 weeks.

  Appeal decisions are final
  The grade you receive after your appeal has been reviewed is final and cannot itself be appealed.