Article 3—Academic Policies and Regulations

Part 2. Examinations

§ 3-204 Special Examinations

(a) Special examinations may be given only in courses taken at the University of Illinois in which a failing grade (F, ABS, or NC) has been received.

(b) The Office of Admissions and Records is authorized to issue a special examination permit to a current student or to a former student not currently registered who has no more than ten semester hours remaining to complete the degree.

(c) A fee of $10 must be paid in advance for each special examination.

(d) Special examinations may be taken only upon the recommendation of the head or chair of the department concerned or of some person duly authorized by the head or chair, and with the approval of the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled.

(e) Special examinations in guided individual study courses must be approved by the head of the Guided Individual Study Section. A student who has been registered for campus work must also obtain the approval of the dean of his or her college.

(f) Special examinations in courses that have been failed and proficiency examinations for advanced standing may be taken by graduating seniors at any time designated by the instructor within the time limits of subsection (g) below. (See § 3-203.)  

(g) A student who has completed the work of a semester is considered to be still under registration for the purposes of this rule until the first day of instruction for the following semester.

(h) A student who has been dropped from the University is not eligible to take special examinations unless he or she has been reinstated and meets the conditions stated in subsection (b) above. 

(i) A special examination should be taken before the end of the next semester in which the student is registered following failure in the course. 

(j) No special examinations may be given until after the close of the semester or summer session in which the course was failed. 

(k) A special examination in a guided individual study course in which a grade of F has been received by a student not currently registered in the University must be taken within thirty days of the date of notification of the grade by the Guided Individual Study Section. 

(l) Special examination grades are reported as PS or F, but no student is given a grade of PS unless he or she has earned a grade of C- or better on the examination. 

(m) A student given a grade of PS in a special examination will receive the credit normally allowed for the course, subject to all regulations governing the individual student’s curriculum. 

(n) Grades earned in special examinations are not included in the computation of averages. (A passing grade on a special examination does not remove the previously earned failing grade.)