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The new assessment categories and types will take effect from 14 July 2025 at the University of Sydney, along with the following special consideration and simple extension provisions.

All requests for special consideration and special arrangements are managed by Student Administration Services (SAS) who use the Decisions Matrix to ensure that all requests are managed consistently.

Assessment types or decisions not explicitly covered in the Decisions Matrix are considered non-standard decisions and are referred to the unit of study coordinator to determine the appropriate form of consideration. This includes group work assessments.

Alternative forms of consideration for secure assessments must be delivered by an alternative form of secure assessment.

Open (Lane 2) assessments

Assessment category	Assessment type	Form of consideration	Conditions for standard decision	Eligible for simple extension*
Practice or application - open	In-class quiz	New or varied assessment OR mark adjustment.	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Practice or application - open	Out of class quiz	New or varied assessment OR mark adjustment.	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Practice or application - open	Practical skill	New or varied assessment OR mark adjustment.	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Inquiry or investigation - open	Experimental design	Extension of time up until closing date. After closing date alternative form of consideration required.	Extension of time up until closing date and alternative form of consideration after closing.	Yes, but not group work
Inquiry or investigation - open	Data analysis	Extension of time up until closing date. After closing date alternative form of consideration required.	Extension of time up until closing date and alternative form of consideration after closing.	Yes, but not group work
Inquiry or investigation - open	Case studies	Extension of time up until closing date. After closing date alternative form of consideration required.	Extension of time up until closing date and alternative form of consideration after closing.	Yes, but not group work
Inquiry or investigation - open	Research analysis	Extension of time up until closing date. After closing date alternative form of consideration required.	Extension of time up until closing date and alternative form of consideration after closing.	Yes, but not group work
Production and creation - open	Portfolio or journal	Extension of time up until closing date. After closing date alternative form of consideration required.	Extension of time up until closing date and alternative form of consideration after closing.	No
Production and creation - open	Performance	Extension of time	Extension of time Closing date required	No
Production and creation - open	Presentation	Extension of time	Extension of time Closing date required	No
Production and creation - open	Creative work	Extension of time	Extension of time Closing date required	Yes, but not group work
Production and creation - open	Written work	Extension of time	Extension of time Closing date required	Yes, but not group work
Discussion - open	Dissertation or thesis	Determined by Faculty	Refer to Faculty	No
Discussion - open	Debate	New or varied participation OR mark adjustment	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Discussion - open	Contribution	New or varied participation OR mark adjustment	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Discussion - open	Conversation	New or varied participation OR mark adjustment	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Discussion - open	Evaluation	New or varied participation OR mark adjustment	New or varied assessment managed locally OR mark adjustment	No
Attendance - accreditation requirement	Attendance - accreditation requirement	Absence noted or alternative form of consideration.	Absence noted or alternative form of consideration	No

Secure (Lane 1) assessments

Assessment category	Assessment type	Form of consideration	Conditions for standard decision	Eligible for simple extension
Final exams - secure	Written exam	Replacement written exam	Replacement exam scheduled and managed centrally	No
Final exams - secure	Practical exam	Replacement practical exam	Replacement practical exam scheduled and managed centrally	No
Final exams - secure	Oral exam	Replacement oral exam	Replacement oral exam scheduled and managed centrally	No
In-semester test - secure	Written test	Replacement test	Replacement written test scheduled and managed locally	No
In-semester test - secure	Practical test	Replacement practical test	Replacement practical test scheduled and managed locally	No
In-semester test - secure	Oral test	Replacement oral test	Replacement oral test scheduled and managed locally	No
In-class - secure	Interactive oral	Replacement interactive oral, written or creative task, practical, skills, or performance task, Q&A unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment).	Replacement will be scheduled and managed locally	No
In-class - secure	In person written or creative task	Replacement interactive oral, written or creative task, practical, skills, or performance task, Q&A unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment).	Replacement will be managed locally	No
In-class - secure	In person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Replacement interactive oral, written or creative task, practical, skills, or performance task, Q&A unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment).	Replacement will be managed locally	No
In-class - secure	Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Replacement interactive oral, written or creative task, practical, skills, or performance task, Q&A unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment).	Replacement will be managed locally	No
Placement, internship, or supervision - secure	Peer or expert observation or supervision	Replacement peer or expert observation or supervision, in person practical or creative task or clinical exam unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment)	Replacement managed locally	No
Placement, internship, or supervision - secure	In person practical or creative task	Replacement peer or expert observation or supervision, in person practical or creative task or clinical exam unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment)	Replacement managed locally	No
Placement, internship, or supervision - secure	Clinical exam	Replacement peer or expert observation or supervision, in person practical or creative task or clinical exam unless alternative form of consideration selected (must be an alternative form of secure assessment)	Replacement managed locally	No

* Students can apply for automated simple extensions through the special consideration portal, as per section 81a, Coursework Policy 2021; simple extensions for other tasks, other than exams, are managed informally. A unit of study co-ordinator, who is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so, may permit a student to submit a non-examination task other than a task to which section 81A applies up to five calendar days after the due date with no penalty. Section 81, Coursework Policy 2021.