Gradebook
New Zealand University Aegrotat and Resit Exam Policy
New Zealand universities offer four distinct mechanisms for students who cannot complete or fail assessments: an aegrotat pass (ungraded pass for students too ill to sit), a supplementary examination (capped-grade resit for narrow fails on approved grounds), a medical withdrawal (course removed without a grade), and course repeat (re-enrolment in a future semester). Each mechanism has different effects on the academic record and GPA. This page explains how they work and how OpenEduCat handles each one.
Aegrotat, Supplementary, Withdrawal, and Repeat — What Is the Difference?
Each mechanism applies in different circumstances and has distinct effects on grades, GPA, and the academic record.
Aegrotat Pass
- When it applies
- Student is too ill to sit an examination or complete an assessment and provides medical evidence. An aegrotat pass is granted when the student has demonstrated sufficient competence through other work in the course to likely have passed.
- Grade / record effect
- Aegrotat Pass (AEG) is recorded. This is an ungraded pass — no grade point is awarded. The student receives credit for the course but the AEG does not contribute to GPA.
- Maximum attempts
- One per assessment. The aegrotat application must be submitted within the institution's deadline (typically within 5 working days of the missed assessment).
- GPA impact
- Counts toward degree credit completion. Does not affect GPA as it is ungraded. Honours GPA calculations may exclude aegrotat courses depending on faculty policy.
Supplementary Examination
- When it applies
- Offered to students who narrowly fail a course (typically scoring within a small margin of the pass mark) on medical, compassionate, or exceptional grounds. Not available in all courses.
- Grade / record effect
- Grade from supplementary exam replaces the original fail on the academic record. The maximum grade achievable is typically capped at the minimum pass (C- at most universities).
- Maximum attempts
- One supplementary exam per failed course. A failed supplementary does not generate a further supplementary opportunity.
- GPA impact
- Supplementary pass records the capped grade. The original fail is removed. GPA is recalculated including the supplementary result.
Withdrawal (Late Withdrawal / Medical Withdrawal)
- When it applies
- Student withdraws from a course after the fee refund deadline, usually on medical or exceptional grounds. A Withdrawn (W) or Withdrawn on Medical/Other Grounds (WM/WO) notation may apply.
- Grade / record effect
- No grade is awarded. The course appears on the record with a withdrawal notation. Credits are not earned. A fee refund or credit may be available for approved medical withdrawals.
- Maximum attempts
- N/A — withdrawal is not a grade replacement mechanism. The student may re-enrol in the course in a future semester.
- GPA impact
- The withdrawal notation may appear on the unofficial record. Official transcripts typically show only completed course attempts. GPA is not affected.
Course Repeat (Re-enrolment)
- When it applies
- Student re-enrols in a failed course in a subsequent semester. No approval required beyond normal enrolment. Full course work, attendance, and assessments must be completed.
- Grade / record effect
- Both the original fail and the new result appear on the academic record. At most NZ universities, the new grade replaces the fail in GPA calculations. Both credits count for degree completion.
- Maximum attempts
- Most institutions allow one repeat. Some faculties impose a maximum of two total attempts before the course is classified as permanently failed.
- GPA impact
- New grade replaces old grade in GPA calculation at most NZ universities. Both attempts visible on transcript. Student must pay full course fees for the repeated course.
Policies vary by institution and by individual course. Always check the university's Assessment and Examinations Regulations for course-specific rules.
Grade Replacement Rules in NZ
Supplementary exam: original fail replaced
When a student passes a supplementary exam, the original fail grade is removed from the academic record and replaced by the supplementary result (capped at C-). The GPA is recalculated accordingly. At most NZ institutions, only the supplementary result appears on the official transcript — the original fail is not shown.
Aegrotat pass: ungraded — GPA neutral
An aegrotat pass (AEG) earns course credit for degree completion purposes but does not contribute grade points to GPA. The AEG is recorded on the academic record with the course name and credit value. Honours GPA calculations may exclude aegrotat courses; this is faculty-specific. OpenEduCat handles AEG courses with a dedicated grade code that excludes them from GPA numerator and denominator.
Course repeat: both attempts visible
When a student re-enrols in a failed course, both the original attempt (with the fail grade) and the new result appear on the academic transcript. Most NZ universities recalculate GPA using the new grade in place of the fail — the new grade enters the GPA calculation while the fail is excluded. Some institutions include both in the GPA; this is configurable in OpenEduCat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about New Zealand university aegrotat passes, supplementary exams, and grade replacement.
Automate aegrotat and resit workflows for NZ institutions
Aegrotat grade codes, supplementary exam caps, withdrawal notations, and repeat-course GPA rules — all configurable in OpenEduCat for NZ policy.