Type 1 Diabetes and Year 12 Exam?!?!

[tylerrw8]

So I recently heard that the final exam is unavoidable...I have type 1 diabetes and it's one of those things that can be very unpredictable. Apparently the examiner will not give exceptions, because a teacher told my class a few weeks ago that there was a kid who was in hospital with severe concussions and skull damage, but an examiner came into the hospital to make him take the exams. What if I go low or too high and I have to leave or it effects my thinking and I flunk the exam? Should I talk to someone about it? I know the exams are months away, but it'll probably come faster than I think, and I'm super worried!!!

[Thu Thu Train]

Talk to your VCE Coordinator and read these pages

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/exams/specialprovision/derivedexam.aspx
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/exams/specialprovision/specialexams.aspx

Edit: I just read the derived score one more closely and it seems it doesn't apply to students with chronic conditions or illnesses... I'd talk to your VCE Coordinator

[Russ]

You can get special arrangements for sitting your exams ie extra time to treat if needed, room/seat by yourself but you can't not sit the exams and you can't have special consideration for your scores. Fill out the forms above, since it's fairly close to the cutoff time iirc

[alondouek]

Hi OP! It's a good idea to sort out potential issues such as this as early as possible, so you've got effective strategies in place should a situation arise during the exam period. Given that your condition is a medical one (and you therefore will have relevant medical documentation), you shouldn't have any issue receiving special consideration from VCAA suitable to your condition, provided you address it as soon as you can.

In short, Thu^'s right; discuss this with your VCE coordinator (because they're your school's liaison to VCAA), and they'll organise everything for you . There are provisions in place for a wide range of predicaments, so you shouldn't be too worried.

Best of luck!

[chasej]

kid who was in hospital with severe concussions and skull damage, but an examiner came into the hospital to make him take the exams

That is absolutely riduclous, VCAA expressively states in their exam guidelines they do not expect students to sit their exams against specific written medical advice (that is medical certificate by a qualified doctor which clearly says "x cannot sit their exams due to x in my clinical opinion-or however the doctor chooses to word it). [Exemptions from exams also exist for those experiencing emotional/personal trauma such as the death of a loved one in the immediate lead up to the exam. [I'm not trying to belittle what you said, I just think teachers shouldn't be spreading false rumours about VCAA rules and/or exaggerating situations to scare students].

VCAA employ many procedures to deal with students whose performance may be effected due to unavoidable medical/personal issues. If it is an ongoing issue to which you believe special arrangements can be made to rectify the situation, or reduce the disadvantage, you can apply for special examination conditions to the VCAA (speak to your VCE co-ordinator at school as soon as possible if you want this, as the normal application time for special arrangements is finished, although it is still possible to arrange them if need be). For example, without knowing the specifics of your condition and speaking as an example only, special conditions can be arranged to allow you to have something to eat mid-exam to ensure your sugar levels don't go low.

If you suddenly get very acutely sick on the day of the exam you can apply for a Derived Examination Score where VCAA uses all the other data available about your performance to determine an exam score for an exam you didn't sit. Speak to your VCE co-ordinator for more information about this again.