Resit exams in Australian higher education: Lessons from a novel COVID-19 assessment trial

ABSTRACT

Resit exams permit students who have failed a subject to sit a supplementary exam to demonstrate achievement of the academic standards required for program progression. This study analyses student perceptions of the strengths and limitations of resit exams during a pandemic and discusses their potential role in Australian Higher Education. The data were obtained from student performance metrics, questionnaires, and focus groups. Students acknowledged the pedagogical and psychological benefits of resit exams within the context of the challenges posed by exam thresholds, high-stakes summative exams, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Students questioned whether the imposition of exam thresholds and high-stakes summative exams adequately supported their learning and accurately measured their performance. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.