Supplementary assessments are the last opportunity to pass a failed unit. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you’re automatically given a supplementary assessment.
You can decide if you’d like to complete your supplementary assessment – if you don’t want to, there’s no further action you need to take (simply don’t complete the assessment).
If you don’t complete the supplementary assessment, your final unit result will be based on the assessments you completed for the unit – but if you complete the supplementary assessment and you pass, your final unit result will be 50 (P).
How it works
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Step one: Check your results to see if you have a supplementary assessmentView
Check your results on the day they are released. If you have any units with a grade of NS, this means you have met the eligibility criteria and will be automatically given a supplementary assessment.
If any of your units have a WH (withheld) grade, you’ll need to wait for these results to be finalised before you’ll know if you have a supplementary assessment for that unit.
The details of your supplementary assessment won’t be published right away – but it’s a good idea to start thinking about whether you’d like to complete the assessment as soon as you get your results.
Eligibility criteria
You’re eligible for a supplementary assessment if:
you receive a mark of 45 to 49 for the unit and your grade is either N (fail) or NH (hurdle fail), and your results show NS (supplementary assessment). You won’t be eligible for a supplementary assessment if you receive a grade of NGO or NSR. If your grade is NH but your result isn't showing as NS, you may not be eligible as your unit offers additional assessments – check the Handbook entry or Moodle for details.
the unit offers supplementary assessments – supplementary assessments aren’t offered for some units because of the way they’re taught (e.g. professional practice, clinical placements and project-based units). You can check if your unit offers supplementary assessments by checking its entry in the Handbook.
you haven’t completed a deferred or rescheduled deferred assessment for the unit.
you don’t have a finding of academic misconduct with a zero mark penalty applied to an assessment task worth 20 per cent or more.
Step two: Decide whether to complete your supplementary assessmentsView
You don’t have to complete your supplementary assessment, but there are a few things you should consider before deciding whether or not to complete it.
Prioritise your supplementary assessments
If you’ve been given multiple supplementary assessments, it’s a good idea to prioritise completing the one you have the best chance of passing.
Considerations for international students
Completing all eligible supplementary assessments gives you the best chance of completing your course within the standard course duration.
International students at Monash University Malaysia: It’s a condition of your student pass that you complete your course within the standard course duration. It’s difficult to get an extension of your student pass beyond the standard course duration (this decision is made at the discretion of Immigration Malaysia).
International students at Monash Australia: If you can’t complete your course before the cut-off date in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), you’ll need to apply for a new visa to extend your stay and complete your course.
Consider the impacts on your WAM
Before you decide what to do, consider how this will impact your WAM (Weighted Average Mark).
If you complete a supplementary assessment, the highest mark you can get for your unit is 50 (P). If you retake the unit instead, you’ll have the opportunity to achieve a higher mark.
There’s a lot to consider when making this decision – if you’re not sure what option is best for you, requesting course advice is a good first step.
Fees
If you complete a supplementary assessment and fail, you'll need to retake the unit (or a different unit) and pay the fees. You can speak to Monash Connect about the financial implications of retaking units.
Step three: Check your assessment details and prepareView
Semester two 2025 deferred and supplementary assessments (12–16 Jan 2026)
Deferred and supplementary eExams will be off campus (either with or without online supervision) – this means you can sit your eExam from home or another suitable location.
If your timetable in Allocate+ shows you have a faculty-managed supplementary assessment (DEPT-RUN), check the location with your teaching staff.
If you decide to complete your supplementary assessment, you’ll need to do so on the date it is scheduled for, which will be within 90 calendar days of the results release date.
Here’s how to find the details of your supplementary assessments:
Scheduled assessments Check Allocate+ for the date, time and location of the supplementary assessment. To find out when your assessment details will be published, see final assessment dates.
Assessments in a different format Your faculty will send you an email with the details of your assessment at least five University working days before the set date.
Time zone differences
If you’re participating in a Monash program overseas or interstate (e.g. GIG), you’re still expected to complete your supplementary assessment on the scheduled date and time – even if it overlaps with your program. But, if your supplementary assessment is scheduled to start before 5am or finish after 12.30am in your local time, you can apply for special arrangements to have your assessment start time moved to the next suitable timetabled session. If there isn’t another suitable session on the same day, you’ll have to sit your supplementary assessment at the time it’s scheduled for.
Need help preparing for your supplementary assessment?
There are lots of resources to help you prepare for your supplementary assessment:
If you pass a supplementary assessment, your result for the unit will be 50 (P). You cannot achieve a higher mark.
If you fail a supplementary assessment, you’ll receive the original mark you had when results were released.
Prerequisite units
If you’re sitting a supplementary assessment for a unit that is a prerequisite for another unit you’re enrolled in, you’ll need to pass your supplementary assessment to stay enrolled in that unit. If you fail the unit, your enrolment in the subsequent unit will be invalid and cancelled by the faculty (this is because you won’t have met the academic requirements to remain enrolled).
Some faculties won’t allow you to enrol in a unit if you have a NS grade for a prerequisite, so having an interim result (NS grade) while you wait to see if you passed might affect your enrolment. This won’t be a problem if your supplementary assessment results are released before re-enrolment closes (and you passed), but for some teaching periods, you may receive your final grade after the cut-off for enrolment.
If this happens, don’t worry, just get in touch with your faculty or reach out to Monash Connect and they will let you know what you need to do.
For details about your course structure, take a look at the Handbook (make sure you check the Handbook for the year you started your course). You can also check the Handbook for the current year for unit prerequisite and co-requisite information.
If you have questions about re-enrolment, concerns about your academic progress or need support, contact your faculty or request course advice.
Not completing a supplementary assessment
You have one opportunity to complete your supplementary assessment. If you don’t complete your supplementary assessment, your mark will be finalised by the supplementary assessment results release date, based on the assessments you completed for the unit. You’ll receive the original mark you had when results were released – N (fail) or NH (hurdle fail). If you need to change your enrolment for the next teaching period based on this outcome, it’s a good idea to seek course advice.
If you’re unable to complete your assessment on the set date because of extreme circumstances, you may be able to apply for a Withdrawn (WDN) grade (WDN grades are excluded from your GPA and WAM). Just make sure you apply within 10 University working days after your grade is finalised for the unit.
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