What if I have no proof that I sat the exam?

It becomes harder but not impossible. The exam hall had an attendance sheet you signed. Ask the examinations office if they can check the attendance record. A classmate who sat next to you may also be willing to confirm. Start keeping your exam card from now on.

How long do I have to report a missing mark?

Each university has its own correction window, typically a few weeks after results are published. Check your university's academic calendar or ask the examinations office. If you miss the window, corrections become much more difficult and may require a special appeal.

Can a missing mark prevent me from graduating?

Yes. If a compulsory unit shows no mark, you cannot complete your degree requirements. This is why checking results immediately matters. A missing mark discovered in fourth year is far harder to resolve than one caught in the same semester.

Missing marks in Kenyan universities: how to follow up and protect yourself | Campus

Missing marks in Kenyan universities: how to follow up and protect yourself

Check results the day they are posted. If a mark is missing, go to your department office with proof you sat the exam: exam card, assignment receipt, or email confirmation. File a complaint in writing, keep a copy, and follow up weekly. Missing marks not reported within the correction window can become permanent zeroes on your transcript.

How marks go missing in the first place

Missing marks are common at Kenyan universities. They happen for several reasons:

The lecturer submitted results late or with errors
Your registration for the unit was incomplete (you attended and sat the exam, but the system did not record you as registered)
A data entry mistake during transcription from marking sheets to the portal
The exam office lost your script or your assignment was not recorded

None of these are your fault, but all of them are your problem. The university system puts the burden on you to notice and report missing marks. If you do not check and follow up, nobody else will.

Check results the day they are posted

When end-of-semester results are released, log in to the student portal and check every unit. Do not just look for passes. Verify that every unit you registered for and every exam you sat has a mark recorded.

If a mark shows as "I" (incomplete), "X" (missing), or simply does not appear, act immediately. Do not assume it will appear later. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to resolve.

Take a screenshot of your results page every time you check. Save it with the date. If there is ever a dispute about what was posted when, you want evidence.

Step by step: how to follow up on a missing mark

Step 1: Gather your evidence. Exam card (the slip you carried into the exam hall), registration confirmation (screenshot from the portal), any assignment submission receipts or emails. If you have none of these, you are in a weaker position, which is why the "protect yourself" section below matters.

Step 2: Visit the department office. Speak to the departmental examinations coordinator or the head of department's secretary. Explain which unit has a missing mark and show your evidence. Ask them to check with the lecturer.

Step 3: Put it in writing. Write a formal letter or email to the head of department requesting the mark correction. Keep a copy. If the department has a missing marks form, fill it in and get it stamped or signed as received.

Step 4: Follow up weekly. Do not submit the form and wait. Go back every week until the mark appears. Be polite but persistent. Ask for a timeline and the name of the person handling it.

Step 5: Escalate if needed. If the department does not resolve it within the published correction period, escalate to the school dean or the examinations office. Reference your written complaint and the dates you followed up.

Read more guides on grades and campus admin for related topics.

How to protect yourself from the start

Prevention is easier than correction. From your first semester:

Screenshot your unit registration every semester after you register. If the system says you were not registered, this is your proof.
Keep your exam card. After every exam, do not throw it away. File it. It proves you were in the room.
Get submission receipts. When you submit a physical assignment, ask the person receiving it to sign your copy with the date. When you submit digitally, screenshot the confirmation.
Email important submissions. If you submit a report or project, email a copy to the lecturer as backup. The email timestamp proves you submitted on time.

These take seconds in the moment and save weeks of stress if anything goes wrong. Start this habit from your very first registration.

What to do this week

Screenshot your current unit registration from the student portal and save it to a folder on your phone.
Create a folder (physical or digital) labelled "Exam evidence" for exam cards and submission receipts.
After your next assignment submission, get or save a receipt.
If you have results posted, check every unit right now. Flag anything missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have no proof that I sat the exam?: It becomes harder but not impossible. The exam hall had an attendance sheet you signed. Ask the examinations office if they can check the attendance record. A classmate who sat next to you may also be willing to confirm. Start keeping your exam card from now on.
How long do I have to report a missing mark?: Each university has its own correction window, typically a few weeks after results are published. Check your university's academic calendar or ask the examinations office. If you miss the window, corrections become much more difficult and may require a special appeal.
Can a missing mark prevent me from graduating?: Yes. If a compulsory unit shows no mark, you cannot complete your degree requirements. This is why checking results immediately matters. A missing mark discovered in fourth year is far harder to resolve than one caught in the same semester.