Excuse Encyclopedia

Funny Excuses for Missing an Exam

For entertainment purposes only. (Seriously — for real exams, just tell your professor the truth.) These are the kinds of excuses you'd give your friends after the fact, not your dean.

For entertainment purposes only

The actual move for a real missed exam is: contact the professor early, explain truthfully, ask about a makeup. Most universities have formal accommodations. For the rest of life, here are some lighter excuses.

6 Examples

  • Slept through my alarm because my phone died overnight
  • Mixed up the room number and was in the wrong building
  • Was at the right building, wrong floor, wrong day
  • Power went out on my block and woke up to no alarm
  • Set my alarm for PM instead of AM
  • Got the wrong week on the syllabus

Good for

  • Storytelling after the fact
  • Sympathy from friends
  • Bad-luck retellings

Avoid

  • Don't actually use these on your professor — be honest
  • Don't fabricate a death in the family. Ever.
  • Don't claim a documented illness without documentation

Let randomness pick — load your favorites in the slot machine and pull the lever.

Spin the slot machine

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