Excuses are normally given for special circumstances, such as illness and bereavement, or even the odd oversleeping, etc.. One of the questions which has been explored many times is what should one do when a small number of students who appear to be trying hard, and have no special circumstances, miss a deadline and ask for more time? It is obviously important to minimize the risk of demotivating these weaker students, and it can be tempting to grant their wish. However, the author's experience of trying this has lead him to conclude that it is a mistake. When a person has suffered an exceptional circumstance (e.g. an illness), they typically work harder afterwards and often manage to catch up. On the other hand, students who are working at their normal pace yet falling behind clearly need to change the way they work and/or work (even) harder; and allowing more time does not alone achieve this. The author has developed the strategy of refusing to give more time to such students, but promising that if they meet an unextended deadline at a future date, then their late flag on the current deadline will be retrospectively excused. This has the effect of increasing the pressure, but without demotivation, and is usually effective. Of course, such a policy is not announced to the whole student body, to avoid the risk of the deadlines being undermined.