Exam Procedures - What you need to know 

 Student Identification

You must produce your student identification card, driver's licence or passport as you enter an exam venue. If you are not able to show one of these forms of identification you will be asked to go to Student Central in Building 17 to have a new student ID card produced for you, at a cost of $10, before you will be admitted to the exam venue.

No extra time will be allocated to you if you miss the beginning of the exam, so it is in your best interests to make sure that you have correct identification before you go to your exam.

 

 Use of a foreign language translation dictionary in an exam

University policy allows for NESB (non-English speaking background) students to use foreign language dictionaries for their exams regardless of the year of enrolment. NESB students are defined by DEST (Department of Education, Science and Training) as those students who were born in a non-English speaking country and who have been a resident of Australia or another English speaking country for less than ten years.

Should you meet this criteria, you may apply for authorisation to be printed on your student identification card which will allow you to use a foreign language translation dictionary in any exam in any year of enrolment at the University of Wollongong. The card must be produced before any dictionary will be permitted into any exam venue. The dictionaries must be in printed not electronic form, and must contain no notes or other annotations. It is your responsibility to make sure that there are no notes in your dictionary, even if you have borrowed one from another person.

The application form is available on-line via SOLS. Simply log on and select 'Student Forms' and fill in the Application to use Foreign Language Translation Dictionary in Exams.  You only need to apply once; if your student card has the notation 'TD' on it then you are eligible to use a translation dictionary in exams and don't need to apply again.
 

 Authorised materials

No student is permitted to bring the following materials into an exam venue:

  • bags (of any size)
  • electronic devices, including but not limited to laptop computers, electronic dictionaries, electronic organisers, IPods and MP3 players
  • calculator cases or covers
  • opaque pencil cases
  • blank or scrap paper

Students are encouraged to bring the following small personal and/or valuable items into the exam venue if they are unable to make alternative arrangements for secure storage of these items:

  • mobile phones
  • hats and caps
  • wallets and purses
  • glasses cases

These items are subject to inspection by supervisors during the exam, and must be placed under the desks (mobile phones must be turned off). Students are reminded that the University takes no responsibility for the care of these items while in the exam venue.

Other authorised materials permitted in the exam for each particular subject are listed on the timetable.

Calculators may be used in an exam if so stated under the calculator column in the exam timetable. If calculators are permitted any type of calculator will be allowed unless otherwise stated. Calculators with programmable memory must be cleared prior to entering an exam venue.

Where calculators are permitted other devices which are not primarily calculators but which have a calculator function are not permitted. For example, watches, mobile phones, PDA's and electronic devices such as dictionaries, computers, diaries and organisers are not allowed to be used as calculators.

You are reminded that if any of these items are found in your possession during the exam the matter will be treated as a breach of the University's Assessment Rules.

 

 Entry to and exit from exam venues

Entry to the exam venue

Exam venues will be open to students as follows: the Sports Hub 45 minutes before the beginning of the exam, the University Hall 30 minutes before the beginning of the exam, all other venues 15 minutes before the beginning of the exam. Students should obtain their seat number before they enter the venue, by checking on the signs posted outside each venue prior to the exam.

All students are required to produce their student ID card for identification purposes as they enter the exam venue.

Students will not be permitted to enter the exam venue after the first thirty (30) minutes of the exam. Students who arrive after this time will be referred to their subject examiner.

Exit from the exam venue

Students will not be permitted to leave the exam venue before the first thirty (30) minutes of the exam, or during the last ten (10) minutes of the exam.

All exam papers must be returned to the exam supervisor at the conclusion of the exam. Removal of the exam paper from the exam venue will be considered a breach of the University's Assessment Rules.

 

 Alternative arrangements - students with a disability

Students may require alternative exam arrangements which accommodate their disability. Accommodation may include the provision of a scribe or reader, separate supervision, extended time, medication access, bed rest or the use of assisted technology. Students who require alternative exam arrangements need to register with the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), who will assess their needs and liaise with academic units and the Academic Registrar's Division (ARD). Considerable preparation is required for the provision of this accommodation, so the assessment of alternative exam arrangements needs to take place at the beginning of each session.

In-session tests

The DLO will advise academic units of students' needs for in-session tests and exams. Students need to notify the DLO of any mid-session exams as soon as they are informed of the date and time of exam.

Final exams

End of session exams are administered by ARD. Requests for alternative arrangements in final exams must be lodged with the DLO by the end of week eight in Autumn and Spring Sessions and the end of week six for Summer Session. Students who do not lodge requests by these deadlines will not be provided with alternative exam arrangements within the final exam period. The disability needs of students who do not meet the deadline will be accommodated through the provision of supplementary exams or assessments organised by the subject coordinator of the relevant academic unit. Students who require supplementary exams need to lodge special consideration requests via SOLS within seven days of the scheduled exam.

ARD will provide written notification to students about the alternative exam arrangements, and confirmation of dates, times and venues for these exams will be given in the personalised exam timetable on SOLS when the final exam timetable is released.

Temporary disability

Students with a temporary disability which puts them at a disadvantage in exams should apply to the DLO for provision of alternative exam arrangements immediately their disability is known. Alternative exam arrangements can be made for the final exam period if ARD is advised at least one week prior to the start of the exam period. The needs of students who do not meet this deadline will be accommodated through the provision of supplementary exams. Students who require supplementary exams need to lodge special consideration requests via SOLS within seven days of the scheduled exam.

 

 Academic Consideration

If you believe that your performance in an exam has been affected by illness or other causes beyond your control, you may apply for Academic Consideration via SOLS. Find out more about Academic Consideration.

Note that misreading or misinterpretation of the exam timetable will not be accepted as an excuse for failing to attend an exam.

 Academic misconduct

Students are reminded that the University regards academic misconduct as a very serious matter.

Misconduct in exams includes the following actions:

  • Taking unauthorised material into the exam venue
  • Writing notes on yourself or having notes on your person
  • Having notes written in your translation dictionary, even if the dictionary is not your own
  • Accessing information stored or written on electronic equipment
  • Copying from another student in an exam

Make sure that you do not bring into the exam venue any notes from your private study. Even if you have notes or unauthorised materials in the venue and are not using them, this will be considered a breach of the Assessment Rules.

Student conduct during exams is governed by the University's Assessment Rules, which can be found at http://www.uow.edu.au/handbook/generalcourserules/UOW028639.html

If an allegation has been made that you may have breached the Assessment Rules during an exam, you will be interviewed by the Manager, Examinations at the conclusion of the exam. Any unauthorised materials will be confiscated. A report will be sent to a Primary Investigation Officer in the academic unit, and further investigation will be made into the alleged misconduct. Your results will be withheld until the investigation has concluded. Further information about the process is available in the Rules for Student Conduct.

Last reviewed: 24 September, 2009

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