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Exams & results

Exam FAQs

Most exams for Trimester 2 and Autumn Session 2021 will continue to be held remotely online (off-campus).

Some exams may be held on campus, due to accreditation or specific learning requirements. You will have been notified if your exam(s) will be on campus. Depending on the subject, on-campus exams may include online exams held in a computer lab, paper-based exams or practical exams, and will be invigilated (supervised).

Important: If you have an on-campus exam but are required to self-isolate due to COVID-19 restrictions, do not attend your exam. See what to do if this applies to you.

The way exams will be delivered is specific to each subject and will be detailed within the subject outline.

To help you prepare for the exam period, we have developed a range of frequently asked questions, which you can find below.

Note: If you are sitting a UOW College exam or enrolled at an offshore campus, please refer to their websites for specific information relating to your exams.

Contact Exam Support

Having a problem during an exam? Call the number below for dedicated Exam Support, or use the IT Support Online Chat, 8am - 10pm Mon - Fri, and 10am - 10pm Sat - Sun.

+61 2 4221 3000 Online Chat

Your exam timetable

Personalised exam timetables for Autumn Session 2021 will be published in SOLS (under Timetable > Exam Timetable) on 14 May 2021. For timetable release dates for other sessions, visit the exam dates page.

  1. Click the Access Exam Timetable button in the Exam Timetable menu item in SOLS.
  2. You may then need to log in to your UOW account again
  3. Then select the correct exam period (e.g. Autumn, Trimester 2)
  4. Click to view your personalised exam timetable, click here

Your exam timetable will be organised by subject. Under each subject, the following details will be listed:

  • The time the exam starts and the duration of the exam
  • Where the exam will be held, either via Moodle (remote) or on campus
  • Items you should have available to complete the task (e.g. UOW approved calculator/textbook)
  • Reasonable adjustments (if applicable)

If you have any questions about your exam timetable, please contact the Exams Team at exams@uow.edu.au.

Personalised exam timetables will be published in SOLS under Timetable > Exam Timetable. 

  1. Click the Access Exam Timetable button in the Exam Timetable menu item in SOLS.
  2. You may then need to log in to your UOW account again
  3. Then select the correct exam period (e.g. Autumn, Trimester 2)
  4. Click to view your personalised exam timetable, click here

If you are unable to access your personalised exam timetable and your issue is related to seeing the Sorry your login was correct but you are not recorded in our database message when you try to access the exam timetable please try the following troubleshooting steps:

  1. Make sure that you are looking at the exam event which corresponds to your session of study.
  2. If you are not in the correct exam event please click to view a different exam period, click here and select the correct exam period.
  3. If you are in the correct exam event and still see the database message please try refreshing the page.
  4. If you still cannot access your timetable, try opening an incognito window or another browser, then accessing SOLS and the timetable link. You will be prompted to log in with your UOWmail credentials.
  5. If you are still not able to view your timetable let the Exams Team know via email at exams@uow.edu.au.

The format, timing and submission processes for final exams are specific for each subject and will be listed on your exam timetable. Exam formats include:

  • Online exam held remotely (via Moodle and/or other third-party platform).
  • Online exam in a computer lab on campus (via Moodle and/or other third-party platform)
  • Paper-based exam on campus
  • Practical exam on campus

Please make sure you read your exam timetable closely. If you have any questions about your exam timetable, please contact the Exams Team at exams@uow.edu.au.

You should ensure that you are available to sit exams during the entire exam period, as holidays and normal work and carers' commitments are not considered valid reasons for missing an exam.

However, Academic Consideration can be granted in serious or extenuating circumstances which are beyond your control and which significantly impair your ability to sit an exam or complete an assessment task.

Applications for academic consideration will be considered on the basis of medical grounds, compassionate grounds and/or extenuating circumstances. For more information, visit the Academic Consideration webpage.

If your request is approved, you will be allocated a WD – Withheld Deferred grade for the subject, until such time you have successfully completed the deferred exam.

For Autumn 2021, deferred exams will be held between 19 – 23 July 2021.

If two of your exams are scheduled at exactly the same time on the same day, this is considered to be a direct clash. In most of these cases, UOW will contact you with details of the arrangements which will be made to deal with the clash. If you are concerned that you have not heard from us, you should contact the Exams Team within one week following the timetable being released with details of the clash.

Your Subject Coordinator may require that you sit the two exams on the same day, sitting one exam in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and be supervised during the lunch break. 

When scheduling exams, UOW attempts to avoid any students having to sit exams for two subjects on one day. However, it is not possible to have every student with only one exam per day. Approximately 10% of students in any given exam period will have two exams scheduled on the same day. This is not considered to be a clash situation, and under normal circumstances exams will not be rescheduled.

You may be required to sit an on-campus exam and a remote exam on the same day. In this case, you are encouraged to sit your remote exam on campus to reduce any travelling time and associated stress. You can go to the library, or you can contact the Exams Team to make arrangements for you to sit in a quiet room during the exam. According to your preference, you can use your own device in a standard room or ask for space in a computer lab.

You are able to apply for an adjustment to your exam timetable if your timetable shows that you have:

  • MORE than two exams scheduled on any one day,
  • MORE than three exams scheduled on two consecutive days, or
  • Two or more exams scheduled at different exam centres (campuses) on any one day.

To apply for an adjustment to your exam timetable, you must contact the  Exams Team within one week of the final timetable being released.

If approved, an adjustment will be made to your exam timetable and you will be contacted by the Exams Team with further details.

If you are studying by distance, you are not required to organise a supervisor for your exams, if your exams are being delivered online and remotely. Please refer to your exam timetable for all requirements relating to your exams.

If you are undertaking your exam in another country, please take note of different time zones as explained below.

In the event you have an exam being held on-campus, you will be advised if it will be invigilated (supervised).

All exam dates and times for Australian-based UOW subjects are listed in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). This includes due dates and submission times for alternate assessment tasks.

If you are currently overseas and enrolled in Australian-based subjects, you should account for any time difference between AEST and your local time zone. This online Time Zone Converter can assist in converting a date and time in AEST to your local time zone overseas.

If you are unable to sit an online remote exam at the scheduled time please contact the Exams Team within one week of the final timetable being released to assess alternative exam sittings for you.

Any provisions that we can reasonably accommodate will be provided. There may be some aspects of your RA document that we are not able to assist within a remote environment, this will be discussed with you. If you have concerns about your individual RA document please contact your disability liaison officer.

If you are required to take a deferred or supplementary exam, you will not be eligible to graduate until your final results are released. Once results are released, you can reapply to graduate in the next available conferral round and will be conferred at the earliest opportunity. You can find exam key dates on our website.

Preparing for your exams

Yes. Please check the key dates pages for study recess and exam dates.

Yes you can. All UOW Australian campuses are open and operational, with physical distancing and other safety measures in place.

For students who do come on campus, you will see that we have limits on the number of people able to access facilities, such as computer labs and libraries. We have also removed furniture in communal spaces, to help with these limits. Please ensure you follow any signage in place across our campuses.

For more information on physical distancing, visit the Australian Department Health website.

Where can I study?

The Wollongong Campus Library has limited visitor capacity due to social distancing, but you can check the current occupancy of the Library online to help plan your visit. If the Library is at capacity, please consider alternative study spaces.

Equipment and support for students most in need

For students who don’t have access to wifi, a place to study, or a computer and are studying online, they may be able to request to borrow a loan laptop or seek other IT support .

If you are unable to sit your exams online, please complete the request for support during exams form.

For more information on accessing campus facilities, visit our website.

Specific information for remote exams (exams at home)

Remote exams will be hosted online, so it’s important you are well set up. Here are some of our top tips for preparing for remote exams:

Read your exam timetable carefully

Your timetable will list all the important details about your exams, including times, format any required items (like calculators and textbooks). Note down any exams in your calendar so you don’t miss them.

Test your technology with our online tool

We've developed a Technical Practice Exam that allows you to test your internet and equipment prior to your exam. We recommend you take this practice exam so you can make sure everything works as it should ahead of time.

Have a stable internet connection

Ensure your internet connection is not interrupted or slowed. Ask other people in your house not to watch Netflix or download large files while you are sitting your exam.

Ensure your devices are charged

If you’re using a laptop, make sure it’s charged and you’re near a power source should you need it.

Set up a quiet workspace and remove distractions

If you have housemates, let them know when your exams are on. Ensure browser pop-ups and social media notifications are turned off.

Allow plenty of time to set up

Ensure you’ve allowed plenty of time beforehand to set up your device, check your internet connection and log into the system.

Know what to do if you need help during an exam

Contact the Exams Support team on +61 4221 3000 8 am - 10 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am – 10 pm Saturday to Sunday, or you can report an exam issue via our help form.

Worried your home internet isn’t reliable?

If you think you may not be able to complete your exams at home due to internet connectivity issues, a lack of required IT equipment or other extenuating circumstances, please complete the request for support during exams form.

Your exam timetable will include instructions on how to access each exam. Most exams will be hosted online on the subject’s Moodle site. If you have any questions about accessing exams, please contact your Subject Coordinator. 

If you think you may not be able to complete your exams online from home due to internet connectivity issues, a lack of required IT equipment, or other extenuating circumstances, please complete the request for support during exams form.

You can still commence a remote exam late, but you will not be given extra time to compensate for starting late.

Note: If you have an online exam that is being held in a computer lab on campus, you must be in the computer lab within 30 minutes of the exam commencing. You will not be given extra time if you arrive late.

If you are completing an online exam remotely, you will not be required to present your student ID card prior to commencing an exam unless instructed to. Alternate checks and measures will be in place to ensure academic integrity.

All remote exams will be open-book. Your exam timetable will outline any reference material (e.g. textbooks) required for the exam. Open-book does not mean you can discuss the exam with other students during the exam.

If you experience technical issues during an exam, you can call +61 2 4221 3000 for dedicated Exam Support, or report issues to our Exams Team via our online form.

If you are completing an online exam in a computer lab on campus, use the chat function for dedicated Exam Support for urgent issues, or report non-urgent issues to the Exams Team via the online form. Exam supervisors will also be available to help.

If you have an urgent requirement to step away during an exam, you can do so, as quickly as possible. You must however return and complete the task within the set time requirements and will not be allocated any extra time.

If you need to leave during a timed remote exam due to illness and are unable to complete it, you may be able to apply for academic consideration to undertake a deferred exam.

However, if you become ill during an exam but complete and submit it, you are no longer eligible to apply for academic consideration. In this instance, you must contact your Subject Coordinator after the exam to discuss your options.

If you are unable to sit an exam due to illness or another extenuating circumstance, you must apply for academic consideration to request a deferred assessment.

If your academic consideration application is successful, you will be allocated a WD – Withheld Deferred grade for the subject, until such time you have successfully completed the deferred assessment.

Specific information for students required to attend an on-campus exam

The following FAQs apply to students who are required to sit an on-site (on-campus) exam. You will have been notified if you have an on-campus exam. The below information does not apply to students who choose to come on campus to complete their remote exam(s).

If you are required to self-isolate and have an on-campus exam scheduled during that period, do not attend your exam. You should instead apply for academic consideration, and alternate assessment arrangements will be made for you. When submitting your application, you may be required to provide supporting documentation as proof of your travels and current situation (e.g. travel declaration form, accommodation receipts, airline tickets etc).

If you have any questions, please contact Student Service on +61 2 4221 3927 (9 am – 5 pm AEST, Monday – Friday) or email askuow@uow.edu.au

Yes. If you are attending an exam on campus, you must present one of the following valid signed forms of identification before entering an exam venue:

  • UOW student ID card or UOW College card (the back of the card must be signed)
  • Australian driver licence (Digital Licence NOT accepted)
  • Passport

The following items are allowed to be brought to an on-campus exam. These guidelines apply in all on-campus exam venues at all UOW campuses in Australia.

Stationery

You should bring any stationery needed for your exam. Remember to bring a 2B pencil and an eraser for completing multiple choice answer sheets.

You cannot borrow stationery from exam supervisors. Once the exam has started you are not allowed to borrow stationery from other students. Conversing with students in order to arrange stationery will be considered a breach of the exam rules.

Water

You may bring water to your exams.

  • it must be cold or room temperature (no hot water)
  • in a clear (i.e. see-through) plastic bottle with a lid
  • labels must be removed

Lollies

The only food item permitted in an exam venue is lollies (sweets).

  • wrappers must be removed
  • lollies must be contained in a clear zip-lock bag

Hats and head coverings

You may wear hats and other head coverings during the exam. However, these items must be inspected by an exam supervisor before the exam starts.

If you are wearing clothing of any kind that obscures your face or your ears, you may be asked to remove that clothing for inspection. This will be done in private with an exam supervisor of the same gender. It is your responsibility to make sure you allow enough time to do this before your exam starts.

Face masks

As per current health guidelines, face masks are not compulsory in exam venues but are optional for those who wish to wear one - as long as it does not inhibit your ability to undertake any part of the exam. You will be asked to temporarily remove your mask upon entry to the exam venue to perform an ID check.

Items permitted for specific exams

You may be permitted to use additional aids for a specific exam, for example, textbooks or notes may be permitted. You will be able to check this on your personalised timetable on SOLS when the final timetable is released.

On your subject outline and exam timetable, you will be able to see whether you are permitted to have any notations, markings, underlines, highlights and tabs on these additional aids. If they have not specified whether these notations are permitted then it is assumed that you will be able to have them.

You may use UOW library books instead of your own copies of texts unless your subject coordinator has said on the subject outline and exam timetable that this is not permitted.

UOW approved calculators

If you are sitting an exam held on campus, you must ensure that your calculator is an approved model. Please refer to our calculators page to ensure that your model meets the required criteria.

Items permitted under your exam desk

The following items are permitted to be taken into the exam venue but they must be placed in a clear zip-lock bag no larger than A4 size and stored under your desk.

  • Valuables - purses, wallets, keys, fitness devices, watches (including analogue and digital) and glasses cases
  • Small electronic devices including but not limited to tablets (e.g. iPads), MP3 players, handheld computers, electronic dictionaries and smartwatches and all other electronic devices worn on wrists
  • Mobile phones (must be turned OFF - not just on silent, vibrate, or airplane mode)

Note: All electronic devices are to be powered off.
Electronic devices detected on desks, in your pocket or otherwise in your possession will be confiscated and the matter treated as academic misconduct.

The following items are not permitted in on-campus exam venues:

  • Bags
    This includes any form of opaque (not clear) bag larger than A4, including but not limited to; carry bags, backpacks, shoulder bags and briefcases. If you are sitting your exam in the Sports Hub, you will need to leave your bag in Building 41 Room 104. Please make sure you leave enough time to do this before your exam starts.

  • Large electronics (laptops)
    Any form of a large electronic device (i.e. will not fit into a clear A4-sized zip lock bag) including but not limited to tablets and laptops.

  • Blank paper
    This includes tissues or anything else that could be used as blank paper. Raise your hand if you require tissues and they will be provided in the exam.

  • Written material/notes
    Not permitted unless specified in the subject outline and exam timetable. Including items such as prayer books, packets on products such as tissues, eraser covers and cigarette packets.

  • Food and drink
    No other food except lollies, and no other drink except water that is cold or at room temperature.

    If you have a disability or medical condition which requires you to eat or drink anything other than water and lollies during your exam, you should ensure that you have registered with the Disability Services at least three weeks before the exam period so that alternative arrangements can be made for you. No other exceptions will be made.

  • Opaque (not clear) pencil cases
    Only see-through/clear pencil cases are permitted.

  • Calculator cases and covers
    Please remove the covers and cases on your calculator.

  • Other items
    For safety reasons, items such as umbrellas, glass, cigarette lighters and matches.

  • Storage of unauthorised items
    The items specified above must be left outside the exam room. The University does not guarantee the safe-keeping of your personal items during exams. If you are concerned about the safety of your valuable items you should make other arrangements for their care while you are in your exam.

Arrive at your exam location at least 15 minutes before your exam is scheduled to commence.

If your exam is at the Wollongong campus, you will need to check your seat number before entering the exam venue. These details are available on your personalised exam timetable on SOLS or the posters at your exam venue.

You can enter the exam venue within the first 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the exam. If you start your exam late you will not be given any extra time.

If you arrive after the first 30 minutes, you will not be permitted to enter the exam venue. You will need to report to an exam supervisor who will issue you with a form to take to your subject coordinator.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, arriving late for an exam is NOT sufficient grounds for a deferred or supplementary exam.

You cannot leave your seat until 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the exam, except in exceptional circumstances or emergencies. Please make sure you visit the toilet before your exam starts.

If you have finished early, raise your hand and stay in your seat until a supervisor has collected your exam materials.

Leave the room as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing other students. Please also be aware of students taking exams in nearby venues.

If you finish your exam in the last 10 minutes of the exam, you cannot leave your seat. Please wait quietly while other students finish their work.

If you leave the exam venue early you will not be permitted to return to the exam.

If you are unable to attend your on-campus exam and have not already applied for, or been advised of an alternative arrangement, please contact the Exams Team - they will be able to discuss the option(s) available to you based on your individual circumstances.

Yes. Alternate assessments will be equitable with on-campus examinations. Alternative exams for students who cannot attend an on-campus exam will also be invigilated, or where this is not possible, specifically designed to maintain academic integrity and fairness. 

If you fall ill during an exam you MUST advise the exam supervisor before leaving the exam venue. If you apply for Academic Consideration but have not notified an exam supervisor prior to leaving, your application may be denied.

The supervisor will tell you when there are 10 minutes left of your exam. Make sure that the covers of all exam materials are completed with your name, student ID number, and the number of exam booklets used. Any unused booklets must still be completed with this information and returned with your other materials.

Do not take the exam paper or other exam materials from the exam venue. Make sure to listen to supervisor instructions. If you do not follow these instructions misconduct proceedings may apply.

You must remain quietly seated in the exam room until your exam materials have been collected and wait to be dismissed by the exam supervisor.

Exam invigilation is where an exam session is supervised by the University to ensure academic integrity and monitor for student academic misconduct.

Exams that are being held on-campus will be invigilated.

There are some UOW subjects that require exam invigilation as a core assessment and/or accreditation requirement. It allows us to ensure high academic integrity and to monitor for possible academic misconduct.

UOW will be introducing online exam invigilation through a trial for Trimester 2 and Autumn Session 2021, to a select small number of subjects that have online exams being conducted on campus.

If you have an on-campus online exam that will be invigilated, you will have already been notified and provided detailed information via SOLSmail.

With most UOW exams being held online, it’s important that these invigilation requirements are upheld in an online environment, to allow students to meet accreditation requirements and progress in their course.

COVID Safe measures for on-campus exams

The following FAQs apply to students who are required to sit an on-site (on-campus) exam.

For students who choose to come on campus to complete their remote exam(s), please ensure you follow the physically distancing requirements for the venue/room where you will be completing your remote exam. Current physical distancing requirements can be found on the NSW Health website.

We are implementing a range of measures for on-campus exams, to ensure the safety of our students, staff and exam supervisors. This includes strict capacity limits, encouraging the use of hand sanitizer, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning across all exam venues.

Further to the new NSW Health orders from 4pm Tuesday 22 June to 12:01am Wednesday 30 June 2021, face masks are now mandatory in UOW exam venues. You will not be permitted to enter an exam venue if you are not wearing a face mask. You are encouraged to bring your own reusable mask, and disposable masks will be available at venues. You will be asked to remove your mask temporarily once inside the venue for an ID check, then you will need to leave your mask on for the duration of your exam.  

UOW continues to follow all government and health advice regarding physical distancing and other COVID-19 protocols. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, or tightening of restrictions, we will respond appropriately, and in the best interest of the safety of our students and staff.

Should any on-campus exams be moved online, or replaced with alternate assessments, impacted students will be notified directly by their Subject Coordinator.

After your exam

Academic misconduct rules apply to all exams, regardless of whether they have been completed on campus or remotely (off-campus).

All submitted work will continue to be assessed for academic integrity as per normal processes, and students found to be in breach of academic integrity may be subject to academic misconduct penalties.

For more information on the types of academic misconduct at UOW, and associated penalties, please visit the Governance website.

You can find the legend of grades, publication dates of results and information about how to request the review of a mark or grade on our exams and results webpage.