What to do during your exams

Check the published timetable regularly to ensure you are aware of your exam start time and venue. Where an exam is taking place in-person and is split across multiple venues, check the split list for information on where you are seated – this may be different from your peers.

The examination timetable is subject to change to ensure the best examination experience.

Please make sure you check the timetable carefully and regularly before your examination(s).

There are a few items you will need for your exam:

ID

You need your student ID card for all examinations. If you have misplaced your ID card, please go to the Student Centre (Level 2, University building) to obtain a replacement card.

Where there is not enough time to get a new card, the only other acceptable forms of ID are a passport, national identity card, photo driving licence, or a photo Student Oyster card.

If you do not have access to these and your exam is in person then please arrive to your exam as early as possible and make yourself known to an invigilator who will be able to make alternative arrangements to verify your ID. If your exam is remote please contact your Course Officer as early as possible prior to the exam.

Calculators

If your examination requires or allows you to use a calculator, you can only use the following non-programmable calculators:

• Casio FX-85 GTCW – New
• Casio FX-83 GTCW – New
• Sharp EL-W531TL – New
• Sharp EL-W531XH – New
• Sharp EL-531TH
• Sharp EL-531TG
• Casio FX-83 GTX (discontinued)
• Casio FX-85 GTX (discontinued)
• Casio FX-83 GT+ (discontinued)
• Casio FX-85 GT+ (discontinued)
• Casio FX-83 MS (discontinued)
• Casio FX-85 MS (discontinued)
Casio FX-83 ES (discontinued)
• Casio FX-85 ES (discontinued)

The models marked discontinued are no longer in production and may therefore be more difficult to purchase. If you already have one of these calculators or are able to purchase one you can use it for your exams.

If you arrive with any other model of calculator, even if it has a lower specification, you will not be allowed to use it in your examination. Unfortunately, we do not supply spare calculators for examination purposes.

You are not allowed to keep formulae in your calculator. At the start of your exam, invigilators will check that the memory has been cleared.

If you forget to bring your calculator or need to buy a replacement, permitted calculators can be purchased from the Students’ Union Shop and various national retailers.

Calculators – Nursing examinations

If you are a Nursing student and your examination requires or allows you to use a calculator, one will be supplied for you at the examination venue. The model used is different to those used in other non-Nursing examinations.

Permitted materials and statute books

Some exams may permit you to use additional materials in the exam for reference, such as text books or notes. You will be aware if this is the case for any of your exams. Please take care to ensure these items meet the requirements of the exam with no additional unpermitted notes or markings that you may have been using to revise.

Statute books permitted in some Law examinations may have text highlighted or underlined in no more than two colours. Students may not both underline and highlight. Annotation, page tabs, folded corners, and highlighting of any part of the page that is not text are strictly prohibited.

Invigilators will perform checks on materials during the exam and if a student is found to have contravened the rules, that will constitute an academic offence. The materials will be removed from the student by the invigilator and not replaced, and the incident will be reported to the department for further investigation.

Unless otherwise instructed, it is the responsibility of the student to bring their permitted materials or statute books to the examination. Copies will not be provided by the University.

Unless specified, these instructions refer to in-person examinations. Where instructions apply to the use of online exams, it is explicitly stated.

Arrival to the examinations

Please arrive to the examination in good time - at least 30 minutes before the start time.

For remote exams, please log in to Moodle at least 15 mins before the start time to ensure there are no technical issues. Please note that the exam will only be available at the timetabled start time.

Seating plans

Seating plans, detailing your name and desk number, will be posted outside the examination room. It is important that you sit at the desk allocated to you on the seating plan. Failure to do so may mean you have the wrong examination paper in front of you and will cause problems in verifying your attendance.

If your name does not appear on the seating plan, please make sure to check you are at the correct venue and inform an invigilator inside the room immediately. Failure to inform an invigilator promptly may result in a delay to the start of your examination.

Entering the examination venue

At City St George's, you will normally be permitted to enter the examination room approximately 15 minutes before the start of the examination. You may not enter the examination room before an invigilator instructs you to do so.

Upon entering the examination room you are subject to examination regulations and you must comply with all instructions given by an invigilator before, during and after your examination. Talking is strictly prohibited. If you have a question please raise your hand and an invigilator will help you. Additionally, a wrist/hand check and ear check will be performed to ensure that you are not wearing a watch and do not have any devices in your ears.

Once at your desk you must await the invigilator's instruction. At this time you must place your ID card, face up, on your desk in order for an invigilator to confirm your identity. Failure to do so may result in disruption once you have started your examination.

Personal possessions

An invigilator will announce where coats and bags should be placed. You are reminded not to bring any valuables with you to examination venues and to keep belongings to a minimum. The University will not be held responsible for any items lost or stolen from examination venues.

You are required to supply your own pens and pencils at each examination. Where permission is given for additional materials such as a calculator, dictionary or statute book you must supply these yourself. They will be checked by invigilators during the examination, to make sure they comply with University Exam Regulations. Please be aware that electronic dictionaries are not permitted and that only specific calculator models are allowed (see above 'what you need’).

Please note that it is an examination offence to have a mobile phone, tablet or any other electronic equipment on your person during an exam, even if they are switched off. If you do not want to leave your mobile phone in your bag, you may place it in the clear plastic bag provided, directly under your chair, at your own risk.

Reading time

Most examinations permit 10 minutes reading time before the start of the examination. For example, if your examination starts at 10:00, reading time will start at 09:50. This time is concessionary and gives you an opportunity to carefully read through the question paper. You are not permitted to make any marks on the question paper or answer materials during this time including writing, highlighting or underlining. It is an examinations offence if you are found to be writing during this time and will be reported to the Board of Examiners.

The start of the reading time will always be announced by your invigilators, at which point you will be allowed to open the exam papers. Please do not open your paper before you are instructed to.

Please note that for online examinations, the exam paper will only be seen and accessed at the start time. There is no Reading Time.

Late arrival

For in-person examinations, you can enter the examination venue up to one hour after your exam start time. You will not receive this time back and you will finish along with all other students.

In exceptional circumstances, and where the delay was beyond your control, you may be permitted to recover some of the time lost. If you were late due to an unforeseen travel delay and you wish to claim back exam time, please notify an invigilator immediately upon your arrival at the exam venue.

The invigilator will ask you to provide full details of the delay which occurred, and we will make every effort to accommodate the time lost. If the delay cannot be verified, you will not be given time back. Unfamiliarity with an exam venue's location does not constitute a valid reason.

If you arrive more than one hour late, you will not be permitted to sit the examination regardless of the reason. In this instance please visit your Course Office immediately to discuss your options.

Evacuation during examinations

There are no planned fire drills during the main examination periods. If the fire alarm is activated during your examination, please leave all equipment at your desk and follow the Head Invigilator's instructions carefully. You will remain under examination conditions.

How the exam will run in-person

1. Arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam.
2. Check your seat number on the Seating Lists provided outside the venue.

If you are not able to find your name on the list please make sure you are at the correct venue and make yourself known to an invigilator as soon as possible. We will find you a seat as quickly as possible - no candidate will ever be turned away from an examination.

3. Enter the venue when invited by Invigilators and comply with hand, wrist and watch checks which will normally be carried out at the door.
4. Take out the materials required for the examination and place everything else in the space reserved for coats and bags. All phones and other electronic devices should be turned off. Valuables can be placed in the clear plastic bag provided and stored directly under your seat, not your table.
5. Reading Time starts 10 minutes before the exam start time.
6. Writing Time starts.
7. Writing Time ends.
8. All scripts will be collected and counted. Examination conditions still apply.
9. The exam ends when an invigilator directs you to leave.
10. Please leave the venue and exit the building straight away. This is to minimise the noise travelling to other candidates who are still sitting exams in the building.

How the exam will run remotely

1. Please log in to Moodle at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the exam.
2. Carefully follow the instructions provided to you to ensure the correct exam is selected.
3. Where your exam is taking place on Moodle, please check that the correct module and its code is listed on the Moodle page i.e. PS1004 History and Theory of Psychology. If you cannot see the appropriate module, then contact your Course Officer immediately.
4. Open the exam. Please note that the exam paper will only be accessed at the exam start time and not before.
5. Writing Time starts.
6. Writing Time ends.
7. Carefully follow the submission instructions and contact your Course Officer if you have any concerns.

Reminders

• Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the venue and familiarise yourself with its location. For remote exams check your internet connection as well as your access to the module page on Moodle.
• Check your journey online before you set off so you’re aware of any delays.
• If your examination is split please make sure you have checked where you are seated. Exams are split by surname and can be checked on the main Timetable.
• If you have any queries, feel unwell, need additional materials or otherwise need to speak to an invigilator please raise your hand and someone will be able to help.
• If you have a query about the question paper you will be asked to complete a form so that your question is accurate and other candidates nearby are not disturbed.
• For in-person examinations, candidates are not allowed to enter the exam if they arrive more than one hour after it has started. Additionally, candidates may not leave the venue during the first hour or within the last 15 minutes of the exam.
• Mixed duration exams are minimised as much as possible but if you are leaving a venue where another examination is continuing please be considerate of the other candidates by leaving quietly and exiting the building as quickly as possible.
• Only specific models of calculators are permitted, as specified in the 'What you need' section above. In the event that you do not have a permitted calculator, they are available to buy from shops on campus. You will only be permitted to leave the venue to purchase a calculator if you haven’t seen the question paper. The invigilators are not able to lend calculators.

Knowing what to expect in your examination can help you to focus on performing at your best. A standard centrally-organised examination would be expected to run as below. Please note there may be exceptions to this.

This is an example for a 10:00 examination in-person exam with a two hour duration