Services for Students

During your exam

 

Examinations can be daunting, here are a few pointers as to what to expect during your exam.

 On-site Examinations 

  • Ensure that you bring ALL STATIONERY needed as invigilators are not permitted to provide stationery
 
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How big is the exam room

The examination rooms will vary in size, from a 1-2-1 exam for students with specific needs to a location that seats 250+ students in David Ross Sports Village and Kings Meadow Campus.

Sometimes the size of exam venues can be seen as overwhelming, but please be assured that our invigilators are highly trained to ensure that any noise and/or disruptions are kept to a minimum.  

 

Number of invigilators in each room

There will be a number of Invigilators in each room, depending on the room size and the type of exam being sat so be prepared for  one invigilator or as many six invigilators.

They are responsible for the exam room, the exam and your safety once you have entered the room, and until you leave.

You are required to adhere to all instructions given to you by an invigilator during the course of an exam. Any deviation may result in a report of Academic Misconduct, and will be reported to your School. 

 
 

How do I make contact with an invigilator

If you need to ask the Invigilator a question or request additional paper, please raise your hand and wait for the invigilator to come over to your desk.

Do not shout out to attract the invigilator's attention or leave your desk to speak to an invigilator.

 

Is there spare stationery equipment/calculators in exam room

No – it is your responsibility to bring all of the stationery/equipment that you will need. Please see "Before your Exam" for a complete list.

Guidance on the use of calculators in exams

 
 

Can I talk to or make contact with other students during my exam

No - you are not allowed to speak to another student during the exam, or pass anything to another student during the exam.

You are not allowed to share dictionaries or other materials with other students during the exam.

You are not allowed to talk to other students once you have found your exam desk.

Any talking or other contact with other students once the exam has started is likely to be regarded as Academic Misconduct.

**Misconduct - Invigilators have the authority to remove any unauthorised materials or devices from a student. Materials or devices removed will not be returned until any investigation has been completed.

The procedure can be found in the Regulations on Academic Misconduct. The University will not be liable for any loss or damage to removed materials or devices. The University views Academic Misconduct extremely seriously and instances of this nature may have serious implications

Regulations on Academic Misconduct

 

What equipment/stationery will be on my exam desk

The type of exam that you are taking will determine what is on your desk. There will always be a desk card, which you must complete and sign. In written exams, you will have an exam paper and an answer booklet. You may also have additional material such as graph paper, law statutes, charts etc.

If the exam is a Multiple Choice Question paper (MCQ) you will have an MCQ answer sheet instead of an answer book please be aware that all MCQs need to be completed in pencil, so please ensure that you bring a pencil to every exam.

If the exam is an ExamSys (online) examyou will be sat at a computer. The questions will be online so you won’t necessarily have a question paper/answer book.

There will NOT be any spare calculators, writing materials etc. You are responsible for bringing your own.

Guidance on the use of calculators in exams

 
 

Checking exam paper and provided materials

The front cover of your exam paper (known as a RUBRIC) will provide you with information on the exam paper that you will be sitting - (module number, module title, semester e.g. Autumn/Spring and academic year e.g. 2019/20).

This information should match the details on the desk card on your desk. If the paper details do not match the desk card, raise your hand and speak to an invigilator immediately.

The RUBRIC will also list any additional materials which will be provided for the examination (for example, MCQ answer sheet, statutes, charts etc.).

At the start of the exam, check the additional materials carefully to ensure that you have everything that you will need for the exam.

Contact an invigilator immediately if anything listed is missing.

 

What do I do if I arrive late to my exam

It is your responsibility to make sure that you leave sufficient time to get to your exam(s). If you arrive late for your exam you will be allowed to enter the exam room during the first hour of the exam.

If the exam is less than 1 hour, you are only permitted to enter the exam room whilst the exam is still underway. You will not receive any additional time to compensate for late arrival.

If you arrive after the first hour or at an exam that is less than 1 hour in duration that has ended, you will not be permitted to enter the room.

If you are late arriving for an exam, you should raise a University of Nottingham Extenuating Circumstances claim via the Student Enquiry Centre.

Information about extenuating circumstances can be found on the Extenuating Circumstances webpages.

Raise an Extenuating Circumstances claim via the Student Enquiry Centre

 
 

What should I do if the examination is noisy

Some noise in an exam room is normal given the number of students sitting exams. Students may arrive late or leave early and there is a need for invigilators to collect desk cards, mark registers, resolve issues or questions raised by students and give out additional paper, etc.

There may also be minor noise from outside the exam room for short periods during an exam. More serious disturbances will be investigated by the invigilator(s) who will ensure that these are resolved as quickly as possible and that, where appropriate, the Exams Office and your School/Department are informed of the level of disruption caused.

There are no fire alarm tests during the exam period, if a fire alarm goes off please remain calm, stay at your desk and follow instructions given by the invigilators.

 

What do I do if I am poorly during an exam

If you are unwell during an exam, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator to come to your desk. If you are too ill to continue then you will be accompanied from the exam room. You will not be free to leave unaccompanied until the first hour of the exam has passed although, if you are a registered patient at Cripps Health Centre you can be taken there during Health Centre opening hours.

After the first hour has passed you will be allowed to leave if you are well enough to go. If you are able to continue with the exam after a period of time for recovery, you will be allowed.

However, you will not be given any additional time. In both cases, you should raise a University of Nottingham Extenuating Circumstances claim via the Student Enquiry Centre.

Information about extenuating circumstances can be found on the Extenuating Cricumstances webpages.

Raise an Extenuating Circumstances claim via the Student Enquiry Centre

 
 

Can I go to the toilet during my exam

Yes, though try to go before the exam starts.

Once you've entered the exam hall, students are not permitted to go to the toilet prior to the start of the exam, whilst invigilators are busy directing students to their seaats, and reading announcements.

Once the exam starts, if you need to go to the toilet during the exam, please raise your hand and wait for the invigilator to come to you. You will be escorted to the toilet by an invigilator.

Only one student per specific exam will be escorted to the toilet at any one time.  All toilet breaks will be noted in the margin of your work and will be reported to the module convenor or marker.

You will not receive additional time to the exam duration for toilet breaks (this will not affect students who have toilet breaks as part of their alternative arrangements).

 

Can I leave my exam early

If you wish to leave the exam early, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator to come to your desk.

Do not leave your desk to take your answer book to the invigilator so that you can leave.

Do not remove your answer book from the exam or it will not be marked. 

You will not be allowed to leave the exam during the first hour or last fifteen minutes (this will differ in alternative arrangement exam rooms). If the duration of the exams is one hour or less you will not be allowed to leave until the end of the exam.

 
 

At the end of your exam

 

 

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