During your exams

‌‌Once the exam period is underway, hopefully you'll feel prepared for your exams. The quick tips and helpful advice below will further support you to help you feel calm and ready to do your best:

• Find your exam room, by checking the campus map and visiting it in person beforehand, and keep a copy of your exam timetable with you at all times, so you can make sure you've gone to the right exam location.
• Be aware:  Ensure that you check your timetable and don't assume or follow a fellow student who may be sitting the same exam as they could be in a different location to your scheduled timetable as exams can be split across various locations.
• Know how long your journey will take, and allow a bit of extra time in case of traffic or other. If you're late you won't get any additional time allocated.  More than 30 minutes late from the official start of the exam, you won't be allowed to sit the exam and should contact your school as soon as possible.
• Make sure you've got your student ID card. If you've lost it you can buy a new one from the Student Services Centre on Burlington Street. If absolutely necessary, for example you've lost it on the morning of the exam; you can take your passport or driving license as ID.
• The official start of morning exams is 9.45am
• The official start of afternoon exams is 2:00pm
• Check your items of stationery to make sure that you have enough pens and spares to last you through the exam, as none will be provided. If using a pencil case, this must be totally transparent with no unauthorised materials included and these will be checked. If a calculator is required for your exam, make sure that it is authorised under the regulations. Please note no calculators will be provided in your exams under any circumstances, and you must ensure that you arrive fully prepared with your own authorised calculator and a spare is advisable.
• If it's an Open Book Exam, make sure you know exactly what you can and can't take in by talking to the lecturer who has written the paper.
• You only take to the exam location what you need to complete your exam, please leave your valuables at home whenever possible.
• When you get to the exam room you are permitted to enter the room at least a minimum of 10 minutes prior to the exam (larger venues may increase time). This is to allow you to get settled and to provide you with important information about your exam. You need to listen to the standard announcements and there may be more specific announcements to your particular exam.

Important: Examination Do's

Important: Examination Don'ts

In the exam room.

You must observe the Policy / Regulations on Examinations and Examinations - Guidance for Students and any other instruction given to you on the day by the invigilation staff. Violation of any of the policies and regulations will lead to severe consequences such as mark of zero, reduction in overall classification or loss of honours degree.

• Do sit in your assigned seat

• Do not take any notes to your desk

• Do not make any notes on your body (i.e.; hands, arms, legs e.t.c.)

• Do not try to conceal notes on your person or in your calculator or pencil case

• Do not talk to any of your colleagues / friends once you are in the exam room as exam conditions apply once you have entered the room

• Mobile phones should all be switched off and any set alarms should be disabled and stored in your coat or bag at the back of the room or under your desk

• Raise your hand should you wish to speak with an invigilator, do not get up from your seat and move around the room

Items prohibited from the exam room.

• Food or Drink – you may take clear bottled water (all labels must be removed)

• Pencil Cases – you may take transparent (not opaque) cases into the exam room

• Unauthorised materials of any kind, such as blank paper, graph paper, revision or study notes

• Notes of any kind – including any writing, symbols of any description on the body or clothing or other materials

• Headwear (unless for religious reasons)

• earphones / earplugs are not permitted

• Any electronic / digital device that holds or transmits data of any kind

Study spaces

• Around the exam period, it can be very difficult to find a space to study in the Main Library and Alan Gilbert Learning Commons

• It is worth thinking about where you work most efficiently. For some people working at home is an option that works well, but it's not the same for everyone.

• Often some computer clusters and other libraries outside of these main two locations are a lot less busy, so it's worth your while to go off the beaten track.

Revision support

• If you haven't done as much revision as you'd like and need some motivation or inspiration, it's not too late to get some help.

• Our support section is full of information about study workshops and various pastoral services available for you to discuss any problems with.