If you cannot find the answer to your question on our website or in these FAQs, then please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
When are my exams?
The exam session dates are available on the exam timetable and key dates page.
Your exam dates, times and rooms will be published on your personal Google Calendar before the exams.
I’m dyslexic (or have a disability). Can I get exam adjustments?
To record your reasonable adjustment needs, you will need to be registered with Student Support and Wellbeing to qualify for any allowances.
See exam arrangements for disabled students for more information.
Where is my reasonable adjustments exam?
The date and time of the exam will be available on the exam timetable publication date. Students with approved reasonable adjustments will have their correct exam date, time, length and room added to their personal Google Calendar by Week 11.
If you haven't received any information, then please contact the Exams Team.
See exam arrangements for disabled students for more information.
My Student Information is blocked. Where do I unblock it?
Visit Student Central with your student card and they will be able to unblock it.
For more information, see the forgotten ID page.
Can I bring my own calculator?
No. Students must not bring their own calculators to an exam.
If you require a calculator for the exam, then a Brookes calculator will be provided on your desk.
See Before your exams for more information.
Can I use a dictionary?
No. Brookes does not permit the use of any dictionaries in examinations.
See Before your exams for more information about what you can and can't take into an exam.
Can I take my examination abroad or elsewhere?
Students can apply to take an examination off-site.
You must complete the online application form and pay the fee before the deadline.
Can I change my exam date?
Students can apply for a change of exam date for the following reasons only:
- Military service
- Representing Oxford Brookes University or their nation in an international sporting event
- Religious observance
- Similar activities undertaken by a dependent of the student for which there is a demonstrable support requirement on the student.
You should complete the online form found on the Change your exam date webpage before the deadline, providing supporting evidence for your request.
I've got an illness/injury (e.g. broken arm, flu). Can I resit my exam?
If you are ill or injured at the time of your exam, you can apply for exceptional circumstances. It is not guaranteed that you will be granted exceptional circumstances unless you have good evidence or reason to be allowed to resit your exam.
See Problems affecting your exams for more information.
What should I do if I missed my exam?
If you miss an exam due to sickness or injury, then you should obtain medical evidence and apply for exceptional circumstances.
If you miss an exam due to a bereavement or another personal issue, then you should obtain suitable evidence and apply for exceptional circumstances.
If you miss an exam without a good reason, then you will get a zero mark for the examination. Please make sure you know the dates, times and locations of all your examinations and allow plenty of time to travel.
What happens if I am late for an exam?
You can be admitted into an exam up to one hour after the official start time. You will have to finish at the normal end time for the examination.
You will not be admitted to an exam after the first hour.
Can I dispute my marks?
For general queries about marks, please contact your Module Leader. If you want to appeal your marks, please see the Academic appeals page.
How is my personal data used? Do you have a privacy notice?
Please see our privacy notice for information about how your personal data is stored and used.
Can I sit my exam online?
If your exam is face-to-face, then you are not permitted to sit your exam online. It is advised that students apply for an offsite exam if they are not in Oxford. Dates can only be changed with a valid change of date application.
How do I get to the King's Centre?
There is a dedicated exam bus service to get to and from the King's Centre. Alternatively, the site is located a short walk from the Oxford train station and the standard U1 BROOKESbus and other local routes. If making your own way to the venue, please ensure you allow extra travel time.
What happens if the exam bus service arrives late?
The exam bus timetable has been designed to ensure all students arrive on time for their exams. If there is an issue with an exam bus service and a bus arrives after the scheduled start time, the full allocation of time will be honoured for those students arriving on the bus.
Please note, if you arrive late and did not travel on an exam bus the normal rules apply:
- Students can be admitted into an exam up to one hour after the official start time. You will lose the time you have missed and will have to finish at the normal end time for the examination.
- Students cannot be admitted to an exam after the first hour as other students may have left the exam room and so the paper cannot be considered secure.
I'm travelling in from home. Can I park at the King's Centre?
Students are not permitted to park at the King's Centre due to limited parking and restrictions placed by Oxford City Council. Only staff with Brookes parking permits are allowed to park at the King's Centre. Students are advised to use public transport or cycle to the King's Centre.
How do I connect to the WiFi at the King's Centre?
The King's Centre has free WiFi. The password for the WiFi is “delegate” and there are signs posted with the password throughout the building.
Are there facilities for cyclists at the King's Centre?
Yes, the King Centre has cycle parking, some covered and some uncovered, and shower facilities. Shower facilities are located in the Atrium toilets.
What refreshments will be available at the King's Centre?
Water is available onsite, further refreshment details tbc nearer the time.
How do I get the exam?
You will need to log on to the Moodle course for your module on the date of the examination. The exam assessment will be available on that page. Open the assessment there. If you log in before the start time of your exam, you will need to refresh the page after the start time to make the assignment visible.
In most cases the assessment will consist of a PDF question paper which should be downloaded. There may be additional PDF documents such as formula sheets or case studies if required.
You should complete your answers in a Microsoft Word document or similar file. Please type your answers to all questions in a single document, labelling each question clearly. Save your work regularly.
You should upload a single file containing all your work to complete the exam before the window closes.
In some cases the exam may take the form of a Moodle quiz or other online activity.
What calculator do I use?
Where a calculator is required for a paper, students are free to use any suitable calculator that they have available to them. This can include calculator apps on your phone or device or a web calculator.
Can I print the paper?
Students may print a copy of the paper for their personal use in the exam.
Please note that the paper is confidential and should not be shared with other people. Do not share paper or electronic copies with any other people including other Brookes students.
When can I start the exam?
You should start the exam at the scheduled time shown in your Google calendar, normally 10.00am or 2.00pm BST (British Summer Time).
How long do I get?
There will be a 24 hour window to enable you to complete and upload the exam. This allows for technical problems, connectivity issues, time differences, permitted extra writing time and permitted rest breaks. You should aim to complete the exam in the normal time for the exam. You are not expected to work for the full window.
There are some modules that will have a different time window to meet accreditation body requirements. Module Leaders will provide information to you if this is the case for your exam.
I am unable to take the exam. What should I do?
We are aware that students may face issues, which may include illness or lack of access to IT that could prevent them from taking the online assessment. Please contact exams@brookes.ac.uk if you have any issues in the first instance and we will try to find a solution. In the case of poor IT provision, it may be best to sit the exam on campus in one of the libraries. Illness on the day should use self certification and exceptional circumstances.
I have another question not answered here.
Please email exams@brookes.ac.uk.
What do I do if I have problems on the day of my exam?
On the day of your exam, if you experience any issues with accessing the exam paper, please email exams@brookes.ac.uk and copy in the Module Leader. The Exams email account will be monitored from 09:00 to 17:00 (UK Time), and we will respond as quickly as possible. Emails relating to the exams currently running will be prioritised.
How do I draw diagrams or graphs?
You can use Microsoft Paint or a similar program and cut and paste the diagram into the final document.
You may also choose to hand draw and include a scan or photograph in the final document. You will be responsible for ensuring that any scans or photographs of such work are clearly legible for marking.
See the Online Exam Guide for instructions on including diagrams and graphs in your answer sheet.
How do I answer multiple choice questions?
A Microsoft Word template for answering multiple choice questions is available.
A Google Docs template is also available. Please see the instructions on how to access this.
How do I write equations or mathematical formulae?
You can use the equation tool in Word.
You may also choose to hand draw and include a scan or photograph in the final document. You will be responsible for ensuring that any scans or photographs of such work are clearly legible for marking.
See the Online Exam Guide for instructions on including equations and mathematical formulae in your answer sheet.
How do I type in Japanese?
See the Online Exam Guide for instructions on typing in Japanese.
I think there is a mistake on the question paper or other exam materials. What do I do?
Place a statement in the answer text against the question to state that you suspect an error and what that error is.
Answer the question as best you can stating any assumptions.
After the exam, email exams@brookes.ac.uk with the details of the suspected error.
I am entitled to extra writing time / rest breaks. How do I get them?
The 24 hour window allows for any extra writing time or rest breaks that students normally have.
If your exam has a shorter window to meet accreditation body requirements then arrangements to allow extra time and rest break entitlements will be made.
I am entitled to a blue card for marking. How is this attached?
Blue marking cards will be managed in the normal way for Moodle submissions. You do not need to take any special steps.
I am entitled to a scribe/reader/prompter. How will this be arranged?
It is assumed that students will use assistive technology (AT) in place of a reader or scribe. This can be your DSA provided software, such as Dragon, Claro or Read and Write, or the in-built accessibility features within your PC or Mac. Students for whom this is not possible or is insufficient, or who feel that another temporary change to their Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) is needed should contact the Inclusive Support Service.
I need special printing on colour or in specific/large fonts. How will this work online?
Students should be able to use zoom functionality to make print larger on screen. Students with a specific font requirement on their ISP will be sent a special version of the paper.
Students can choose to print on coloured paper at home if they wish and have the facility to do so.
I have other reasonable adjustments. How will these be met?
It will depend upon the reasonable adjustment. Students will hopefully be able to sit the exam at a suitable desk and chair in a room that meets their needs. They will be able to supply any food, drink or medicines and to take any medication, rest or movement breaks as their condition requires. If a student has a requirement that they cannot meet at home then please email altprov@brookes.ac.uk so we can review their circumstances and reach the best possible solution for them.
How do I get technical support?
For IT related issues with equipment and access, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance - Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm (UK Time)
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 48 3311
Chat via our portal (including 24 hour Self Service): https://service.brookes.ac.uk
What do I do if I can't download the paper?
Once the exam has begun, ensure that you have enabled popups from Moodle on your web browser.
If you are unable to successfully download the paper, please email exams@brookes.ac.uk and we will email the paper to you (office hours only)What do I do if I can't successfully upload my work?
If you are unable to upload your work successfully to Moodle and are running out of time, then you may email the document to exams@brookes.ac.uk. We will treat the email timestamp as the submission time.
What do I do if I do not have a suitable IT device available to me?
If you do not have your own a suitable IT device, it is recommended that students use the computers on campus. Note - the Headington PC rooms will be in use for face-to-face examinations, therefore it is advised to use the Headington campus library. Other campuses are unaffected.
Students may also wish to borrow a Chromebook to use for their exam. They are available to borrow for free from the self-service cabinets at Headington (JHBB Forum), Swindon Library or Marston Road (MRG44). You will need your student ID card. Ask at the desk to borrow a Chromebook at Harcourt Hill or Wheatley libraries.If you also lack a suitable IT device, you may wish to check whether you are eligible for financial support with the cost of equipment. If, having done this, you are still unable to access IT equipment for your assessments, you will need to apply for exceptional circumstances.
If an online exam is used, how will exam conditions be enforced?
We have provided recommendations on the optimal set-up for completing examinations online. We accept that the conditions will not be normal exam conditions and module leaders are adjusting their assessments and/or marking plans to reflect this where necessary. It will still be a valid assessment of each student's knowledge and ability.
Is this in line with other universities running comparable degree courses? I do not want to be placed at a disadvantage when graduating
Other universities will be developing their own processes. Information from colleagues in the sector shows many are using similar approaches to assess their students and enable them to progress. On all programmes which have an accrediting body (e.g. RIBA for Architecture, NMC for Nursing), academic staff are working with those bodies to ensure that they are happy to continue to offer their accreditation for the programme when it is assessed in a new way. Students will be able to complete their degrees with the accreditation they need from those professional bodies.
I am extremely concerned that circumstances such as child care have not been considered.
Offering a 24 hour completion window will enable some students to work around childcare or other problems but we acknowledge that in some cases this may not be possible. If you are unable to complete online examinations, then we would encourage you to apply for exceptional circumstances.
My exam is 2 hours long but there is a 24 hour time window for completion. What is preventing students from spending longer than 2 hours on their exam?
Students are expected for the time given on the rubric.
The 24 hour window will allow students who are entitled to extra writing time or rest breaks to complete their papers, alleviation of any technical issues, any timezone differences for any international students, and any care commitments.
Attempting to monitor this would require significant configuration of IT systems, whilst introducing the potential for additional technical problems onto personal devices which would be very difficult to resolve remotely.
Academic staff are aware that the additional time may be used to work. They are taking account of this in the design of the assessments and the mark schemes.
How will exam results be compared and analysed fairly? If a student performs better than expected due to having access to notes and other materials, how will this be identified?
Academic staff are aware that students will have access to other materials. They are taking account of this in the design of the assessments and the mark schemes.
I am concerned that some students will perform better than others due to not adhering to normal exam protocols. How will you ensure assessments are fair?
We acknowledge that these online exams are not the same style of assessment as a face-to-face written exam. Exams are not the only way to effectively assess the knowledge, skills and understanding that students have achieved. The assessments will be fair.