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On your exam day

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam to find your exam room and prepare for your exam.

In line with the exam regulations:

  • Turn off your phone and any other electronic devices (e.g. laptops, tablets, pagers etc.).
  • Remove any fitness monitors or smart devices and also turn them off before entering the exam room (silent mode or airplane mode is not sufficient).
  • Empty your pockets.
  • Ensure there is nothing written on your hands.

Wait outside the exam room. Approximately 15 minutes before the exam, an invigilator will come out of the room, read an announcement, and you will be allowed to enter the exam room. Please listen carefully and follow their instructions.

Preparing for exam day

What you will need

  • Student ID – This needs to be valid and readable. If required, you can purchase a replacement from Student Central.
  • Stationery – This includes pens, pencils and erasers in a transparent pencil case or loose.
  • Phones off – Check that you know how to do this and cancel all alarms, as some may still make a sound even if the phone is off (silent and airplane modes are not sufficient).

What you may need

  • Water – In a transparent, label-free bottle.
  • Pencil case – This has to be transparent with not notes inside and out.
  • Stationery - Apart from pens, pencils and erasers, you are permitted to bring rules, protractors, compasses, highlighters and pencil sharpeners, as long as they are in a clear pencil case or loose.
  • Permitted notes – If these are required or allowed (e.g. a list of references), you will be informed by your Module Leader in advance.

What is not permitted

  • Calculators – Students are not permitted to bring their own calculators into exams. If your exam requires one, it will be on your exam desk. The model is Casio fx-85GT PLUS (visit the Casio website for more information).  Student Central loan out this model to practice on.
  • Dictionaries – Students are not permitted to bring dictionaries into the exam, including electronic dictionaries.
  • Smart devices (including phones, watches, glasses etc.). Refer to the exam regulations for more information.

Entrance and finding your desk

The exam rooms will have a list outside, indicating the row you are sitting at. Your desk will have a place card with your name and student number. 

Belongings area

  • Place your belongings (e.g. coats, bags, hats/caps, devices, notes and other revision materials) in the designated area. You must not have coats or clothing hanging on your chair.
  • Do not bring your devices, including own calculators or dictionaries, to the exam desk. Please leave them in your bag or hand in to an invigilator. 

At your desk

  • Place your student ID card, photo side up along with your writing implements loose or in a clear case; you may also bring a clear plastic bottle of water with no markings or labels and any items stated on the front of the exam paper.
  • If using a non-smart watch, seal in the clear bag provided.
  • Seal any other valuables (e.g. wallet, keys or phone) in the clear plastic box provided and place on the floor. Hand any items that do not fit in the box to an invigilator.
  • Any medical items should have been authorised by the Exams team via the online form; if not, inform an invigilator to fill in the late registration form.

Note: If you do not have your student card, an invigilator will give you a form to complete so that you can take the exam. Your Student Information page will be blocked until you present your valid ID to Student Central any time from the following morning.

During the exam

The invigilators will play or make further announcements. Do not open or turn over any exam materials until you are told you may start.

Timing information

  • If you arrive late for an exam, an invigilator will ask you to read information about late entry and complete a form. Provided you are not more than 1 hour late, you may take the exam finishing at the scheduled end time.
  • You cannot leave during the first hour or the last 15 minutes of the exam. To leave in between these times (e.g. if you have finished early), please raise your hand to get permission from an invigilator. 

Assistance

Raise your hand if you need assistance, for example:

  • Illness – The invigilators will call for a first aider.
  • Bathroom breaks – An invigilator will accompany you and you must empty your pockets.
  • Questions about the exam – The invigilators will provide you with a Exam Paper Query Form to complete, which will be given to your Module Leader after the exam. You must continue with the paper to the best of your ability with the question(s) presented to you.
  • Additional answer books or other materials – These will be provided by an invigilator.

Conduct

  • If you have any unauthorised materials or appear to breach regulations, a member of the Exams Team will take a statement from you at the end of the exam. A conduct investigation will take place.
  • If any of your electronic devices make a noise, it will be confiscated until the end of the exam when a member of the Exams Team will take a statement from you. You will be given a fixed penalty fine.
  • See the student conduct page for more details.

End of the exam and exit

  • An invigilator will make announcements when there are 15 minutes remaining to the end of your exam and when the exam is finished. When the exam is over, please stop writing immediately and close your answer book. Writing after the end of an examination is a breach of regulations.
  • Make the invigilators aware if you still need to write your name and any details on the front of the Answer Book(s) or Multiple Choice Answer Sheet (MCAS). Use a treasury tag to fix all the papers together if necessary. Put your place card face up inside your answer book or place it with the MCAS and wait for all your papers to be collected.
  • Remain silent and face the front of the room while you wait. You may open the clear valuables box only after you have been told you may leave the exam room. Remove your watch from the clear bag and leave the bag behind to be used in the next exam.
  • After the invigilators make a final check, they will announce that you can leave. Please take any rubbish with you to place in the bin and make sure you take all of your belongings with you.