Taught Student Administration | Student Services Centre
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Examination frequently asked questions


DURING EXAMINATIONS


Where are the exam venues?
University exams are held all over the campus. Information on venues and locations of Exams Sub-Offices are available at Examination Venues Maps.


What am I allowed to bring into the exam room?
You are advised not to bring personal items such as coats, bags, pencil cases etc. into the exam room, as you will not be permitted to keep these with you. If you do have to bring a bag with you, this must be placed away from your exam desk at the edge of the exam room, as instructed by the Invigilator.


Can I bring my mobile phone into the exam room?
You should avoid bringing your mobile phone into the exam room. If you do bring your mobile phone, it should be switched off and left in your bag or left on the Invigilators desk during exams. The phone will be confiscated if found on your person, or on or near your desk and its presence may be regarded as cheating.


When can I enter the exam room?
You will be admitted to the exam room at least five minutes before the start time indicated on the exam timetable.


What should I do if I am late?
Information about what to do if you arrive late to an exam is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/examlate.htm


What ID do I need to bring to exams?
Information about what ID you need to take to exams is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/examid.htm


Can I bring a dictionary into an exam?
All students may use a simple language translation dictionary from your native language to English during an exam, unless prohibited in the rubric of the paper. You may only use a dictionary permitted by the Examinations Office and those allowed for this purpose are detailed at Approved Dictionaries List.

If the range of dictionaries stipulated does not include a simple language translation dictionary for your language, please contact the Examinations Office for further advice on what you may purchase. Once you have purchased a dictionary, it will need to be checked at the Student Services Centre Counter and stamped for approval.


Can I bring a calculator into an exam?
Calculators may be used, except where specifically precluded by the rubric of the exam paper. In some exams, there may be a restriction on the type of calculator you are allowed to use. It is your responsibility to ensure you are using a permitted calculator.

Spare calculators are NOT provided by the exam sub-offices. Miniature information processors for the storing of information are not permitted, and their use will be regarded as cheating.


How must I behave during the exam?
Silence must be observed in examination rooms during exams. Smoking or drinking alcohol are not permitted.

If you need anything during an exam, you should raise your hand to attract the attention of an invigilator but you must not leave your seat.


Should I write my answers in pen or pencil?
Written answers must be completed in pen with black or blue ink only. DO NOT use red ink on any part of your answersheet.

Multiple Choice Answercards should be completed using a soft HB pencil.


What happens when I have finished my exam early?
You may not leave the exam room within the first 60 or the last 10 minutes of the exam. If you wish to leave before the last 10 minutes, you must ask permission from the invigilator.

At the end of the exam you will be instructed to stop writing - remain silent and in your place until all the answer books have been collected.


What happens if I am unable to come to the exam?
If you are absent from an exam, you must provide a written explanation to your parent School/Faculty. In the case of illness, this must be accompanied by a full medical certificate from a doctor.

In the event of adverse weather - most likely during Semester 1 Exams - it should be assumed that exams will continue as timetabled. Where a student claims to be affected by such conditions, this information should be registered within both the school and the Examinations Office as soon as possible and no later than 3 working days after the missed examination(s). Where claims are verified, special arrangements can then be made to enable such students to complete their examination(s).


Where can I find detailed information on exam regulations?
Detailed guidance on the conduct of exams is given in the Taught Student Guide, which is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/qmeu/tsg/.


EXAM ARRANGEMENTS


What if I am disabled?
You should contact Disability Services to undertake an assessment of your needs. They will then make recommendations to the Examinations Office in order to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made.

If you have a temporary disability, you should inform your School and the Examinations Office as soon as possible so that it can be investigated whether any alternative facilities or support are necessary.

It is essential that you declare any disability – whether long term or temporary - at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that the Examinations Office are able to provide appropriate facilities and support. Obviously, this would not be possible if such declarations are not made.

If you have informed us of any disability, you can review the special arrangements which have been made for your University examinations on the Student Services website available through the Portal (click on the 'Examinations' tab, then select 'Examination Arrangements').


I am an international student. Can I take my exams in my home country?
Some students whose permanent home address is outside the UK may be permitted to take resits in their home country. Students on an exchange programme may be permitted to take resits at their home institution if there is a clash between the University of Leeds exam times and their home institution's teaching patterns*.

However, all students taking an exam as a first attempt must take the exam at the University of Leeds. In addition, all students who have been found guilty of misconduct in an exam must take the remainder of their exams for their entire programme at the University of Leeds.

Please note that students who are permitted to take their resit exams abroad will have to pay a fee to the University of Leeds for the arrangement of the exam and will also be responsible for paying for any fees levied by the hosting institution overseas.

For more information, contact the Examinations Section, Taught Student Administration (examinationsconf@leeds.ac.uk)

* International students who are taking their exams for the first time, and have a clash between the University of Leeds exam times and their home institution's teaching patterns, need to contact their Parent School as soon as possible.


What should I do if I have religious commitments that make it difficult for me to take exams on certain dates?
Information about what to do if you are unable to attend exams due to religious commitments is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/examrelig.htm


What if there is a fire alarm during my examination?
Any exams which are interrupted by fire alarms may be rescheduled on the last day of that exam period.

Please check the Fire Alarm Policy webpage for any updates in the event of a fire alarm during your examination.


EXAM TIMETABLES


Where and when are the examination timetables published?
Examination timetables are published online at http://timetable.leeds.ac.uk/exams/exam_dept.asp. Personal exam timetables are also available to students logging on to the Student Services website available via the Portal (Click on the Quick Link 'My Exam Timetable' on the Portal Homepage).

Dates of when each examination session’s timetable will be published is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/examdates.htm.

Separate timetables may be issued at School level, for example if you are a student in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry or Healthcare. You must always double check what time your examination is due to start - examination session times may vary but ordinarily are:

January Examinations
9:30am to 12:30pm
2:00pm to 5:00pm

May/June Examinations
9:00am to 12 noon
1:00pm to 4:00pm
5:00pm to 7:00pm (where necessary)

August Re-examinations
9:30am to 12:30pm
2:00pm to 5:00pm

You are required to be available to sit your examinations for the entire published examination period. This includes Saturdays and Bank Holidays.

You must check your timetable carefully to ensure you have no clashes. If you misread the timetable and/or fail to find the venue this will be treated as deliberately missing an examination and you will be recorded as absent without good cause.


What should I do if I want to book a holiday/have a commitment during the exam period?
You are required to make yourself available to sit your examinations for the entire published examination period(s), including Saturdays and Bank Holidays.

Holidays or other social commitments will not be accepted as a reason for missing an exam. If you miss an exam without good reason, you will be recorded as absent for this exam and will forfeit an attempt.

Dates of University examination periods can be found at www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/exams.htm.


What should I do if I have an exam clash?
Please report any exam clashes (i.e. if you have two exams timetabled at the same time) or any other exam problems immediately to examinationsofficer@leeds.ac.uk. Please remember to include your full name, student number and the module codes and titles for all exams affected.


What should I do if I have 3 exams set in consecutive exam sessions?
If you have 3 exams in direct succession, please report this immediately to examinationsofficer@leeds.ac.uk. Please remember to include your full name, student number and the module codes and titles for all exams affected.

Definition of 3 consecutive exams:
In the Semester 1 and August exam periods there are 2 exam sessions a day, therefore an example of 3 consecutive exams would be:
- Monday morning exam (9:30am start)
- Monday afternoon exam (2pm start)
- Tuesday morning exam (9:30am start)
In the Semester 2 exam period there are 3 exam sessions a day, therefore an example of 3 consecutive exams would be:
- Monday morning exam (9am start)
- Monday afternoon exam (1pm start)
- Monday evening exam (5pm start)


If my exam is split over two or more venues, how do I know which venue I should be sitting in?
You can find out which venue you will be sitting in by checking your personal exam timetable online via the Portal. Your seat number (where applicable) will also be displayed here.

Alternatively, if it gets to the day of the exam and you don't know which venue you should be sitting in, you can find out where you will be seated by checking the seating lists which will be posted outside each venue approximately 20-30 minutes before the start of the exam.

Candidates in that room will be listed in alphabetical order. If your name does not appear in this list, look for the supplementary list posted at the bottom under the statement "If your name does not appear here, please see the supplementary list". The supplementary list will display which groups of candidates will be seated in which venue, for example:

Carter, A. to Simpson, B. ------------ go to room XXXX
Turner, R. to Zeng, G. ------------ go to room XXXX

Therefore, if you have an exam which is split across several venues, you should allow plenty of time to find your venue(s) and to check which is your correct venue. We try to use venues that are near each other or in the same building, however we recommend allowing at least 30 minutes.


PAST EXAMINATION PAPERS

Where can I find past examination papers?
You can look at past examination papers online at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/exampapers/.


RESULTS AND RESIT INFORMATION


Where and when can I see my exam results?
Information and a guide to obtaining your results online are available on the Results and Re-assessment of Failed Modules web page.


Where can I apply to resit any failed modules?
All non-finalist students who have failed an assessment and any student who has been awarded a first attempt in August by the relevant Board/Committee of Examiners should apply for re-assessment of their failed modules online through the Portal.

Further information and a guide to applying for resits online is available on the Results and Re-assessment of Failed Modules web page.


What is the deadline for August resit applications?
The deadline for August resit application submission for session 2011/12 is Thursday 19 July 2012.


How much does it cost to take a resit?
Resit fees are:

£2.00 per credit (i.e. £20.00 for a 10 credit module) plus
£50.00 administration fee (increases to £100 for applications received after the deadline)

The appropriate fee will be billed to your account.


What happens if I apply after the deadline?
Access to the online application will be removed after Thursday 19 July 2012 . Any resit application made after access has been removed must be done by emailing the appropriate contact in Taught Student Administration (click here for list of TSA contacts).

An increased administration fee of £100 will apply to applications received after the deadline, and the examination timetable will only reflect those modules for which applications have been made.


What happens if I apply for a resit and don’t take it?
Marks for modules which are not taken will be returned as Absent. Any resit or first attempt must be taken at the next opportunity, and failure to do so will result in the loss of an attempt.

How can I cancel a resit application?
You must email the Exams Section of Taught Student Administration to cancel an application to resit (list of Taught Student Administration contacts).

Please note that cancellations can only be made up until the start of the exam period in which the resit is assessed. After this time, your application will stand and any resit fees charged will still be applicable.


How do I get a further first attempt for an exam?
You must apply to your School for one. First Attempts are awarded by your School’s Board/Committee of Examiners. Please contact your School for further information.


Do I still have to apply for a resit if I have a first attempt?
Yes. If you have been given permission for first attempt(s), you must still apply online via the Student Services webpage by the published deadline, but will not be required to pay the associated registration fee (however, application after the deadline may result in you being required to pay the late fee of £100).


What happens if I don’t take my first attempt resit? Can I just take it in the next exam period?
No. Where first attempts are not taken in the period originally applied for, they are not automatically carried forward. Re-application must be made to the appropriate committee.


When will the August Re-Examination period take place?
The August Examination period will take place between 14 and 24 August 2012.


Where and when will the August Re-Examinations Timetable be published?
The August Examinations timetable will be published online at http://timetable.leeds.ac.uk/exams/exam_dept.asp on Wednesday 1 August 2012. Personal exam timetables for students who have submitted their resit application by the deadline are also available from this date via the Portal - click on the Quicklink 'My Exam Timetable' on the Portal Homepage.

Please check on your personal timetable that you have been entered for the appropriate examinations, and report any discrepancies without delay to the Examinations Section of Taught Student Administration.

You must contact your School directly to establish the deadline dates for submission of assessed work.


Where and when can I see my August resit exam results?
Examination results for August 2012 examinations will be available to view online via the Portal from Wednesday 12 September 2012.


GUIDANCE ON REGULATIONS ON CHEATING IN EXAMINATIONS


What is the definition of cheating?
Cheating in University Examinations occurs when a candidate transgresses any of the following University rules governing the conduct of University Examinations.

Specifically, candidates shall not, intentionally or otherwise:

  • introduce unauthorised items into the examination room, e.g. notes (however so recorded), or other unauthorised material (including blank paper), mobile telephones or pagers, portable or laptop computers or other electronic devices (NB - this list is not exhaustive);
  • copy from other candidates or from notes;
  • access or copy from sources of information (except as allowed by the Examiners or the Head of Exams) or annotate or mark this authorised information (except as authorised by the Examiners);
  • disobey the regulations relating to the use of calculators;
  • communicate in any way with other candidates or person(s) except the invigilators;
  • remove script books (blank or otherwise) from the examination room.


What are the penalties if you are found guilty of cheating?
Cheating in University Examinations is treated as an absolute offence. Only one of two penalties will be applied unless the circumstances are wholly exceptional with permanent exclusion from the University being the norm:

  1. You must withdraw permanently from the University with no award.
  2. You will be required to repeat the examination or some or all of the examinations in the Semester where the incident of cheating has occurred. Where you have been successful in repeating the examination(s), the credits may be awarded but a mark of zero will contribute to your degree classification.


Where can I get advice if I am suspected of cheating?
If you are suspected of cheating, the Student Advice Centre in the Leeds University Union will offer support and guidance.


Where can I find detailed information on cheating in exams?
Detailed guidance on cheating during examinations is given in the Taught Student Guide, which is available at www.leeds.ac.uk/qmeu/tsg/ and on the Office of Academic Appeals and Regulations website at www.leeds.ac.uk/AAandR/cpff.htm


CONTACT DETAILS

How do I contact the Examinations Section and where are they located?
Examinations Section
Taught Student Administration
Student Services Centre
Marjorie and Arnold Ziff building
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT

Email: examinationsconf@leeds.ac.uk

Tel: 0113 34 33981

Page owner: N.E.Wain@adm.leeds.ac.uk | Updated: 05/09/11