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Exam rules

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Current Students

What you need to do and take to your exam?

Find out from your unit coordinator what materials are specified on the exam paper that you can bring into the exam room. You will not be admitted into an exam if you do not have your student ID card, or if you bring materials or equipment which are not allowed to be used as per the instructions on your exam paper.

What time do exams start?

Exams start at 8.30am, 1.45pm and 5.30pm.

Deferred exams start at 8.30am, 1.45pm and 5.30pm.

*Students with Academic Integration Plans may have other starting times.

Where can I find my exam timetable?

Your personalised exam timetable in Platform Web shows the location, date and time you have been allocated to sit your exams. You must ensure that you check your timetable regularly up to the exam as times and locations may change.

Arriving and starting my exam

You should get to the exam room at least 20 minutes before the start of your exam. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the beginning of your exam, you will not be allowed into the exam venue.

You must comply with all directions given by the exam supervisor. This includes not speaking or communicating with another student.

Behaviour which disrupts an exam may result in your removal from the exam.

You are required to sit in the seat allocated to you by the exam supervisor.

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Reading time

All exams include reading time in the total time allowed. No separate reading time will be allocated.

Reading the exam paper before you start answering questions allows you to:

compose yourself
read the examination paper
plan your answers

You should read the instructions and questions carefully before you begin writing.

You are allowed to begin writing straight away if you wish.

The exam supervisor will let you know of any changes to reading time allocations.

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What if I go to the wrong campus by accident?

Unfortunately we won’t be able to accommodate you if you don’t follow your personalised timetable. If you are not on the exam attendance list, you will be directed to Student Central to check your exam timetable on the computers there. You can then view your exam timetable in Platform Web. If you miss your exam because you went to the wrong exam venue, you will not be permitted to sit an alternative exam and you may fail your unit.

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Do I need my student ID card?

You must present your UWS student ID card for entry to the exam venue and leave it displayed on your desk for the duration of the exam. You will not be admitted to exams without your student ID card. If you have lost your card, you may be admitted to your exams on presentation of a temporary ID card, which is only valid on the day of your exam.

To obtain your temporary ID card, you must pay a fee of $15 and produce other photo ID (e.g. Driver’s license) so Student Central can confirm your identity and enrolment. Student Central do not accept payments, so an encumbrance will be placed on your record that will be removed once payment (via iPay) is made.

Please note that Student Centrals will be open from 8.00am on exam days.

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What can I take into the exam venue?

You must provide your own equipment and writing instruments such as calculators, pens, pencils, rulers and erasers as they will not be supplied. Writing materials should be contained only in a clear plastic bag - no pencil cases.

You may also bring any other materials as specified on your exam paper. You can contact your unit coordinator for details of what material is specified on the exam paper. Please remember that if you bring anything that is not listed on the exam paper, it will be taken off you until the completion of your exam.

Any purses, wallets and mobile phones must be switched off, not to 'silent/vibrate' mode, and placed on the desk visible to the exam supervisor.

In order to minimise the risk of 'heat illness' or 'heat stress', which may be experienced on days of extreme heat you are advised to take the following precautions:

Bring water in clear containers to the exam venue (but you may not bring food)
Wear loose fitting light clothing or loosen clothing before entering the exam venue
In colder weather make sure you have appropriate warm clothing

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What can't I take into the exam venue?

All bags are to be left outside the venue unless the exam supervisor states otherwise. The University accepts no responsibility for personal items left outside the exam venue. Please make alternative arrangements for the storage of your valuables or do not bring them with you.

No textbooks or other reference material is permitted into the exam venue unless specified on the exam paper or the examination is identified as an open book exam. Students should consult their unit coordinator for clarification on permitted items for exams.

Caps, motorcycle and bicycle helmets may not be worn/brought into the exam venue.

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When can I leave the exam venue?

You will not be permitted to leave an exam venue during the first 30 minutes of writing time or the last 10 minutes unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Exam papers must not be removed from the venue (unless the exam paper states it can be removed). Answer booklets must not be removed from the exam venue.

Should misconduct or irregular practices be suspected by the exam supervisor an Alleged Academic Misconduct statement will be lodged. The incident may then be dealt with under the provisions of the Student Misconduct policy.