General regulations can be found in the University calendar. For more specific information, read the Instructions to candidates downloadable document. Please also note the following:
Scheduling Assessments
Assessments, where possible, will be scheduled to avoid recognised religious celebrations, festivals, or ceremonies, and key prayer times.
If an assessment clashes with a religious event which you observe, every reasonable effort will be made to find alternative arrangements during the assessment period. It is your responsibility to speak to your personal or programme tutor, or The Student Hub at the earliest opportunity.
If alternative arrangements cannot be made during the same assessment period, you may take your assessments during the supplementary assessment period in August of the same year.
Special considerations
We do not accept religious observance, for example fasting, for Special Considerations.
Assessment dates
Assessment dates are published in advance on this webpage.
Candidates should note the following (as from 1 August 2019).
All Casio calculators are allowed, but they must be non-programmable, scientific models. Casio models may be bought from any outlet and no longer require the University logo stamp. Graphical calculators, and any non-Casio calculators are not permitted. Spares will not be available for candidates who forget their calculators.
Electronic devices such as NetBooks, MP3 players, or iPods must not be taken into the assessment room. Any candidates found in possession of such items will have them confiscated by the invigilator. They will be required to resume their assessment with a new answer book and a report will be filed to the faculty’s Board of Examiners. Further details can be found on the Academic Integrity page of the Quality Handbook.
Mobile phones, watches and other wearable electronic devices
Only word to word (direct) translation dictionaries are permitted for use in assessments at the University. This means they should only contain direct translations from English to another language, and no additional explanation, context, or grammar guidance.
These instructions will also appear when you access your personal timetable. You must confirm that you have read and understood them before accessing your assessment schedule.
View the Dictionary use during assessment downloadable document for more information, and to view an image of the approved dictionary.
If you are taking assessments, you should check your timetable online (available two weeks before the main assessment period). You can access your timetable via the ‘Exam timetable’ icon on your SUSSED account.
You should carefully note the details on your timetable, including venues and their seating arrangements. We use a variety of rooms across our campuses. You should know where the assessment room is ahead of your assessment. You will not be allowed extra time if you arrive late for an assessment.
Explore the map of our University campuses including Highfield Campus and Assessment room plans for more information about the room.
Emergency Procedures:
The invigilator should notify all candidates if a fire alarm is due to be tested during an exam. Fire exits will also be pointed out to you before the assessment starts.
Unless advised otherwise, all alarms should be treated as an emergency, and you should evacuate the room immediately. The invigilator will give you directions:
It is important to remember that you should not consult with any of your fellow candidates; if you are caught talking to others it may be seen as an attempt to cheat. You are still under assessment conditions.
It is likely that the assessment will be resumed once you are allowed back into the building. You will be given roughly 10 minutes to re-read your assessment paper and answer book(s), and the assessment will be resumed. Extra time will be given in place of time lost, and you will be advised of a new assessment finish time. The invigilator will confirm these details.
The Exams and Awards Team will notify your faculty if an assessment is interrupted, and a full report will be submitted. Any decisions regarding different marking strategies will be made by the faculty.
In very exceptional circumstances it may not be possible to go back into the building and the assessment may be abandoned. This will be decided by the faculty together with marking/assessment strategies.
Illness before or during assessments:
You should not start or continue an assessment if you are feeling ill.
If you are feeling ill before your assessment, please notify The Student Hub as soon as possible. They may be able to help you arrange a re-take of your assessment when you feel better, or during the supplementary assessment period. There is no need to advise the Exams, Awards and Graduation Team.
If you feel ill during an assessment, raise your hand and explain to the invigilator that you are feeling unwell. You will be given the opportunity to leave the assessment room for a short time to see if you feel better, or allowed to go straight home if you feel that would be better.
The invigilator will contact the Exams and Awards Team, who will notify your faculty on your behalf. However, you should contact your faculty as soon as you feel well enough to advise them of your circumstances.
Items that are found during exams can be collected from The Student Hub in Building 37, 24hrs after the item is handed to the Exams and Awards Team.
Items that are confiscated during exams will be retained by the Exams and Awards Team. You will be contacted by email to advise when the item can be collected.
All unclaimed lost property and confiscated items will be disposed of three weeks after the item was handed in.
If you have any exam queries, including about the assessment regulations, please contact us by email or call us on +44 (0) 2380 599 599.
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