Examination Materials

For on campus examinations make sure you understand what you can take into the examination room and what will already be on your desk.

Permitted items:

Student Identification Card:

Remember to bring your student ID card with you, as it is the only form of ID accepted. You must bring it to all examinations and display it on your desk.
Please note the ID card is an official University document and should not be tampered with in any way (e.g. the printed photo should not be covered or replaced with a different photo, the published dates on the card should not be amended etc). Tampering with the ID card may be considered cheating.
During the examination, the ID card should be placed on your desk.
If you're unable to present your University ID card during an examination, your details will be recorded. An identification check will be carried out on you, and you will not be able to leave the room until this is completed. If you then attempt to attend further examinations without your ID card, you may find yourself excluded from the examination. Your name and student number must be written on the front of all examination script books.
The University Covid-19 guidance is that you don’t have to wear a face covering on campus except for in clinical settings where NHS guidance may still apply. If you choose to wear one to your examination you may be asked to briefly remove it so that invigilators can complete the ID check.
Any student ID cards found in assessment venues will be taken to the sub-office. An email will be sent with instructions on when and where to collect it.
If you've lost your student ID card, you'll need to obtain a new one from the Student Services Centre counter. Details can be found on the Student Card webpage.

Calculators:

Basic (i.e. non-programmable) calculators may be used in examinations, unless specifically stated on the question paper. In some examinations, there may be a restriction on the type of calculator you're allowed to use. Miniature information processors for the storing of information aren't permitted and their use will be regarded as cheating.
Some schools have an authorisation process for calculators which you must follow. It is your responsibility to check whether or not you're allowed to bring a calculator into your examination and to check that the type of calculator you are using is permitted.
Spare calculators are not provided.
Calculator covers/lids should be removed and not brought into examinations.

Pens and pencils:

Pens should be black or blue only. If you use a red or green pen or a pencil, your work may not be marked.
Multiple-choice answer cards should be completed using an HB pencil.
If you do need to use a pencil in an examination make sure you have a sharpener or spare pencil and an eraser.

Dictionaries:

You are only allowed to take a dictionary into the examination with you if it is specifically stated in the question paper rubric (the instructions on the front of the examination paper) that it is permitted. Always check with your module leader before the examination whether or not you are permitted to take a dictionary for that examination. Electronic translators aren't allowed under any circumstances.
All examination rooms will be supplied with a basic English language dictionary that (unless the use of it is precluded in the rubric of the question paper) you may request to use by raising your hand and speaking to the invigilator during the examinations.
Where a dictionary is permitted, it must not be annotated, augmented or otherwise altered in any way apart from the inclusion of the owner's name inside the front cover. Annotations include, for example, notes (including single words), cross-references, highlighted text or underlined text. Any annotation other than the owner's name on the inside cover will be considered an attempt to introduce an 'unauthorised' item into the assessment room under the Cheating, Plagiarism, Fraudulent or Fabricated Coursework and Malpractice in University Examinations and Assessments Regulations. For more information see the Rule Breaking in Exams webpage.
You are personally responsible for the dictionary you bring to the examination. To claim it is borrowed or second hand will not be an acceptable defence.

Text Books:

It's your responsibility to check whether or not you're allowed to bring a textbook into your examination. Unless informed otherwise, textbooks are not permitted. If your school allows textbooks to be used in examinations, check if any annotations are allowed.

You are not permitted the following items in the examination room:

food or drink (however, you may take a clear water bottle with all labels removed)
coats
bags
pencil cases (even transparent ones)
tip-ex (or other ‘white out’ stationery items) – if you make a mistake in pen you should cross it out
unauthorised material of any kind, such as blank paper, graph paper, revision or study notes
notes of any kind - including notes on your skin or clothing
headwear (unless for religious reasons)
mobile phones (unless required for DUO authentication)/tablets/bluetooth devices/smart watches
personal music players
calculator covers/lids

If you bring these items with you, invigilators will specify an area where they must be left for the duration of the examination. But please note that the area will not be watched or monitored by invigilators so we advise that you do not bring the items to the examination room.

Wallets and Purses

You may keep your wallet or purse under your chair or desk during the examination.

Phones and Electronic Devices

Phones may only be used if required for DUO authentication (for example, in Computer examinations where students are required to log in to Minerva).

Unless being used for authentication, phones and electronic devices must be switched off, with all pre-set alarms disabled. They should be put inside the clear plastic bag provided at the start of the examination and placed on your desk, as instructed by the invigilator. If you are found using your phone or electronic device during the examination, or your phone/electronic device is found to be switched on during the examination, this will be investigated as cheating.

Notes

Check you have no notes written on your hands, arms or clothing. Any writing observed on you will be investigated as cheating.

On your desk:

Depending on what is required for the examination, you will find some, if not all of the following items:

Script book – Complete the front cover and read the information, do not make any notes in or on the script book until the Invigilator instructs you to start the examination.
Question Paper – Read carefully the front page of the question, do not turn over and start reading the questions until you are instructed to do so by an Invigilator. Check carefully that the module code and title match that which you are expecting to take. Make sure your question paper does not have a module code with a different last two digits to what you are expecting. Resit papers may have a module code ending in 09, if you are taking the paper for the first time you will need a different paper. Raise your hand and tell the Invigilator.
Plastic bag – Disable all alarms and turn off your mobile phone and place it in the bag along with any blue tooth devices or any other electronic devices including smart watches. Leave on the corner of your desk.
Treasury tag – You should have a treasury tag on your desk if more than one script book has been given to you.
MCQ/MRQ or EMQ card (Multiple Choice Answer cards)- Use only pencil to fill in these cards. Do not bend or fold them. Do not punch a hole in them to attach them to your script book. Make sure you hand it in at the end of the examination.
Graph paper - If needed, you should have a sheet on your desk.

If other materials are needed for the examination it will be mentioned in the rubric of the question paper. If the front of the paper states Chemistry Data and Code Formula Booklet or Statistical tables for example, check that these are on your desk. If not raise your hand and tell the Invigilator as soon as possible. They will make sure you get what you need.