Before the Day of the Examination

What needs to be prepared before the day of the examination; know what you can or cannot take into an examination venue.

If you are unable to attend your examination due to illness inform your teaching school as soon as possible and read the Mitigating Circumstances Guidance webpage.

Examination Timetable

Check your timetable to make sure you are aware of the date and times of all your assessments and examinations.  Your personal timetable can be viewed through Minerva and you can also view the timetable for specific modules via the Timetable by Module webpage.

Examination Venue

If your examination is taking place on campus, make sure you are aware where your examination will take place.  Information on venues can be found on the Examination Venues webpage. 

You don’t have to wear a face covering on campus except for in clinical settings where NHS guidance may still apply. Some people might want to carry on using face coverings so please be considerate of other people’s choices. 

Examination Materials

Check with your module leader to find out if you are allowed to use a translation dictionary, a calculator or text books in your examination.  Do not arrive to the examination room with the wrong items.  It should say on the front of the question paper what type of dictionary or calculator you are allowed to use, or if text books are allowed.  Any item not permitted will be confiscated and spares will not be given.

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 the examination venue.

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 question paper) that it is permitted. Always check with your module leader before the examination whether or not you will be permitted to use your own dictionary. Electronic translators aren't allowed under any circumstances.  
  • All examination venues will be supplied with a basic English language dictionary that (unless it is precluded from use by the rubric of the paper) you may request to use by raising your hand and speaking to the invigilator during the examination.
  • 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 examination 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.
  • If it is permitted by the rubric, you are personally responsible for any dictionary you bring to the examination. To claim it is borrowed or second hand will not be an acceptable defence.

Text Books

  • It is 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.

Other Items

Only take to the examination that which you need.  Any belongings not needed for the examination or not allowed in the room must be left in a designated area.  Please note it is not the responsibility of Assessment & Progress staff to ensure the safe keeping of items that are brought into the examination room. 

More information on what examination materials are permitted and what you should not bring into the examination room can be found on the Examination Materials webpage.