On Campus Examinations Preparation and Arrangements

For examinations that take place on campus make sure you’re familiar with all the important information so that you can do your best on the day and avoid any problems.

Preparation

Make sure you're ready by following our guidelines for things you can prepare before the day of your examination.

Timetable

Make sure you read your timetable carefully and check for changes the day before your examination. Timetable publication dates can be found on the Timetable Publication Dates webpage. Please ensure you check your timetable and make sure you are fully aware of the dates and times of all your assessments and remember:

You must be available to sit your examinations/assessments for the entire published assessment period. This includes Saturdays and bank holidays.
Holidays or other social commitments won't be accepted as a reason for missing an examination/assessment. The timetable may change, so you shouldn't make any personal arrangements during the examination/assessment period.
If you miss an examination/assessment without good reason, you will be recorded as absent for that examination/assessment and will forfeit an attempt.
You should check your personal examination/assessment timetable (via Minerva) for your allocated venue and seat number, where applicable.
If you misread the timetable or fail to find the venue, this will be treated as deliberately missing an examination/assessment and you'll be recorded as absent without good cause.

Assessment clashes

Report any examination clashes (ie two on campus examinations timetabled at the same time) or any other problems immediately to the Assessment & Progress Team using the email address: Examinations@leeds.ac.uk. Include your full name, student number and the module codes and titles for all examinations affected.

Consecutive assessments

If you have three on campus examinations in direct succession, report this immediately to the Assessment & Progress Team using the email address: Examinations@leeds.ac.uk. Include your full name, student number and the module codes and titles for all examinations affected.

Definition of three consecutive examinations: each examination/assessment period has two examination/assessment sessions a day, therefore an example of three consecutive examinations would be:

Monday morning examination (09:00 start)
Monday afternoon examination (14:00 start)
Tuesday morning examination (09:00 start).

Venue

Make sure you know the venue of your examination. Information on examination venues can be found on the Examination Venues and Sub offices webpage.
Don’t be late. You should aim to arrive as early as possible to facilitate ID checks.
Plan your travel and route and arrive 30-45 minutes before your examination begins.

Examinations held at more than one venue

We try to use venues that are near each other or in the same building, but we still recommend that on the day of the examination you allow at least 30-45 minutes to make sure you are in the right place.
On the day of the examination, you can check the seating lists which are posted outside each venue before the start of the examination.
Candidates in that room will be listed in alphabetical order. If your name doesn't appear, look for the statement "If your name does not appear here, please see the supplementary list". The list will display which groups of candidates are seated in which venue.

ID Cards

Remember to bring your student 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 venue until this is completed. If you then attempt to attend further assessments without your ID card, you may find yourself excluded from the assessment. Your name and student number must be written on the front of all assessment script books.
You don’t have to wear a face covering on campus except for in clinical settings where NHS guidance may still apply. If you do wear a face covering in the examination you may be asked to briefly remove it so invigilators can verify your identity.
Any student ID cards left in examination 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. Information on this can be found on the Student Card webpage.

Calculators

Basic (ie 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 venue.

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 a HB pencil.
If you do need to use a pencil during the 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 venues will be supplied with a basic English language dictionary for use (unless it is specifically stated on the rubric that a dictionary is not permitted). You may request to use the dictionary by raising your hand and speaking to the invigilator during the examination.
Where you are permitted to take your own dictionary to the examination, 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 room under the Cheating, Plagiarism, Fraudulent or Fabricated Coursework and Malpractice in University Examinations and Assessments Regulations (information on this can be found on 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.

Textbooks

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 equipment

Check you have all the equipment you need for your examination. If you borrow equipment you must make sure there are no notes or annotations that may be viewed as cheating (information on this can be found on the Rule Breaking in Exams webpage).

On the day

Prepare yourself for the day of the examination by planning things properly.

Prohibited items

You are not permitted to have the following items during the examination:

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 or graph paper, revision or study notes
notes of any kind - including notes on your skin or clothing
mobile phones (unless required for DUO authentication)/tablets/bluetooth devices/electronic devices
personal music players
headwear (unless for religious reasons)
calculator covers

If you bring these items with you, invigilators will specify an area where they must be left. But please note that the area will not be watched or monitored during the examination so you are advised not to bring them.

Wallets and purses may be placed under your chair or desk. Phones must be switched off, with all pre-set alarms disabled. Your phone and electronic devices 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're found using your phone during the assessment, this will be investigated as cheating (information on this can be found on the Rule Breaking in Exams webpage).

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

Absence

If you’re too ill to take the examination or your condition may be a danger to others, go to your GP for advice and request a medical certificate stating you are unfit to attend and submit this to your parent school as evidence of mitigating circumstances. Information on mitigating circumstances can be found on the Mitigating Circumstances Guidance webpage.
You should also check the guidance if you are unable to attend your examination for other reasons, such as adverse weather or other emergencies.

Seating

Check the seating list outside the examination venue and sit in your allocated seat.
If your name isn't on the list(s), inform the invigilator straight away, before entering the examination venue.

Talking

Talking isn’t allowed in the examination room. You may not speak to anyone other than an invigilator. Talking to friends, even if just wishing them good luck, will be automatic grounds for investigation for cheating (information on this can be found on the Rule Breaking in Exams webpage).
If you need anything during an examination, raise your hand to attract the attention of an invigilator but don't leave your seat without permission.

Your examination script, rough work and notes

Use any left-hand page in your script book for rough work.
Cross out anything you don’t want to be considered by the examiner.
Removing any sheets from the script book will void it and it won't be marked.
If you need more pages, ask the invigilator for an extra script book.

Entering the examination venue

You will be permitted to enter the examination venue at least five minutes before the time indicated on the timetable. The examination will begin when all students are seated and at the specified time.
You must sit in the seat allocated to you (see seating instructions, above).

If you arrive late for an examination

You should make every effort to arrive on time for your examinations and at the correct venue. However, if you are late, take the following action:

If you are less than 60 minutes late:

Enter the examination venuequietly and respect the other students who have already started.
Make yourself known to the invigilator.
You will not regain any time you have lost by being late but you'll be able to record your details on a form, including the reason for lateness.
The invigilator will note your arrival time on the form, and it will be sent to the school for consideration during marking and moderation, contributing to any decisions about the award of first attempts.

If you are more than 60 minutes late:

You may not enter the examination room.
Go straight to the nearest examination sub-office (see the Examination Venues and Sub offices webpage to find out which sub-office is responsible for each venue). A decision will be made as to whether the circumstances leading to your late arrival are sufficiently serious and beyond your control to justify you being granted permission to start the examination late.
If permission is granted, a decision will also be made regarding the arrangements under which the examination will be conducted.
Even if you're allowed to take the examination, there is no guarantee the examiners will accept that the reasons for your late arrival are sufficient for a grade other than AB (absent).

If you arrive after the examination has finished:

You won't be permitted to take the examination under any circumstances, and will be recorded as absent.
Go to the nearest sub office to speak to a member of staff. Details of the sub offices can be found on the Examination Venues and Sub offices webpage.

Aural/audio examinations:

If you are late (by any amount of time) you will not be permitted to enter the examination venue.
Go to the nearest sub office to speak to a member of staff. Details of the sub offices can be found on the Examination Venues and Sub offices webpage.

Leaving the examination venue

Leaving early

You must ask permission from an invigilator if you wish to leave the examination early. You won’t be allowed to leave within the first 60 or the last 10 minutes.
If you're allowed to leave the examination early make sure you do so as quickly and quietly as possible. Be aware that other rooms may have examinations that have not yet finished.

The end of the examination

When instructed, stop writing and remain silent and in your seat until all the script books have been collected and the chief invigilator informs you that you may leave.
If you've used more than one script book, fasten them together with the provided treasury tag.
If you're required to use a multiple choice question card (MCQ), make sure your student ID number is marked correctly on the card. Don't attempt to attach it to your script book - damage to the card may prevent accurate scanning.
Don't remove any unused exam stationery from the examination room. Possession of such items outside of an examination could be considered as evidence of attempted cheating (information on this can be found on the Rule Breaking in Exams webpage).