Exam rules

These are the rules you must follow when sitting an exam at Victoria University of Wellington.

These rules apply to all candidates sitting centrally timetabled examinations. Any breach of these rules will be considered a breach of the University’s Student Conduct Statute and may result in the candidate having their examination cancelled or being suspended for one year or more.

Rules for distance examinations may differ from the below so please discuss with the Course Administrator.

1. Entry and exit from examination rooms

(a) No candidate is permitted to enter an examination later than the mid-point of that examination.

(b) No candidate is permitted to leave the examination room earlier than the mid-point of that examination, and then only with the permission of the supervisor, who must be given the candidate’s script.

(d) No candidate is permitted to re-enter an examination room after they have handed in their script and departed.

2. Materials used during examinations

(a) When examination books or other writing material are provided, candidates may not use any other printed or blank paper during the examination.

(b) No books or equipment may be used during an examination unless that is specifically stated in the examination paper or the candidate presents an authorisation from the faculty (e.g., to use an English/foreign language dictionary but not an English-only dictionary, or a particular item to assist a student with an impairment).

(c) Examiners may authorise the use of electronic non-programmable calculators for examinations, and may restrict the types of machine used.

(d) Pencil cases are not permitted unless they are clear and shown to the supervisor prior to the start of the examination (unless this is an open-book examination).

(e) Cellphones must be switched off (including any alarms) and left in a clear ziplock bag along with keys, wallet and lifesaving medication (for example Epipens, inhalers and insulin) under a candidates’ seat. Otherwise, these items must be left in bags at the front/back of the room or given to the supervisor. All iPods and other electronic devices including smart watches and fitbits must be switched off (including any alarms) and left in bags at the front/back of the room or given to the supervisor.

(f) Under no circumstances are candidates permitted to take out of the room any examination material including exam questions, answer books or supplementary answer sheets. No material that has been removed from the examination room will be marked.

3. Use of dictionaries

Unless an examination paper specifically excludes the use of dictionaries, a candidate whose first language is not English and who has obtained prior written approval from the Course Coordinator or Faculty Manager to use an English/foreign language dictionary (but not an English-only dictionary) during an examination, may take such a dictionary into the examination room.

The candidate must present their letter of approval and the dictionary to the supervisor for inspection prior to the start of the examination. English-only dictionaries are permitted in open-book examinations.

Note: Electronic dictionaries are not permitted unless specifically stated in the examination paper.

4. Timekeeping

Candidates may commence writing only when instructed to do so by the supervisor. No candidate may continue writing, cross out or modify an answer in any way after the supervisor has announced the end of the examination. They may however complete the front of all answer booklets to ensure that their name and student ID numbers (only ID numbers for Law courses) is on all examination material.

5. Misconduct

(a) During an examination, no candidate may communicate with any person other than the supervisor (or the course examiner), nor may any candidate copy from another candidate’s answers.

(b) No candidate shall cause unreasonable disruption to an examination or exhibit behaviour that unreasonably distracts or impedes other students sitting that or another examination.

6. Identification

Proof of identification should be provided on entry to the examination room by presentation of Victoria University of Wellington ID cards or other official documentation that includes a photograph (e.g., a passport, driver’s license, KiwiAccess card, or 18+ card). Candidates must print their student ID number legibly on their examination answer book and on any supplementary books or answer sheets, as requested.

7. Legibility

All handwriting by a candidate must be clearly legible. Any written material the examiners are unable to decipher may be either refused for marking or photocopied (for a fee) and given to the candidate to supply a clearly transcribed version.

8. Food and drink

Candidates may not consume any food during the examination unless they can present a supporting statement from a medical practitioner to the Examinations Coordinator prior to the start of the examination. All candidates may drink fluids that are in clear plastic or glass bottles. Other drink containers are not permitted.