Exam rules
These are the rules that you need to follow when you’re sitting an exam or another centrally managed test at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the information on this page so that you feel prepared on the day of your exam.
You need to follow the exam rules so that you and all your classmates are assessed fairly. Find out more about why maintaining academic integrity is important for the whole University community.
Rules for distance exams may differ from those that follow—contact your course coordinator for more information.
Identification
You will need to provide proof of identification when you arrive at the exam room. It is best if you can provide your Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington student ID card. We will accept any other official photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport.
You must write your student ID number legibly on your exam answer books and on supplementary books or answer sheets as requested.
Entry and exit from exam rooms
To ensure the smooth running of exams:
- You can’t enter an exam room later than the mid-point of the exam.
- You can’t leave the room earlier than the mid-point of the exam.
- After the mid-point of the exam, you can only leave with the permission of the invigilator (exam supervisor), and only once you have given them your exam papers and any materials.
- You won’t be given permission to leave during the last fifteen minutes of the exam.
- Once you have handed in your exam paper and materials and left the exam room, you can’t re-enter the room.
Timekeeping
During the exam, you can only start writing when instructed to do so by the invigilator.
You must not continue writing, cross out, or modify an answer in any way after the invigilator has announced the end of the exam. However, you can fill out the front of your answer booklets so that your name and student ID number (or only your ID number if you’re sitting a Law exam) is on all your exam materials.
Materials used during exams
When exam books or other writing material are provided, you can’t use any other printed or blank paper during the exam.
No books or equipment can be used during an exam unless it is specifically stated in the exam paper or if you present an authorisation from the course coordinator. For example, if English is not your first language you may request permission to use a dictionary, or you might need a particular item to assist you with an impairment.
The examiner for your course (typically your course coordinator) may authorise the use of electronic calculators for exams and may restrict the types of calculators used.
Pencil cases are not permitted unless they are clear and shown to the invigilator prior to the start of the exam. This rule doesn’t apply to open-book exams.
Your mobile phone must be switched off and left in a clear zip lock bag under your seat. This bag may also contain your keys, wallet, and any lifesaving medication you require (for example, an EpiPen, inhaler, or insulin). Alternatively, you can leave these items in a bag at the front or back of the room, or you can give them to the invigilator.
All other electronic devices, including smart watches and fitbits, must be switched off and left in your bag at the front or back of the room, or be given to the invigilator.
You must turn your phone and any other electronic devices off completely. This is because alarms and notifications override silent and 'do not disturb' modes.
You must not take any exam material such as exam questions, answer books, or supplementary answer sheets out of the exam room. This will not be permitted under any circumstances. Your examiner cannot mark any material that you have removed from the exam room yourself—only the material that has been handed into your exam’s invigilator.
Use of dictionaries
You can’t bring a dictionary into an exam room unless your first language is not English and you have obtained prior written approval from your course coordinator. You will only be authorised to use an English/foreign language dictionary—not an English-only dictionary.
You must present your letter of approval to use a dictionary and the dictionary itself to the invigilator for inspection before to the start of the exam.
You can use English-only dictionaries for open-book exams.
You can’t use an electronic dictionary unless your exam paper specifically states that they are permitted.
Food and drink
You can’t consume any food during the exam unless you have a medical reason. This reason needs to be supported by a statement from a medical practitioner, which you need to present to the Exams Management Team before the start of the exam.
Anything that you want to drink during the exam must be in a clear bottle—other drink containers are not permitted.
Legibility
Your handwriting on an exam paper must be clearly legible.
If the examiner for your course is unable to decipher any of your written material, they are allowed to refuse to mark it. Alternatively, the examiner may photocopy your exam paper and send it to you so that you can supply a clearly transcribed version. In this case you will be charged a fee to cover costs.
Misconduct
You must not communicate with any person other than the invigilator (or the course examiner) during the exam.
You must not copy from another student’s answers.
You must not cause unreasonable disruption to an exam, or exhibit behaviour that distracts or prevents other students sitting that or another exam.
Rule breaches
These rules apply to all candidates sitting centrally managed examinations. If you breach any of these rules, it will be considered a breach of the University’s Student Conduct Statute and may result in your examination being cancelled or you being suspended for one year or more.