Exam guide

Find information and frequently asked questions to help you prepare yourself and take away the stress of the unknown.

Exams and assessments are an essential part of university life and it is normal to find them stressful.

What is the University's Exam Code of Conduct?

When are the University's main exam periods?

The university's main exam periods can be found at on the dates, deadlines and support page.

I need to discuss individual exam adjustments, who should I contact?

If you wish to discuss any individual examination adjustments required, due to a disability or ongoing medical condition, you should contact Student Support Services before the exam deadline for advice. We suggest you check on the exams web pages for any deadlines you need to adhere to.

Student Support Services will liaise with your Subject Administration team and Academic Registry to ensure any relevant adjustments are put into place.

Students with Personalised Exam Plans (PEP)

If you have declared a need for educational or health-based support, you will be assessed by Student Support Services, who will then create a document known as an Access Statement, which includes recommended adjustments for your lectures, seminars and coursework, as well as Personalised Exam Plans. The exams team will receive the Access Statement from Student Support Services and the arrangements in the statement will be put in place ready for your exams.

For the university’s main exam periods, please ensure that you have met with a member of the assessment team and received an Access Statement in line with the deadline dates for submission of arrangements. Your support needs in regards to exams should have already been disclosed prior to you starting your studies, however if you need to disclose any support needs please contact Student Support

Services by the submission deadlines date.

If you have any questions regarding PEP arrangements, please email Student Support Services.

Checking your exam timetable

Your exam timetable can be accessed on the NTU Online Workspace (NOW) on the Personal Exam Timetable tab.

Examinations are normally timetabled during the day Monday to Saturday.

For the three main exam periods (Half-year, Main and Resit periods), timetables are released on a specific date prior to the exam period. These dates are available on the Personal Exam Timetable tab on NOW. The initial timetable release will not include venue information, and this is added later, usually around 3 – 6 weeks prior to the exam period.

For exams that take place outside of the three main periods, these will appear on your personal exam timetable no earlier than 42 days prior to your exam, or will appear on your standard weekly timetable in the case of class or phase tests. Please contact your School if you have any queries about these types of exams.

When your exam timetable is released online, the most important thing to do is check that you don't have any clashes. If you find you have two exams at the same time, you should email straight away, providing your name, student ID number and full details of the clashing exams.

Exam timetables are subject to change, therefore it is important to check your timetable regularly and close to your actual exam dates. Please do not take a screenshot of your timetable to refer to later, as changes can be made at any time during the exam period.

If you have PEP arrangements agreed via Student Support and the exams team, details of your additional arrangements may not be visible until room information has been added to your timetable. Please be aware that PEP arrangement details are only visible for exams taking place during the main exam periods, and will not be visible for other types of exam, but will still be put in place as detailed on your Access Statement.

When can I view my exam timetable?

Timetables are usually published on NOW, confirming exam dates and times as shown below:

Half-year examinations: First week in December
Main examination period: Third week in March
Resit examinations: Third week in July

Venues are normally added 3-6 weeks before your exam date, depending on the time of year.

What if my exam is timetabled during a religious festival?

The University respects the rights and religious views of its students. We will make every attempt to schedule your exam avoiding any holy days, however this may not always be possible. Please email us with any individual circumstances prior to the deadlines published.

What time do the exams start?

Generally, most NTU exams will start at 09:15 and 14:15 unless your exam paper is set by an external body. Students are usually called into the room by the Invigilators 10-15 minutes before the exam start time (depending on the size of the venue) so make sure you leave enough time to get to the venue. Students are called in ahead of the published start time so you can be seated and be in place to hear all the announcements relating to the exam before you start.

It is important to arrive early as you may miss some important information if you arrive after this.

What should I bring with me to an exam?

It's helpful to prepare your exam 'kit' in advance so you don't have to think about it on the day.

The only items you are allowed to bring into the exam venue are:

NTU Student Card
Pens
Pencils
Ruler
Pencil sharpener
Eraser
Calculator, but you can only use it if the exam paper allows it.
Small clear* bottle of water (*Remove labels from shop bought bottles)
Books are permitted for specific exams (i.e. statute books)

All items should be in a clear bag or clear pencil case. The Invigilators need to be able to see what you have on your desk.

You must bring your NTU Student ID card to every exam. If you have mislaid your card please visit the Student Services Desk available on every campus and get a new one before your examination.

What should I NOT bring to an exam?

You must not bring the following to an exam:

Any drinks other than a small clear bottle of water
Any food (unless Student Support are aware of any specific medical condition)
Any pencil case unless it is clear
Any dictionary including translation dictionaries (with the exception of some modern language examinations where the question paper specifies bilingual dictionaries may be allowed)
Earphones or headphones
Electronic devices (tablets, laptops etc.)

It is encouraged not to take smartwatches and mobile phones to your exams. However, if you do need to bring either of these items with you, please be sure to adhere to the Examination Code of Conduct in regards to what to do with your phone or smart watch during an exam.

The use of mobile phones in the exam or during any toilet break is strictly prohibited. If they are brought to the exam venue they must be fully switched off (not left on silent) and put in the area designated by the Invigilator. You are not allowed to have a mobile phone in your pocket or anywhere near your desk during the examination. This includes having a mobile phone in the pocket of your jacket or cardigan which may be hanging on the back of your chair. If you are found to have a mobile phone on your person during the exam, this will be reported to the Examination Board.

The Invigilators are not responsible for looking after personal possessions. If you are worried about a particular item being lost, you are better to leave it at home. The University will not accept responsibility for any personal possessions which are lost, stolen or damaged during examinations.

What should I wear?

Exams take place at various times throughout the year, and room temperatures vary from venue to venue so the best thing to do to make sure you are not too hot or too cold is to wear layers. Do not hang clothing on the back of your chair. Place clothing in the area designated by the Invigilator or if you take clothing off during an examination, place clothing underneath your desk.

Even in the Summer months it might be very warm outside but the air conditioning in some buildings will make the room a lot cooler so make sure you are going to be comfortable.

What should I do on the day of the exam?

Double check the start time and the venue on your timetable the day before your examination. Ensure you arrive at the exam venue at least 20 minutes before the exam starts. The Invigilators will call you into the room 10 – 15 minutes before the exam starts. You do not want to be late and miss an important piece of information or regulation that may affect your performance.

This might seem obvious, but go to the toilet before your exam starts as you cannot go to the toilet during the first 45 minutes of an examination.

What if I wear a veil or other religious head coverings?

An Invigilator will need to perform an identification check before the examination commences. You will not be required to uncover your face or hair in public. An Invigilator of the same gender will take you to a private room without the presence of any other persons. Once the Invigilator has verified your identity, you will be given time in front of a mirror to replace your head covering before returning to the exam room.

If a candidate is suspected of using headphones or other electronic hearing device to gain an unfair advantage during an examination, they may be asked to remove their headwear so a check can be performed. Again, an Invigilator of the same gender will escort the student to a private room to perform this check.

Where can I find directions to the exam venues?

What should I expect when entering an exam venue?

You should wait outside the venue until the Invigilators call you into the room. Please listen carefully to the Invigilators so that you sit in the right area for your exam. Some module names sound very similar to each other so it is important you have checked your timetable and know exactly which exam you should be taking. You will not be allocated a specific seat number.

There may be more than one exam taking place in the room, in which case you may find that different exams have been allocated different coloured answer books. In larger venues such as the Albert Hall, Clifton Sports Hub, Byron or DiCe the rows of desks may be labelled and you will be instructed to sit at a particular row number.

As soon as you enter the exam room you are under exam conditions. This means you are not allowed to talk to other candidates. On entering the venue, Invigilators will indicate where to leave any personal belongings, including coats, hats and bags. Please take out of your bag the items you need for your examination. Your mobile phone is to be turned off and placed face up underneath your desk. Please remove any smart watches and also leave with your mobile phone under the desk.

Once you have taken your seat, place your student ID card with the photo facing up on the top right hand corner of your desk. Your pens and pencils which should be in a clear plastic bag can be placed on your desk.

On your desk you will find an attendance slip. Please complete the attendance slip and put it next to your student ID card on the top corner of your desk. The Invigilators will collect these in once the exam has started and also check your photo ID at the same time.

You should sit quietly at your desk until the Invigilators make their announcements. It is important to listen carefully to everything the Invigilator tells you. Some rules are a standard script which you will hear at every examination, but please still listen even if you have heard it before. These rules may be supplemented by instructions that are specific to the examination you are doing and may affect your performance if you do not abide by them. Read the Examinations Code of Conduct ahead of your exam .

You can complete the front of your answer books but do not write inside until the exam has started. You need to complete the module code and title of the examination (you can get this from the front of the question paper), the name of the course you are studying, the year of your course, and the exam date and time. Please remember to provide your Student ID Number. The top right hand corner has a section you should complete with your name, signature, the course you are studying and the year. This needs to be sealed down to comply with the anonymous marking policy.

What happens once the exam starts?

The Invigilator will tell you when you can start the exam. Make sure you read the instructions on the front page of the exam paper very carefully, as they may provide you with information in addition to any rules read out by the Invigilator and failure to read any instructions may affect your performance if not followed.

If the exam consists of any reading time, this will be announced. You must not write anything during reading time, including highlighting or making notes, unless stated otherwise on the exam paper. If it is not stated and you are found to be making notes during reading time, this is considered academic misconduct and will be reported to the Examination Board. The Invigilator will advise when you can start writing.

What will be on my exam desk?

Question paper. Do not read the exam question paper before you are told to do so. Do not start making notes on the exam paper before the start of the exam is announced as this is considered academic misconduct and will be reported to the Examination Board
Additional materials (if applicable - i.e. Case studies, formula charts, etc.)
Coloured answer booklet. Occasionally, you may be instructed to use a separate booklet for each question. (For some exams, the question paper may act as your answer booklet instead. Where this is the case make sure you have written your Student ID number on this.)
Attendance slip
Graph paper (if applicable)

Where should I complete my rough work?

All rough work and any question planning must be written in the answer book and then crossed through if you do not want it to be marked. You should not tear any pages out of your answer book or use any of your own paper.

What if I need extra paper?

Additional paper will only be supplied if you have used every page in the answer book already supplied. If you need extra paper, please raise your hand to attract the attention of the Invigilator. If you use extra paper, please ensure this is securely attached to your answer booklet by a treasury tag which the Invigilator will supply.

What if I am late for an examination?

We suggest you plan enough time to get to the exam venue and allow for traffic and travel problems. Students can still enter the exam venue up to 30 minutes after the exam has started, however you will not receive the missed time back, the time will be lost.

If you arrive more than 30 minutes after an exam has started you will not be allowed to take the exam. In the first instance, you will need to contact your School Office for further advice.

How soon can I leave the exam room?

No one is allowed to leave the examination room until 45 minutes has elapsed (unless you have a Personalised Exam Plan in place). Depending on the number of students and exams within the venue, it is at the Lead Invigilators discretion whether they allow you to leave within the last 15 minutes of the exam. This is in place so that there is minimal disruption to any students still completing their work and allows the Invigilators to collect your exam papers carefully.

If your exam finishes before other exams in the venue and the Lead Invigilator has allowed you to go, please leave quietly as other students will still be completing their exams. Even when you have left the room, please keep your voices low as conversation carries in a quiet environment and may be disruptive to those still continuing.

What if I need to leave the room temporarily?

Once the examination is underway, if you wish to go to the toilet you must raise your hand and wait until you have the Invigilator's attention. You cannot go to the toilet during the first 45 minutes of an examination. After this time, only one person can go to the toilet at a time, so if several people are requesting to go to the toilet you will have to wait until it's your turn. You will be accompanied to and from the toilet by an Invigilator at all times. The Invigilator must feel confident that you have no unauthorised materials or equipment in your possession before you enter the cubicle so you may be asked to empty your pockets first. Any time spent out of the room will be lost, unless you have rest breaks built into your Student Support exam adjustments.

If you need to leave the exam room because you are ill, you will also be accompanied by an Invigilator. Again, any time spent out of the room will be lost but a report will be completed so the Examination Board have this information.

What if I have a question?

You should raise your hand and attract the attention of the Invigilator.

What happens at the end of an exam?

Once the Invigilator has announced the end of the exam, you should stop writing immediately. It is considered misconduct if you keep writing after the Invigilator has asked you to stop and this will be reported to the Examination Board.

Make a final check to ensure that your student ID number is on every answer booklet and any additional sheets you have used are securely fastened to your answer book.

The Invigilators will collect your completed answer booklet from your desk. Do not leave your seat or talk to anyone else until all booklets have been collected.

You cannot take the question paper with you. Only take with you what you brought into the exam room. The Invigilator will inform you when you can leave the exam venue.

Where can I find out further information about handling exam stress?

We all know that exam and assessment periods can mean extra pressure, stress and sometimes makes you anxious. Student Support Services have devised the Stamp Out Stress (SOS) campaign which is a programme of activities and top tips to combat exam stress. More information can be found at the SOS – Stamp Out Stress page.