Here you will find key services and resources that will help support you during your academic life at GCU.
Make sure you set off early on the day – transport hold-ups will not be accepted as an excuse for being late.
Avoid conversations beforehand with any fellow students who ‘know everything’.
It depends how late you are. You are not normally allowed to enter an exam venue once one third of the exam time has passed. For example, if you are more than an hour late for a three hour exam, you won't normally get in; if you are half an hour late, you will. If you are allowed in, you won't get extra time at the end of the exam.
PLEASE NOTE: You are not allowed to read the examination paper, write anything on it or in your exam booklet before the examination session has officially started.
You can take only items allowed for that exam. These can include books, instruments including electronic calculators, notes or other materials or aids. You must leave any unauthorised items with the invigilator.
Can I take food or drinks into the exam?
Not if the Senior Invigilator thinks that eating or drinking might disturb other candidates. A packet of mints will probably be allowed. Avoid fizzy drinks which might spill over your paper.
Where can I find out more?
In the University Regulations for the conduct of examinations, part of the University Assessment Regulations.
Remember, successful students:
PLEASE NOTE: You cannot read the examination paper, write anything on it or in your exam booklet before the examination session has officially started.
Once the examination session has officially started:
Read the exam paper
Plan your time
Read your chosen question carefully then read it again. Decide what the question is about and what you have to do, for example, outline, analyse, discuss, compare and contrast, and so on. Underline these key words.
Plan your answer
Write an answer plan and try and make it as detailed as possible. It is worth spending at least 5 minutes per question working on your plan.
Tip - keep the question in front of you as you write, to remind you of the topic. Focus on making the answer relevant.
Don't write all you know on the topic! Try to develop a clear argument by telling a story with a beginning (introduction) middle and end (conclusion).
If you get stuck in a question or you forget something don't panic:
Be careful not to run over your planned time even on your favourite question. It is easier to add marks to weak questions than try to make good answers even better.
If you are running out of time write a skeleton answer – just list the main points. You will get more marks for covering the whole question (even in note form) than, for example, spending the remaining minutes writing a good introduction.
Check your answers
Finally, try to leave enough time to go back over your answers filling in any gaps. If you remember something later just add it to the bottom of your answer and show where you want to put it in.
You must tell the assessment board about your circumstances by using the Fit to Sit procedure. If you do not tell them how these have affected your studies, you may even have to withdraw from your course.
If you do not tell the assessment board before its meeting and are then disappointed with your results, it can be very difficult to tell the board afterwards. You will have to submit an explanation of why you did not tell them before the assessment board met, using an Extreme and Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances Form (EEEC). This might delay your graduation or the next stage of your course.
Cheating includes:
Where someone is suspected of cheating in an exam:
The assessment board will not agree a final mark while the investigation is going on.
If the Senate Disciplinary Committee decide you have not cheated, the assessment board will agree a final mark.
If they think you have cheated, the Senate Disciplinary Committee will consider what action to take. See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.
