Taking Exams

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Who administers the exam?

In-class examinations are administered by the Law Registrar as supported by a staff of proctors.

When do I need to arrive?

It is the responsibility of each student to be in the assigned room when the examination begins.

What happens if I arrive late?

In general, no additional time beyond the scheduled completion time will be given to a student who arrives late for an examination. If a student does arrive late, additional time to complete the examination will be allowed only if the student arrives within one hour of the beginning of the examination, notifies the Dean of Students within that time period, and demonstrates to the Dean of Students’ satisfaction that there were extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control that could not have been anticipated. If a student arrives more than one hour after the beginning of the examination, he or she will not be permitted to take the examination, even if extenuating circumstances are demonstrated, but instead must take the examination administered at the end of the next regular semester in which the course is offered.

What can I bring with me?

Students are not permitted to have any unauthorized materials in the examination room. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, iPods, timing devices or any other electronic devices other than a permitted laptop computer or anything else specifically permitted by the instructor.

Can I use a laptop?

Students who wish to use their laptop to type their examinations may do so by using a program available through ExamSoft or Exam4. Students download and register the program. This option is open to all students. More information is available on the Law Registrar’s website.

Exam Instructions

Students should pay close attention to both the spoken and written instructions. The instructions of the professor as stated at the beginning of the exam will be strictly enforced. This includes whether the exam is open or closed book, permitted or prohibited materials, and the read-only period if any.

At the beginning of the exam, the proctors will orally transmit basic instructions for the exam. Then, once given permission to begin, the student should read through the professor’s written instructions. If at that point the oral and written instructions are inconsistent, the student should immediately note the concern to the proctors, who will clarify the issue with the Registrar. If, during the exam, there are any problems with exam administration, these should be noted to the proctor who will communicate with the Law Registrar.

During the Exam

During the examination, any passing, sharing, exchanging or transferring of any items during the examination, whether inside or outside of the examination room, is strictly prohibited. If any item is needed, the student is to seek assistance from the proctor. Any talking, from the time the examination commences until the time a student hands in his or her examination, whether inside or outside of the examination room, is strictly prohibited and will be considered a per se violation of the Honor Code. Necessary communication with the proctor, the Registrar or the Dean of Students is not considered a violation of this rule.

• Can I leave the room during the exam? Students who wish to leave the room during the examination must bring the examination to the proctor. The proctor will make a note of the anonymous grading number, the time of leaving and the time of return. Students should exit and enter through the front doors only. Students who leave the room may take a break in the hallway outside of the examination room, but no talking is permitted. Students may proceed to the restroom and immediately return. Students may not travel to other locations such as the library.
• How will I know how much time is left to take the exam? Once the examination has started, the proctor will write on the board the time the examination started and at each half hour the time remaining. The proctor will announce when 30 minutes remain and when 15 minutes remain.
• Can I leave the exam early? After the announcement of 15 minutes remaining, students must remain in their seats and no one will be permitted to leave the examination room, even if that person has completed the examination.

Finishing the Exam

At the conclusion of the examination, students must stop writing or typing when so instructed by the proctor. If the exam requires a scantron sheet for multiple choice questions all “bubbling” must be completed before time has been called. Students will not receive additional time for “bubbling.” Students must turn in to the proctors all exam materials, including questions, answers, and scrap paper. They must sign out of the exam. Once a student turns in materials and signs out, the examination is considered final and will be submitted to the faculty member.

What do I do if there is a problem during the exam?

• The best time to alert the Registrar or Dean of Students as to any administrative problems is during the examination. However, if a student realizes after the fact that there was a problem, please contact the Dean of Students Office who will address the problem in consultation with the faculty member. Students should not contact the faculty member directly about these types of problems. Any contact with the faculty member subsequent to the examination and before grades have been submitted can potentially compromise the anonymous grading system.
• Honor Code Violations: Any student who believes that an Honor Code violation has occurred during an examination should report the matter to the Dean of Students after the test who will investigate and advise the student on a Honor Code submission as appropriate. During the examination, the student may also notify the proctor.

Can I talk to my classmates about the exam?

Students may not discuss any aspect of the examination including the question content with classmates. This is due to the fact that on occasion students must take examinations late due to exam conflicts or medical emergencies. Every student is subject to the Honor Code and must not discuss the examination until such time as all students in the class have tested.