Guidance and rules (online examinations and assessments)
Preparing for an online exam or assessment
- Make sure you read the guidance provided by your School about how to prepare for the examinations or assessments, as the types of assessment may vary
- Make sure you read your School’s guidance on what resources you are permitted or not permitted to use during the assessment/examination
- Decide in advance where you will sit the examination or assessments – you will need to find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed
- For many examinations or assessments, you will need access to a suitable computer. If you do not have access to a suitable computer, you should contact your School as soon as possible
- You should check that you have access to a reliable internet connection – if this is not possible at home, you may need to find a place on campus
- You are responsible for letting your School know before the examination of any problems you may have with the arrangements
- If you experience any Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) during the examination, you should follow your School’s procedure to submit your ECs form
- If you have any queries regarding the assessment instructions or if you believe there is an error on the paper, these should be directed to your School Office in the first instance. Please remember that it may take some time to receive a response, and this would normally only be sent during University working hours.
Rules and regulations for online examinations and assessments
The University Regulations regarding examinations apply to online examinations and assessments. These rules apply during the period of each examination. For instance, if the examination takes place over 24 hours from 10am one day until 10am the next day, this is the examination period, not the one or two hours during which you will take your own examination). In particular:
- You should conduct these exams as you would if the examinations were being sat on campus
- You must not communicate or attempt to communicate with anyone about the content of the examination during the period of the examination. This applies before you have started, and after you have finished, your own examination. This means that:
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- You must not share information about the content of the examination questions, with other students or other third parties, whether this be in person or electronically (including by social media, gaming or other similar platforms)
- You must not share your answers with other students or third parties, whether this be in person or electronically (including by social media, gaming or other similar platforms)
- You must not discuss the contents of the examination/assessment with others or collaborate with other students or third parties in the writing or drafting of answers
- You must not save, replay, post, or take screenshots of examination questions or suggested answers on social media, gaming platforms or similar
- You must not copy or attempt to copy from another student's work
- You must not be involved in any arrangement whereby another party undertakes the assessment on your behalf
- You must not obtain or access, or attempt to obtain or access, an unseen assessment, except where this has been expressly agreed with the Principal Academic Unit
- Any work you submit must be your own work
- You must not access non-permitted materials when undertaking the assessment
If you have any concerns about another student's conduct during the examination, you should contact your School Office in the first instance.
Similarly, if you have a question about the examination (for instance, you are concerned there is an error), you should contact your School (relevant details are usually provided at the start of the examination). Please remember that it may take some time to receive a response, and this would normally only be sent during University working hours.
Further information
- After you have completed your assessment, your School may submit your work through Turnitin
- If you there is a suspicion that you have communicated with others, been in possession of non-permitted items, or in any other way committed Academic Misconduct (such as plagiarism), the concerns will be investigated in accordance with the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity and Regulation 8: Student Conduct
- In some cases, this may result in referral to Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals and a possible referral to a College Misconduct and Fitness to Practise Committee
- Sanctions that can be given for plagiarism or other forms of Academic Misconduct include reducing the mark to zero without an opportunity to resit, reducing the degree classification and withdrawal from the University
Exam regulations and codes of practice
For further information about the University's exam rules please see: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/exams/rules/index.aspx
For further information about Regulation 8: Student Conduct please see the Regulations page for your cohort.
For further information about the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity, please see the Codes of Practice for your cohort.