Exams can be stressful, but having a plan in place for academic support and knowing how to handle unexpected issues can take some of the pressure off.
Exams can be stressful, but having a plan in place for academic support and knowing how to handle unexpected issues can take some of the pressure off. The Advice Centre has put together a master guide on where to get academic support and what to do if you have any issues on the day of your exam!
What should you take to an exam?
You should bring a valid form of ID, such as your Student ID, driving license or government-issued national photo ID card. If you forget to bring any ID, there will be a helpdesk available for you to obtain a one-time use ID for an exam. Time lost obtaining this temporary ID will not be given back in your exam.
You can bring a small piece of paper with only your candidate number, which you can find on Campus Connect.
A water bottle (remove any label), a calculator with the appropriate department label (if necessary), pens, and pencils in a transparent pencil case.
When should you arrive for your exam?
You should arrive at least 20 minutes early to your examination venue to allow yourself enough time to find your seat. If you are travelling to campus, check the traffic reports and allow more time than usual for your journey. Check the times of buses/trains and consider an earlier one to allow time for any delays.
What if I'm going to be late for my exam?
Report directly to the invigilator at the examination venue. If you arrive more than half an hour late, you may be permitted to complete the exam but your work will only be marked at the discretion of the Department Assessment board. Time lost will not be given back in your exam.
Feeling unwell on the day of your exam?
Despite all your exam prep and revision sessions, there still might be unexpected circumstances that come up on the day of your exam. First, don’t panic! There are policies in place to support you in situations like this so take a moment to evaluate your options.
Take a moment to assess whether you’re still able to take the exam. If you’re unwell and you feel your symptoms might worsen during the exam, it might be best to prioritise your health.
If you are unable to attend a University invigilated examination you should email the Student Services Centre (studentservices@royalholloway.ac.uk) before the scheduled start of the examination with your name, Student ID and confirmation of the examination you are unable to attend and why.
If you are unable to attend an in-class test or other in-person or online assessment run by your School you should, where possible, email your School before the scheduled start of the assessment with your name, Student ID and confirmation of the examination you are unable to attend and why.
You will need to submit an online Extenuating Circumstances application form with details of the assessments affected and the impact of the illness on your performance. Detailed information on Extenuating Circumstances, including how and when to apply, is available on the Student Intranet and on our web page. If you would like support with applying for Extenuating Circumstances, get in contact with the Advice Centre!
Have technical difficulties on the day of or during your exam?
Before your online assessment, you should ensure you have a stable internet connection and a backup if necessary. The University campus is open and you can opt to work there if necessary. You should also ensure that you leave enough time to submit your assessment before the deadline – leaving your upload until the last 5-10 minutes before the submission deadline is at your own risk.
Yet, technical difficulties can happen unexpectedly and can be stressful on exam day, but there are steps you can take to manage the situation.
- If you have any technical issues in accessing or submitting the assessment or problems in producing the assessment in the format requested, you should contact your School/Department for advice as soon as possible; do not leave this until after the deadline. Remember the upload time is built into the exam to allow any IT issues to be resolved.
- Document the issue and take note of the technical problem, including any error messages or issues you encounter.
- Keep records of all communication, actions taken, and any documentation provided by technical support.
- You will then need to submit an online Extenuating Circumstances application form with details of the assessments affected and the IT issues on your performance. Detailed information on Extenuating Circumstances, including how and when to apply, is available on the Student Intranet and our web page. If you would like support with applying for Extenuating Circumstances, get in contact with the Advice Centre!
While technical difficulties can disrupt you in an exam, some situations may not qualify as technical difficulties. It’s important to familiarise yourself with the different arrangements of each online assessment and open-book exam, so make sure to read the instructions sent to you by your School in advance. If you’re in a different time zone to the UK, make sure to calculate a suitable time of day in advance so you can ensure you can submit the work by the end of the assessment window.
If you have any concerns with accessing IT equipment or good quality internet connections which might impact your ability to complete your assessment, get in contact with your School as soon as possible for advice.
Where can you find exam support?
CeDAS, the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills
CeDAS can help you improve your exam techniques and help you with exam-related maths or stats questions. They offer group sessions, one-to-one tutorials, drop-ins and a range of self-study resources all tailored towards your subject area. You will find the CeDAS Academic Skills page for your school on Moodle under My Courses - or just click here. If you have any questions, email cedas@rhul.ac.uk.
The Library
Each subject has a dedicated Information Consultant to support students and staff. Information Consultants can teach students how to:
- Find information which is suitable for their academic work quickly and systematically
- Select the best sources to use for their work and evaluate the information in them
- Reference correctly and consistently using the subject referencing style guide
- Use reference management software such as Endnote and Latex
- Manage how they share information in a safe and professional way
If you prefer to learn independently, this library Moodle course has a range of resources and activities to help you develop your information literacy skills.
The library offers a variety of study spaces, reading lists, course materials such as textbooks, as well library loan laptops.
Module leaders and teaching staff can provide support and advice to answer specific academic-related queries. Check their office hours and see what support is available!
Disability & Neurodiversity can help with arranging Exam Access Arrangements if you’re unable to sit formal exams under standard examination conditions because of a disability or another condition. If you are not already registered with Disability & Neurodiversity but have a short or medium-term condition where you need Exam Access Arrangements for a single assessment period, you should email D&N for further advice.
Wellbeing
Whilst completing assessments and revising for exams it’s important to remember to look after your mental health and wellbeing – try to take regular breaks and get outside as much as possible. We all manage and respond to stress and anxiety in different ways, however, if you are particularly concerned about your wellbeing, or that of a friend, please don’t hesitate to reach out and speak directly to our Wellbeing team.
The Advice Centre
We offer a range of support on academic appeals and Extenuating Circumstances. If you’ve already read through our web pages and can’t find the information you’re after, it’s easy to see an advisor! Email us at advice@su.rhul.ac.uk with your query and we can book you in for a meeting.
We also hold weekly drop-in sessions on Zoom and in person during term time. Check out our Events Calendar here to find out when the next drop-in is.