Before your exam's

Know when and where you're going

Your exam timetable is available through your myUNSW portal! It has all the key details you need, including your exam date, time, location, duration and what materials you can bring.

Check out how to read your exam timetable here.

Never been to your exam room before? Find it a few days ahead of time. UNSW has a lot of buildings, and getting lost on an exam day is a stress you don't need. 

Find exam locations and maps here.

Plan your trip

Give yourself plenty of time for public transport delays, traffic and finding your room.

If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you won't be allowed into the exam.

Check what you can bring

Your exam instructions will tell you what is allowed and what you will need for the exam. 

Make sure you have: 

• A valid UNSW student ID
• An approved calculator, if required
• Any permitted exam materials : drawing instruments, compass, protractors, hardcopy textbooks, notes etc.
• A clear, unlabelled water bottle

You will be permitted to keep your wallet and electronics under the desk during your exam but it is always a good idea to double check what is permitted in the exam room BEFORE you sit the exam. 

It is a good idea to leave unnecessary valuables at home because there isn't always a safe place to store them and the examiners/UNSW are not responsible for stolen goods.

Calculator Approval

If your calculator is not on the approved list and doesn't have a 'UNSW Approved' sticker you cannot bring it into exams. You can check out the licks of approved calculators here and go get it approved at the Nucleus. 

List of approved calculators.

Register for Equitable Learning Services (ELS)

Uni is hard enough — you shouldn’t have to navigate it without the support you need!

If you need help this exam season don't hesitate to reach out to ELS for free and confidential services that can provide practical support and adjustments. 

Click here to register and for more information!

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On exam day 

Arrive early, check your room and have your Student ID ready.

Exams and exam procedure are serious business. DO NOT CHEAT!  Students automatically fail courses if they commit academic misconduct in the exam room. Your exam supervisor will explain the rules before you begin. If you're unsure about something, ask before you start.

And remember: closed-book means closed-book. Don't bring notes or other unauthorised materials into the exam.

If you're registered with Equitable Learning Services, make sure you've arranged your exam adjustments with your advisor.

Something went wrong?

Sometimes things happen that are outside your control. If during an exam you feel unwell you need to alert the supervisor, get a medical certificate dated within 24 hours of the exam and submit special considerations. 

UNSW has a Fit to Sit rule, which means that if you sit an exam or submit an assessment you are declaring yourself fit to do so and cannot later apply for special considerations.

This rule applies to all assessments including:

• Short exams (i.e. up to 24 hrs in length)

• Exams (online or in class)

• Presentations

• Lab assessments.

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Short extension 

Need a little extra time for a short-term disruption?

Some courses and assessments offer a Short Extension, giving you an extra 1–7 days to submit your assessment. You don't need to provide supporting documents, and your request is automatically approved.

Just remember:

• Not every course or assessment offers a Short Extension.
• Check your course outline or Moodle to see if it's available.
• You must apply by the original assessment due date and time — late requests aren't accepted.

Special consideration

If something more serious or unexpected has affected your assessment, you may be eligible for Special Consideration.

This can apply when circumstances are:

• Unexpected and beyond your control
• Short-term and serious
• Significantly affecting your ability to complete an assessment

You’ll need supporting documentation explaining what happened, when it happened and how it affected your studies.

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Resources

Psychology & Wellness

UNSW Psychology & Wellness offers confidential counselling for students with specific academic concerns and general personal issues that may affect academic performance. They can help you with overcoming exam anxiety, time and stress management techniques, as well as the myriad of other issues that face students before, during and after exam time. 

Drop in and make an appointment, visit the website or call (02) 9385 5418 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) 

Academic Skills toolkit

UNSW has extensive resources for students to feel like they could have done better in their exams. It involves a variety of services that address different skills needed to improve your studies. 

Check it out here!

Academic Skills

Academic Skills offers academic support in the form of writing workshops and online resources. Students can make an appointment for individual assistance for developing skills and learning techniques, or visit the Centre to view the collection of books, videotapes, audiotapes, dictionaries and style guides to aid study.

For more information on exam rules visit myUNSW or see the UNSW Results page.