Exam Guidance

At Edinburgh Napier exams are scheduled in a hybrid model involving both on campus and online exams. Each module has a specific format of exams which will be communicated to you by your module leader and will be shown on the published exam timetables.

Many students will be asked to sit an exam at the end of some of the modules they undertake. These exams take place in two-week blocks (diets) at the end of Trimesters 1 and 2 and over a one-week block in Trimester 3. There is also a two-week Reassessment (Resits) exam diet in the summer to allow students who have missed  an exam to catch up.  View dates for exam diets for the academic year.

As exams may be scheduled at any time during the exam period, it is your responsibility to be available throughout the exam diet, whether you are undertaking an online exam or attending in person on campus.

Please note that in the School of Health and Social Care, Resit exams may be scheduled either during the Resit exam period or during the Trimester 3 exam period. It is important to check the Exam Timetables carefully to ensure you are aware when your Resit exam will take place.

Online exams

If you have an online exam, you will require access to a suitable device and reliable internet connection as well as a good environment to undertake your exam. If you do not have the necessary equipment, you can book space on campus via Resource Booker . Alternatively, the University has a Laptop to Loan where you can organise to borrow one from one of the self-services Lapsafe lockers.

All online exams will be available via the Exam Server.  The Exam Server will open for students to check their access to the Server the week prior to the start date of exams. Look out for further communications nearer to exams about this.

The Exam Server will be open for the designated duration of the exam. This includes 50% additional time to provide an inclusive approach to ensure that the requirements of those students who need additional exam time are already accommodated. It is also intended to allow sufficient time for all students to upload materials and as mitigation for any temporary network problems during the exam.

The time shown on the Exam Timetable is the correct full duration and already includes any additional time– no additional time is given on top of this.

This should ensure all students have sufficient time to:

• Complete your exam answer
• Download/upload materials required
• Mitigate against any temporary network issues/disturbances
• Ensure students with individual learning profiles are not disadvantaged.

Some exam papers will set an indicative word count to give you additional guidance on the length of answers that you should be aiming to submit. In all exams you should read the instructions carefully and ensure you understand what is being asked before you start to answer questions.

Please allow yourself plenty of time to deal with any technical interface issues - the extended time should be used primarily by you to manage such matters if required, so you should aim to be working on your answers for designated duration of the exam as noted on the front cover of your exam question paper. No additional time can be added, and late submissions cannot be accepted.

Support during online exams

There is a facility on the Exam Server so that you can raise questions, which academic staff can then address in as timely a manner as they can. If you have any technical issues, please contact exams@napier.ac.uk.

Exams on campus

On campus exams will be delivered in person at Sighthill Campus. For directions, please visit our Sighthill travel page. Exams on campus will be written answers in an answer script book which will be provided to you. If you have a learning profile in place for the use of a PC, you will be given access to an appropriate device.

During your exam

• The invigilator will inform you of the start and end time of the exam
• Once the exam has started, you may not leave the exam room until a period of 1 hour has elapsed from the start of the exam. You are not allowed to leave the room in the last 15 minutes of the exam
• If there is reading time you will not be permitted to make notes or answer the questions in your script book(s) during this period
• No unauthorised material may be brought into the exam room
• Communication between candidates or any other irregular practice is not allowed
• Sharing of any material is prohibited.

Calculators and dictionaries

In some instances, calculators and dictionaries may be allowed during the exam. You should discuss this with your examiner. Programmable calculators are only allowed in appropriate exams, provided the memory facility has been cleared and the examiner has approved the use of programmable calculators. Mobile phones/Smart Watches must not be used as calculators. Please be aware that if you forget your calculator the Exams Office will not be able to supply a replacement.

At the end of your exam

• The invigilator will read a closing announcement to formally close the exam
• Please ensure your student number appears on each script book and any additional materials which should be handed in
• At the end of the exam remain in your seat until the invigilator has collected your script book(s) from you
• Script book(s) will be anonymously marked
• Script book(s) are the property of Edinburgh Napier University and must not be removed from the exam room.

Support during exams

Academic staff will be available at the start of the exams should there be any initial queries about the exam question paper.

Exams undertaken overseas

The start time for all examinations is 11am (UK time). This should allow students studying Edinburgh-based modules but who are currently located overseas to engage in the examination at the same time as UK-based students.

Further questions

If you have further questions about the exam process, please email exams@napier.ac.uk