Skip to main content
Future Students Alumni Library Athletics & Recreation
Students

Exam Regulations

Approved by Senate Oct. 27, 2003.

Final examinations take place at the end of every term. Candidates are expected to fulfill this obligation in an honest manner. As an academic institution, the university's credibility depends upon the integrity of the examination process. With this in mind, the following are a set of rules to guide candidates:

Attendance and Identification

  • Candidates are responsible for arriving at the correct time and location. Forgetfulness or inadvertently arriving at the wrong time or place cannot be considered acceptable excuses.
  • Candidates must sign in to the exam and show their Laurier student identification cards when requested.

Examination Process

  • The doors of the examination room will be opened approximately 10 to 30 minutes before the start of the examination. Candidates will be permitted to enter the examination room quietly up to 30 (thirty) minutes after the scheduled start of the exam. Candidates arriving late will not be allowed any extra time.
  • Candidates must not begin the examination or attempt to read the examination questions until instructed to do so.
  • In no case may a candidate leave the room temporarily, for any reason, until 30 (thirty) minutes after the start of the examination. After 30 (thirty) minutes from the start of the examination, candidates may not leave the exam room before completing and submitting the exam unless accompanied by a Proctor. 
  • Candidates are not permitted to submit their examination until their attendance has been taken.
  • Candidates are not permitted to submit their examination until one hour after the examination has begun. 
  • Candidates must remain seated and may not leave the examination room during the last 15 minutes of the examination session.
  • When a candidate finishes their exam, they must submit their materials with their name and student ID on all components including:
    - All completed and attempted work
    - Notes made during the exam
    - Their copy of the examination paper
    - Their multiple choice form (if used)
    - Any other exam materials 
  • If a candidate does not put their name and student ID on one or more components of the final exam, the instructor reserves the right to not grade that component and assign a grade of 0. 
  • Unused examination supplies (booklets, multiple choice forms, scrap paper, etc.) may not be taken from the examination room.
  • At the close of the examination period, candidates must stop writing immediately. The Presiding Officer and proctors may seize the papers of candidates who fail to observe this requirement, and a penalty may be imposed at the discretion of the instructor. 
  • Talk or any form of communication between candidates is absolutely forbidden. No information of any kind is to be written for the purpose of assisting other candidates. Responses to questions must not be done in an exaggerated way or in a manner that will involve transmission of information to others.
  • Candidates must remain seated during the examination period. A candidate needing to speak to the proctor (e.g., to ask for additional supplies or to request permission to leave the examination room for any reason) should so indicate by raising their hand.
  • Questions concerning possible errors, ambiguities or omissions in the examination paper must be directed to the proctor who will investigate them through the proper channels. The proctor is not permitted to answer questions other than those concerning the examination process.

Materials and Aids

  • Candidates must not use or attempt to use any unapproved source of information. No candidates for an examination may bring into the examination room any books, notes or other material containing information pertaining to the examination unless the examiner has given instructions that such material will be allowed and this instruction is specified on the examination paper.
  • Before a candidate takes their seat, the Presiding Officer and Proctors will specify whether:
    - Backpacks or other bags and carriers may be brought to the desk site and placed under the chair where the candidate is writing the examination, or placed in a designated area during the examination. All electronic devices are to be turned off, should they be stored in backpack or other bag or carrier - Coats may be brought to the desk site and placed on the back of the chair where the candidate is writing the final examination or placed in a designated area during the exam.
  • Students are fully responsible for their own personal belongings and it is strongly recommended that candidates not bring any items of value to the examination room. Laurier is not responsible for any loss or  damage to student property.
  • No devices that can connect to the internet or Bluetooth, and/or content of any kind not explicitly approved by the instructor, through any means, will be allowed to be carried, accessed, set on the table/desk, or worn on the person of the candidate in the examination room, including phones, watches, headphones, ear buds, glasses, etc. 
  • Any item brought into the examination may be subject to inspection by the Presiding Officer and proctors and may be confiscated for the duration of the assessment, including a period where the item and incident can be appropriately documented on the proctor's report. 
  • Calculators are not allowed unless specified by the instructor and indicated on the examination paper. Only non-programmable models authorized by the instructor will be allowed. It is the candidate's responsibility to ascertain whether the use of calculators is permitted, and, if it is, whether any restrictions are imposed on the types of calculators that may be brought to the examination.
  • Translation dictionaries (e.g., English-French) or other dictionaries, (thesaurus, definitions, technical) are not allowed unless specified by the instructor and indicated on the examination paper. Electronic dictionaries are never allowed.
  • Except for bottled water, no food or drink is allowed in the examination room. Candidates with extenuating circumstances that warrant relaxation of this regulation should notify the Presiding Officer or proctor prior to the beginning of the examination. Such students should restrict themselves to those items and packaging that will least distract other examinees.

Expected Conduct and Sanctions

  • Candidates are expected to write their examinations in an honest manner. Where there are reasonable grounds for believing a violation of exam protocol has occurred, the candidate will be subject to the disciplinary procedures and sanctions according to the Senate Policy 12.2: Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct.
  • Only currently registered students will be permitted to write the final exam.
  • Examinations conducted at Wilfrid Laurier University will be bound by WLU regulations, regardless of where the candidate is registered.

University Closure and the Examination Period

  • As per the Senate Guidelines used when Planning the Academic Year, should the university close on any of the last five days of regularly scheduled classes, cancelled classes may be rescheduled in the two study days occurring before the examination period. In such a case, the examination period would not be altered. Any day the university is closed during the last five days of regularly scheduled classes will be considered a study day.