On exam day

Sitting an exam can be stressful. Find out how to prepare on the day, manage your time in the exam and cope with nerves.

Know which mode your exam is in and prepare for that mode

There are four exam modes. Check your exam timetable to find out which mode applies to each of your exams.

Exam Mode A – Remote online non-invigilated exam

Make sure you have access to a reliable laptop or computer for your online exam. Find out more about using a university laptop or computer.
Complete a demo test to check your device is compatible with Inspera and so you know what to expect in an online exam.
Make sure you have access to reliable WiFi. Study spaces are available on campus if you don’t have a suitable space to sit your online exam at home.
Find out more about online exams and Inspera online assessments including what to do if your WiFi stops working.

Exam mode B – Remote online invigilation through Inspera Exam Portal (IEP)

Make sure you have access to a reliable laptop or computer for your online exam. Find out more about using a university laptop or computer.
Test you have a working webcam, microphone and ID (Campus Card preferred) before exam day.
You will need to download, install and test Inspera Exam Portal (IEP) on the laptop or computer that you will sit your exam on. The link to download the IEP software is: https://auckland.inspera.com/get-iep.
Once you have downloaded Inspera Exam Portal, open it up and complete practice exams to check your device is working with the software and you know what to expect in your exam.
Familiarise yourself with the information on the Invigilated (supervised) examinations web page.

Exam mode C – In-person invigilated exam on paper and Exam mode D – In-person invigilated exam on computer

Your exam room will be available in SSO the night before your exam.
You will need to bring your Campus Card, required stationery in a clear bag or pencil case, any approved materials and your laptop (Mode D only).
Plan for delays and cancellations in transport. Please refer to the Auckland Transport page for information on Auckland’s rail network rebuild and current station closures.

Additional information:

Set up a quiet space that is free from distractions. Study spaces are available on campus if you don’t have a suitable space to sit your online exam home.
Check that your laptop has enough power/battery for you to complete your online exam.
If sitting your exam on campus, you should arrive at least 15 minutes before your exam start time. If you aren’t familiar with the locations of the University rooms or computer labs, you may want to allow extra time to find the room.
Once settled, open your online exam through the assessments page on your Canvas course site. The exam will begin at the scheduled time.

The University expects that staff and students will observe values such as trust, honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage in all that we do.
During your online exam, it’s very important to follow these values. You can do this by observing the University’s academic integrity principles and standards. See the University’s information on academic integrity.

Check how many questions you have to answer and if there are compulsory questions you must complete.

Managing your time effectively is very important in the exam. Calculate the time you spend on each question based on the marks each question is worth.
Make sure to include some time to plan and check your answers as well.

Make sure you break down and analyse the question so you understand what your answer must include.
Determine which order you want to answer the questions. You may want to start with the easy questions to build your confidence.

Make a brief plan before you start writing your answer. This can help to present your ideas in a clear and organised way. Think about the main points you will cover and how you will structure your answer.
Use strategies to answer different types of exam questions.
If you come across a question you cannot answer, move on the next question and return to it later.

If you feel nervous and forget everything you studied, do not panic. Take some deep breaths and try to calm your nerves. You can try calming strategies to help you during exams.
If you run out of time, outline your main ideas in short bullet points to give examiners an indication of your answer.
If you cannot sit or complete an exam due to illness or a serious personal event, you can apply for an aegrotat or compassionate consideration.

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