Guidelines for Exam Administration

Following are general guidelines for exams administered in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Additional requirements may be posed by the individual course master.

Expectations for Students:

  • Take the exam during the originally scheduled time, excepting extenuating circumstances. Note the Committee on the Academic Evaluation of Students' policy:

    “Students are required to take all examinations at the specified time. A student may be excused from this rule for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the course master. Extenuating circumstances are normally defined as sudden personal illness. Doctor appointments of a routine nature or vacation time are not considered to be extenuating circumstances for which students can be exempted from the regularly scheduled exam date. Such occasions will be promptly reported to the Registrar. In the event of inability to attend a scheduled examination due to sudden illness the student is required to inform the course master prior to the examination and to be evaluated by the Student Health Service. In the event that the student cannot reach the relevant course master, the student should contact the associate dean for student affairs.”
  • Tardiness will not be excused except in extenuating circumstances.
  • Not share study materials, exchange information, collaborate or communicate with others during the exam.
  • Turn off and leave cell phones and other electronic devices in their bags.
  • Hand their exam to the proctor prior to leaving the room.

Expectations for Faculty:

  • Exams should be proctored by a faculty member or a staff member comfortable with proctoring and exam administration guidelines.
  • Administration should be fair to all students.
  • If the faculty member answers a substantive question or clarifies an issue, the same should be communicated to ALL students, including those in separate rooms or at different times.
  • Reasonable adjustments should be offered to students who require special accommodations, including a separate room or additional time. Course masters are notified of these students through the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
  • If a student behaves inappropriately, the course master should notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs immediately.
  • All requirements of students should be communicated to all students PRIOR to the start of the exam.

*Not applicable to take-home exams