Final examinations

Arrival and entry guidelines

• Arrival time: plan to arrive 20 minutes before the start of your exam time. Any students arriving more than one hour after the start of the exam will not be admitted to the room.
• Identification is required: A valid photo ID, such as your WatCard, is mandatory for entry and will be checked by proctors. Ensure it is up-to-date and readily available.
• Permitted items: Bring only essential items for the exam, such as writing materials, approved calculators (if permitted) and your ID. Leave bags, backpacks and personal items at home. All electronics, including cell phones, smartwatches, and other communication devices, must be turned off and stored away before the exam begins.
• Food and drink: Food is prohibited, except for water in a clear, label-free bottle. Students can make arrangements for a short nutrition break supervised by a proctor outside the exam venue during the final examination. If a single short break is not enough, students must register their needs with AccessAbility Services at least three weeks in advance of the examination date.

For exams in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC)

• PAC layout:Familiarize yourself with the PAC layout to determine where you’ll be sitting before the exam. In-person assigned seating can be viewed through Odyssey.
• Entering the building: Use only the South and West entrances on Ring Road. The SLC/PAC Main entrance and North entrance will be locked.
• Entry time: Exterior doors will unlock 15 minutes before each scheduled exam time. Dress warmly if waiting outdoors in colder weather.
• Restroom access: Limited to restrooms near the South and West entrances for ease of access and minimal disruption.

During the exam

• Authorized exam materials only: Only items authorized for use during the exam and your identification should be on your desk. All other materials, including bags, purses, and hats etc. should be placed under your desk or in a location directed by the instructor or proctor.
• Electronic devices: All electronics, including cell phones, smartwatches, and other communication devices, must be turned off and stored away before the exam begins.
• Food and drink: Food is prohibited, except for water in a clear, label-free bottle. Students can make arrangements for short nutrition break supervised by a proctor outside the exam venue during the final examination. If a single short break is not enough, students must register their needs with AccessAbility Services at least three weeks in advance of the examination date.

Breaks

• Restroom breaks: Short restroom breaks are permitted but require accompaniment by a proctor.
• Extended breaks for medical or creed/religious observances: If you require longer or frequent breaks due medical reasons, you must pre-register with AccessAbility Services and submit supporting documentation at least three weeks prior to the start of exams. For creed/religious accommodations, you must submit a Religious Observance Self-Declaration Form in Quest within two weeks of the scheduled exam date. For more information, visit the Assessments: Academic Considerations and Accommodations in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

Completing your exam

• Minimum time requirement: Students must remain in the exam room for at least one hour after the exam begins, regardless of completion.
• Exiting the exam: Once you have completed your exam, turn your paper over and raise your hand so the proctor may collect your exam. Once your exam is collected, leave the room as quietly as possible and exit the building.

Academic integrity

Cheating and other forms of academic misconduct are serious violations of university policy. Violations include:

• Use of unauthorized aids during an exam.
• Copying or sharing answers with another student.
• Submitting work that is not your own.
• Fabricating data.

Procedures for suspected violations

• Immediate action: If cheating is suspected, proctors will collect relevant evidence immediately, notify the student, and report to the course instructor.
• Formal investigation: A report will be submitted to the Associate Dean under Policy 71, which governs student conduct.

Proctors and instructors may enforce seating changes, check belongings, and collect materials as evidence if a student is suspected of violating exam policies.

Examination conflicts 

Conflicts are defined by the following criteria: 

• Direct conflict: Two exams scheduled at the same time. 

• Multiple exam conflict: Three or more exams scheduled on the same calendar date. 

If you experience an exam conflict, you must complete the Final Examination Timetable Conflict Form as soon as possible. Conflict resolutions will be managed by instructors and/or departments on a case-by-case basis. 

Consecutive exam relief 

If your schedule includes: 

• Two exams in consecutive time slots on the same day, or 

• An evening exam followed by a morning exam the next day, 

you may qualify for alternative scheduling. Complete the Request Relief from Consecutive Final Exams form to initiate a rescheduling request. 

You can elect to accept examination combinations that violate the above conditions; however, understand that petitions or appeals based on a violation of the above conditions will not be granted. 

 Accommodations for creed/religion, health or accessibility  

• Creed/religious accommodations: Submit a Religious Observance Self-Declaration Form in Quest as early as possible to ensure they can be arranged before the exam period. 

• Academic considerations due to illness: For accommodations related to illness, submit a Verification of Illness Form (VIF) available on the current studentwebsite. Notify your instructor immediately if illness impacts your exam attendance. 

• Accommodations due to disability for online course exams: Students registered with AccessAbility Services must coordinate their exam schedules directly through the office to ensure their needs are met. This includes scheduling additional time or other accommodations as documented.

Exam Centre and proctor submission deadline: February 28, 3 p.m. E.T.

Exam dates and times:

• On-campus exams: Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. E.T. and Saturday, April 12 at 9 a.m., 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. E.T.
• At an Exam Centre: Saturday, April 12 at 9 a.m. and/or 2 p.m. (local time)
• With a proctor: April 11 - April 14 at a mutually agreed-upon time and location (local time)

The Registrar’s Office Final Exam Schedule will be available in February, and your personal exam schedule will be posted in Odyssey in March.

Review or make your exam arrangements

Check the course outline in LEARN or contact your instructor to confirm if your course has an in-person exam. If you have any on-campus courses you'll be automatically scheduled to write online course final exams on the University of Waterloo campus.

• If you are taking an in-person exam on the Waterloo campus or at an exam centre, review the pre-exam preparation and entry requirements and protocols found on this web page.

If you aren't taking any on-campus courses you need to make arrangements for your exam:

1. You can write on-campus. Simply select Waterloo in Odyssey.
2. If you live within 100 km of an exam centre, you need to select that centre in Odyssey. All exam centres are located in Canada (see listing below).
3. If you live more than 100 km from an exam centre you will need to find a proctor to supervise exam. You can also choose to write at a centre.
4. If you are registered with AcessAbility Services, contact them to schedule your exam or find a proctor.

Exam Centre locations for winter 2025

British Columbia - British Colombia Institute of Technology, Burnaby

Ontario:

• Barrie - College Boreal
• Hamilton/Ancaster - Redeemer University
• London - Fanshawe College
• Ottawa - Algonquin College
• Toronto Downtown - Toronto Metropolitan University
• Toronto East - Centennial College, Scarborough
• Toronto West - Humber College, North Campus

Exact times, locations and rooms will be available in March.

Scheduling conflicts, missed exams and accommodations for online courses

Scheduling conflicts

• Exam centres only hold two exam sessions. If you have more than two exams you will need to write the additional exams with a or write them in Waterloo. Email us at exams@uwaterloo.ca to make arrangements. We will determine which exams will be written at the centres and which with a proctor.
• If you need to reschedule an exam for an online course, read Waterloo's Assessments: Academic Considerations and Accommodations, and Assessments: Tests and Final Examinations page for details and to see if you are eligible, and then visit our Requesting an alternate exam date page to access the request form. Travel, co-op interviews, personal plans etc. are not considered acceptable grounds for changing a scheduled exam.

Missed exams

• You must follow the instructions provided in your course to notify your instructor and/or faculty. The Verification of Illness (VIF) form and instructions are on the Current student website. Review the Waterloo Academic Considerations section in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for more details. Adjustment of due dates or deferrals of examinations are not guaranteed. Your instructor will use the documentation you provide among all information available to them to determine whether an academic consideration is warranted, and will work with you to reschedule the exam if necessary.

Accommodations

• If you are registered with AccessAbility Services you need to schedule your exams with them or find a proctor to supervise your exam if you cannot come to campus. Exam centres do not provide accommodations.
• If you require a creed religious accommodation, submit a Religious Observance Self-Declaration Form in Quest as early as possible to ensure they can be arranged before the exam period.

Campus closures

In case of unexpected university closures (e.g., severe weather), exams scheduled to be written on-campus will automatically be rescheduled for the next available day, including Sunday if necessary. Instructors may offer an earlier reschedule if agreed upon by all students, but students must be given the option to write on the official alternate date. Online course exams scheduled at exam centres or with individual proctors will be scheduled on the next available day depending on exam centre and proctor availability.

Fire alarms

If a fire alarm occurs during your exam:

1. Follow proctor instructions and exit the room quietly and safely.
2. Re-entry to the exam will be coordinated by proctors once it is deemed safe.
3. Additional time will be added to account for any interruptions.

For further information, access the following resources or reach out to designated departments: 

• AccessAbility Services - for accommodation resources 

• Assessments: Academic Considerations and Accommodations - Academic regulations from the Undergraduate Academic Calendar 

• Assessments: Tests and Final Examinations - Academic regulations from the Undergraduate Academic Calendar 
• Final Examination Schedule 
• Policy 71 - Student Discipline - Secretariat 

• Quick tips and tools - your one-stop toolbox for help with university learning - Student Success Office 

Exam forms 

• Final Examination Timetable Conflict Form - The Centre 

• Verification of Illness Form - current student website 

• Request for Relief from Consecutive Final Exams - The Centre 

• Requesting an Alternative Exam Date - (for online courses only) - The Centre