Final examinations

Arrival and entry guidelines

• Arrival time: plan to arrive 20 minutes before the start of your final examination time. Any students arriving more than one hour after the start of the final examination 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 final examination, 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 final examination 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 final examination location 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 final examination date.

For final examinations in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC)

• PAC layout: Familiarize yourself with the PAC layout to determine where you’ll be sitting before the final examination. 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 final examination 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 final examination

• Authorized final examination materials only: Only items authorized for use during the final examination 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 final examination 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 final examination location 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 to medical reasons, you must pre-register with AccessAbility Services and submit supporting documentation at least three weeks prior to the start of final examinations. For creed/religious accommodations, you must submit a Religious Observance Self-Declaration Form in Quest within two weeks of the scheduled final examination date. For more information, visit the Assessments: Academic Considerations and Accommodations in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

Completing your final examination

• Minimum time requirement: Students must remain in the final examination room for at least one hour after the final examination begins, regardless of completion.
• Exiting the final examination: Once you have completed your final examination, turn your paper over and raise your hand so the proctor may collect your final examination. Once your final examination 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 a final examination.
• 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 final examination policies.

Final examination conflicts

Conflicts are defined by the following criteria:

• Direct conflict: Two final examinations are scheduled at the same time.
• Multiple exam conflict: Three or more final examinations are scheduled on the same calendar date.

If you experience a final examination 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 final examination relief

If your schedule includes:

• Two final examinations in consecutive time slots on the same day, or
• An evening final examination followed by a morning final examination the next day,

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

You can elect to accept final 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 Final Examination Period.
• Academic considerations due to illness: For accommodations related to illness, submit a Verification of Illness Form (VIF) available on the current student website. Notify your instructor immediately if illness impacts your final examination attendance.
• Accommodations due to disability for online course final examinations: Students registered with AccessAbility Services must coordinate their final examination schedules directly through the office to ensure their needs are met. This includes scheduling additional time or other accommodations as documented.

Important: Students who are enrolled in both online and on-campus courses are required to write all in-person final examinations at the University of Waterloo, which will be scheduled automatically.

The following information in this section is only for students who are taking all online courses.

Examination centre and proctor submission deadline: February 28, 3 p.m. E.T.

Final examination dates and times:

• On-campus final examinations: Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. E.T. and Saturday, April 12 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. E.T.
• At an examination 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 examination schedule will be available in February, and your personal final examination schedule will be posted in Odyssey in March.

Review or make your final examination arrangements

Check the course outline in LEARN or contact your instructor to confirm if your course has an in-person final examination.

1. Write on-campus: Sign in to Odyssey and choose Waterloo (uWaterloo Main Campus) as your examination centre.
2. Write at an examination centre: If you live within 100 km of one of the examination centres listed below, sign in to Odyssey and select that examination centre. Note: All examination centres are located in Canada.
3. Write with a proctor: If you live more than 100 km from an examination centre, you must arrange for a proctor to supervise the final examination.

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

Accommodations

• If you are registered with AccessAbility Services you need to schedule your final examinations with them or find a proctor to supervise your final examination (if you are not enrolled in on-campus courses and cannot come to campus). Examination 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 Final Examination Period.

Examination Centre locations for winter 2025

British Columbia - British Colombia Institute of Technology, Burnaby

Ontario:

• Barrie - Collège Boréal
• 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 final examinations, and accommodations for online courses

Scheduling conflicts

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

Missed final examinations

• 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 final 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 final examination if necessary.

Campus closures

In case of unexpected university closures (e.g., severe weather), final examinations 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 final examinations scheduled at examination centres or with individual proctors will be scheduled on the next available day depending on examination centre and proctor availability.

Fire alarms

If a fire alarm occurs during your final examination:

1. Follow the proctor's instructions and exit the room quietly and safely.
2. Re-entry to the final examination 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

Final examination forms

• Final Examination Timetable Conflict Form - The Centre
• Verification of Illness Form - current student website
• Request for Relief from Consecutive Final Examinations - The Centre
• Requesting an Alternative Final Examination Date - (for online courses only) - The Centre