Final examinations

Guidelines are subject to change based on recommendations set by the local public health department. Last updated: January 27, 2023.

If you are writing an in-person final examination, you must follow the protocols for in-person examinations, listed below. For in-person final examinations for online courses, see details on the Centre for Extended Learning website.

If this is the first time you are writing in-person final examinations, review the Student Success Office's guide of expectations and tips.

Before you come to campus

• Plan to arrive no sooner than 20 minutes prior to the start of the exam. Any students arriving more than one hour after the start of the exam will not be admitted to the room.
• Don't forget your photo identification (WatCard). It must be shown at the exam.
• Leave personal belongings and unnecessary items at home. Only bring what is absolutely needed for the exam.

When arriving at your exam location

• Wait outside the room or building until your instructor or proctor opens the doors for entry.
• Find and sit only in your assigned seat (if applicable).
• Writing in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC):
  • Access to the PAC for exam purposes is limited to the South and West entrances on Ring Road. The SLC/PAC Main entrance is reserved for students using PAC facilities, and the North entrance will be locked.
  • Exterior PAC doors will remain locked until 15 minutes prior to the start time of each exam; dress according to the weather.
  • PAC washroom access is limited to the two closest facilities at the South and West entrances.
  • PAC layout

During the exam

• Have only authorized exam materials on your desk.
  • Turn off and put away all electronics.
  • Put away all study materials.
• You are prohibited from consuming food and drinks (with the exception of water in a clear bottle with no label).
• If you need a break to use a washroom, eat, or for a religious observance, you must be accompanied by a Proctor.
  • If a single short break will not be sufficient because you are medically required to consume food or drinks regularly during a final exam, you must register for special accommodations with AccessAbility Services and must submit appropriate documentation from a recognized professional at least three weeks prior to the start of the final examination period.
• You must remain in the exam room for at least one hour.
• Once you have completed your exam, turn your exam paper over and quietly leave the room.
• You must leave the room and building immediately at the end of the exam.

See the final examination schedule.

Examination regulations as approved by Senate are in the Assignments, Tests, and Final Exams section of the current Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, use of unauthorized aids, copying from another student's work or allowing another student to copy from them, submitting another person's work as their own, and/or fabrication of data.

Authorized items

• Only those items authorized for use in the examination are to be on the desk:
  • bags, purses, knapsacks, etc., are to be closed and placed under the desk;
  • all hats or caps must be removed and placed under the desk;
  • wireless or electronic devices (e.g., cell phone, BlackBerry, earphones) must be turned off before the test or examination begins.

If a violation of academic regulations is believed to have occurred

• Proctors are required to immediately collect all evidence.
• Proctors will explain to the alleged offender that the status of their exam paper is in question.
• Details of the incident will be noted and the course instructor will be informed.
• A report will be forwarded to the student's Associate Dean for a Policy 71 investigation.

Authority

Where there are reasonable grounds for believing a violation of exam protocol has occurred, the Presiding Officer, Academic Proctor, or Course Instructor/Designate has authority to:

• remove anything on the desk not authorized for use in the test or examination and keep it until the student has completed the test or examination and handed in the booklet, etc., as required. Evidence of cheating may include the collection of answer booklets, but in this event, the student must be provided with new booklets and be allowed to continue writing.
• look into knapsacks, bags, purses, pencil cases, etc.; remove any "evidence" (this is to be done in the presence of the student and another Academic Proctor or Instructor/Designate); and return the knapsack, bag, purse, pencil case, etc., to be put under the student's desk. Note: If the student requires a copy of such evidence, a copy will be provided.
• require the student to move to a seat where the student can be more easily monitored.
• ask the student to provide "evidence" if it is believed that the student has hidden it on their person.

Examination conflicts are defined as two examinations on the same day at the same time, or three or more examinations occurring on the same calendar date. If you have an examination conflict, complete the online Final Examination Timetable Conflict Form.

If your examination schedule contains one of the following conditions, the University of Waterloo will ensure relief by making alternative scheduling arrangements:

• Writing two examinations in back-to-back periods on the same day
• Writing in the last period on one day and the first period on the next day

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.

If you have one of the above conditions and wish to request alternative scheduling arrangements, complete a Request Relief from Consecutive Final Exams online during submission window listed on the form.

Contact your individual instructor if you require other alternate examination arrangements, e.g., illness with a doctor certificate. The Office of the Registrar has no involvement with this type of alternate examination arrangement.

In the event of a fire alarm during final examinations, please follow the instructions provided to you by exam proctors.

Instructors, proctors, and staff will find detailed procedures on the Registrar Resources website.

If the decision is made to officially postpone examinations due an unforeseen closure or cancellation, all affected examinations scheduled in the venue(s) for that day or exam period will be written on the next available day, including Sunday where no final examinations have been scheduled.

Instructors and their students can mutually agree to write a rescheduled examination prior to an official alternate examination date; however, those students must have the option of writing on the official alternate date.