exam procedures

lilmizzme

Just wondering what the story was with sitting the actual exam itself....are we allowed bring bags etc into the hall? If not is there somewhere to leave them? What about phones, valubles etc? Should we just not bring them with us? I have three in the RDS next week, just wondering whether I should bring out my bag and stuff with me, kinda want to do some last minute cramming on the dart!

We need our exam numbers as well right?

Thanks!

goingnowhere

Depending on the venue all bags and phones are placed either outside the hall, or at the front of the hall

1. No bags, phones, books etc are permitted at any time at your desk

2. If your phone goes off in your bag, it will be confiscated by the invigilators and you will have to pay a fine and meet the Junior Dean to get it back

There are very strict rules in force, so pencil cases are prohibited as well, check your pockets and so on before.

Check the seat list to find out your seat number. You will get called into the hall about 10 minutes before the start, the chief invigilator will go through the exam procedures, the speech will go a bit like this:

"This is a three hour examination you may not leave in the first half hour or the last half hour, if you require any assistance during the exam raise your hand and an invigilator will assist you. Under no circumstances may you leave your desk without the permission of an invigilator"

If you want the bathroom an invigilator of the same sex will accompany you. If you feel ill, you will be brought the student health centre or in the RDS there is a nurse on site

Sir Ophiuchus

At the RDS, everyone leaves their stuff in the room outside the exam hall proper (where everyone waits) - you only enter the exam room when the exam is about to begin. I wouldn't be too worried about valuables, I've never had anything taken there or known someone who had, but if it really worries you, you should probably leave that stuff at home. Everyone brings books and notes, but they're not permitted in the actual exam room. In some exam centres (such as the exam hall) bags may be left at the back of the room, but this isn't the case in the RDS.

What you can and can't bring to your desk

You can bring:

pens, pencils, calculator (if permitted for the exam), etc.
student card (mandatory - this also has your exam number on it)
bottle of water
chocolate (unwrap it beforehand and make as little mess as possible)

You can't bring:

scarves, coats, jackets, or hoodies
calculator covers
any books/notes unless they are ones specifically permitted for the exam (such as for an open-book law exam)
phones
wallets
glasses cases
crisps (don't even try it or you'll ruin the chocolate for the rest of us!)

And for the love of God, turn your phone off! If it rings in your bag, they'll confiscate it and you'll have to pay a fine.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Edit: Wow, ninja'd by goingnowhere!

claire h

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

And for the love of God, turn your phone off! If it rings in your bag, they'll confiscate it and you'll have to pay a fine.

And also at least ten people in the exam hall will want to strangle you with their bare hands...

j1smithy

lilmizzme wrote: »

Just wondering what the story was with sitting the actual exam itself....are we allowed bring bags etc into the hall? If not is there somewhere to leave them? What about phones, valubles etc? Should we just not bring them with us? I have three in the RDS next week, just wondering whether I should bring out my bag and stuff with me, kinda want to do some last minute cramming on the dart!

We need our exam numbers as well right?

Thanks!

The bags will stay in a seperate room watched over by a security guard. Well that the way it was a few years ago. I wouldn't bring anything very valuable to the exam centre if possible. I know someone who had their laptop stolen from the old sport centre during an exam last year.

Things you are required to bring:

Your student card
a pen
and depending on the exam, a calculator (usually the non programmable type and without the cover!)

You will be provided with if required:
Answer booklets
graph paper
constitutions
log tables

Things you can have but must stay on the ground:
a snack
water bottle

This is what they call the "clean desk policy". It was started due to the belief there was a lot of cheating going on a few years ago. I have heard of but never seen people get searched (pockets and shoes so I was told) for crib sheets. In any case the exam regulations will be recited by the chief invigilator (wearing a cape!), and you'll know them off by heart by the time your course is finished

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

j1smithy wrote: »

In any case the exam regulations will be recited by the chief invigilator (wearing a cape!),

Also, be careful with anything poking off the edge of the desk, like a ruler or whatever, when one of the Darth Vaders marches down the rows, cape billowing behind, it's quite liable to knock stuff off your desk, making an embarrassing clatter.

Mark200

Sir Ophiuchus wrote: »

At the RDS, everyone leaves their stuff in the room outside the exam hall pro
You can't bring:

scarves, coats, jackets, or hoodies
calculator covers
any books/notes unless they are ones specifically permitted for the exam (such as for an open-book law exam)
phones
wallets
glasses cases
crisps (don't even try it or you'll ruin the chocolate for the rest of us!)

Are you serious with the no hoodies?? What if it's cold?

I guess you can't keep stuff in your pockets either? I usually bring two calculators into mathsy exams... I'm always paranoid the battery will go in one. And a handful of pens for similar paranoid reasons.

PurpleFistMixer

No hoodies? o.o I don't own any other forms of jumper...

From what my mum has told me of invigilating at the RDS before, the place where you leave your stuff isn't the most secure (someone's phone was taken apparently), so I'm not going to bring much at all.

TheAmateur

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

No hoodies?

I've worn one into two exams so far... didn't say anything to me...

Lufty

lilmizzme wrote: »

in the RDS

Just wondering what part of the RDS JF exams are taking place? The 'Funderland' site or the building opposite AIB?

tolosenc

It's OK to wear one. Not OK to take one and leave it on your chair. An invigilator during schols took my hoody when I took it off because the room was too hot.

tolosenc

Lufty wrote: »

Just wondering what part of the RDS

Simmonscourt.

Lufty

obl wrote: »

Simmonscourt.

Cheers mate!

Mark200

obl wrote: »

It's OK to wear one. Not OK to take one and leave it on your chair. An invigilator during schols took my hoody when I took it off because the room was too hot.

Ah right.... well as long as you get it back at the end!


Anyways good luck everyone! I don't have an exam tomorrow so good start for me

Kurtosis

j1smithy wrote: »

I have heard of but never seen people get searched (pockets and shoes so I was told) for crib sheets.

I was searched in my only exam in the RDS last year. I was just asked to empty my pockets (it was all quite friendly though). Just had my keys and wallet in there, plopped them on the desk and the invigilator thanked me very much and was on her way.

Sir Ophiuchus

Happened to me once. The invigilator found a twenty-sided die in my pocket (lucky charm) and I got the oddest look.

goingnowhere

The clean desk thing arrived about 4 years ago

Some invigilators got wise to a clever scam where students would keep a mass card in there pencil cases, now the majority would shy away from checking such a personal item, but one invigilator did and she hit the jackpot.

Word got out among invigilators and several more where found

Your lecturer should have told you what the rules are for each paper, the lecturer specifies on the front of the paper what is permitted, so for science and engineering its usually non programmable calculators and maths tables and so on. Law students in certain exams get copies of certain books, provided by the exams office

AlanSparrowhawk

I don't know if it's already been mentioned but make sure you're in the right section of the RDS for your exams. I don't know if it's actually true or not but I heard some guy was sitting in UCD's 1st year engineering 2pm Exam not TCD's 1st year engineering exam as he was meant to be.

tolosenc

AlanSparrowhawk wrote: »

I don't know if it's already been mentioned but make sure you're in the right section of the RDS for your exams. I don't know if it's actually true or not but I heard some guy was sitting in UCD's 1st year engineering 2pm Exam not TCD's 1st year engineering exam as he was meant to be.

You're given a seat number. Sit there. Read the cover of the exam if you're not totally satisfied.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

goingnowhere wrote: »

The clean desk thing arrived about 4 years ago

Some invigilators got wise to a clever scam where students would keep a mass card in there pencil cases, now the majority would shy away from checking such a personal item, but one invigilator did and she hit the jackpot.

Word got out among invigilators and several more where found

Your lecturer should have told you what the rules are for each paper, the lecturer specifies on the front of the paper what is permitted, so for science and engineering its usually non programmable calculators and maths tables and so on. Law students in certain exams get copies of certain books, provided by the exams office

Wow, that's amazing. That's the kind of **** I remember people used to pull in 2nd year of secondary whatever (well, paper in pencil cases, I didn't know what a mass card was till I googled it, makes more sense now). I would have thought the average Trinity student would have both grown out of that, and also realised the dire consequences if noticed...but I suppose if they were facing a fail, they would be desperate to pass anyway..

I never liked the clean desk thing, obviously there are reasons for it, but I find it sort of undermining to my dignity when I'm not trusted to the extent where I can't bring in a pencil case or I can have my pockets searched...would prefer if they just had more vigilant invigilators.

goingnowhere

There will always be those who cheat and get away with it. If an invigilator is dealing with a student who fancies themselves as the next Keith Barry no amount of rules will prevent a cheat

The clean desk thing is great, no more stuffed bears or other trinkets, a few pens a ruler thats it.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

goingnowhere wrote: »

There will always be those who cheat and get away with it. If an invigilator is dealing with a student who fancies themselves as the next Keith Barry no amount of rules will prevent a cheat

The clean desk thing is great, no more stuffed bears or other trinkets, a few pens a ruler thats it.

I liked the annual bringing out of the good luck talismans

Marvinthefish

Haha I remember once in an exam an invigilator asked me, "Do you have a phone on your person?". I did, but I said, "No". They asked, "What do you have in your pockets?". "Wallet and a penknife" was my reply. Invigilator just walked off. "Phew" I said to myself.

CJTobin

Wallets have since been banned, Marvin, looks like they have grown stricter...

Marvinthefish

I can still bring in my penknife though right? For after the exam when I've checked all my answers and there's still twenty minutes left and I don't want to just sit there.

Timans

Marvinthefish wrote: »

I can still bring in my penknife though right? For after the exam when I've checked all my answers and there's still twenty minutes left and I don't want to just sit there.

Penknives and guns are fine.

Just no calculator lids or pencil cases allowed.

memberofpublic

So I was supposed to answer each of my questions in a separate answer booklet, completely forgot about this and answered a couple in each booklet. I do have the question numbers marked on the front. Should I be worried some of my questions won't get marked?

tolosenc

Probably be OK. I take it it's because different people will be marking them?

Jonathan

memberofpublic wrote: »

So I was supposed to answer each of my questions in a separate answer booklet, completely forgot about this and answered a couple in each booklet. I do have the question numbers marked on the front. Should I be worried some of my questions won't get marked?

They will be marked. But the lecturers might not be as generous with the marks as they then have to go and pass the script on to the next lecturer.

Kurtosis

CJTobin wrote: »

Wallets have since been banned, Marvin, looks like they have grown stricter...

Do you know when this came into effect?

WaldenByThoreua

They asked me for my student card today and I got my wallet out and took the student card out of it and nothing was said....

CJTobin

Hm, maybe it was just a particularly strict invigilator advising against them...

Still, I don't see why wallets would be allowed and pencil cases/glasses cases banned, but them's the rules I suppose.

Denerick

OFFICIAL RANT:

Sat an exam on Tuesday and the guy beside me unwrapped a kit-kat and ate it as bold and F-ing brass. I muttered rather loudly under my breath, 'jesus f-ing christ' and he continued eating. I could hear him and the wrapper made such a noise and there was even a smell of the chocolate.

What a bloody selfish careless b-stard! Worst thing was that the supervisors didn't give a rats ass, just walked past.

And thats another thing, bloody supervisors shuffling past you every couple of minutes. I'm sitting a bloody degree exam and I could do without that crap especially if they aren't even going to act on some waster who feels that an exam is a bloody f-ing picnic.

RANT OFFICIALLY OVER AND OFF MY CHEST!

Jonathan

Denerick wrote: »

OFFICIAL RANT:

Sat an exam on Tuesday and the guy beside me unwrapped a kit-kat and ate it as bold and F-ing brass. I muttered rather loudly under my breath, 'jesus f-ing christ' and he continued eating. I could hear him and the wrapper made such a noise and there was even a smell of the chocolate.

What a bloody selfish careless b-stard! Worst thing was that the supervisors didn't give a rats ass, just walked past.

And thats another thing, bloody supervisors shuffling past you every couple of minutes. I'm sitting a bloody degree exam and I could do without that crap especially if they aren't even going to act on some waster who feels that an exam is a bloody f-ing picnic.

RANT OFFICIALLY OVER AND OFF MY CHEST!

Ear plugs cost €1.

Denerick

Jonathan wrote: »

Ear plugs cost €1.

Ha, ha ha ha ha ha

Very funny. Bet it was you.

mathew

I thought you were allowed to bring food in with you...
Granted certain foods make a lot of noise.. but still, Im almost certain its within the rules.

As For the invigilators, isnt it part of their job to walk around, make sure people arent cheating, bring you extra paper if you need it.

And, to be honest, you should be able to work with a small bit of distraction anyway. Someone walking past or eating a chocolate bar is hardly that distracting. You're writing down your thoughts. I cant see a need for complete and utter silence and stillness for that.

If you really need those conditions you could put in a request to sit the exams in a room by your self. Or as Jon says, invest is some ear plugs..

Denerick

This guy was unwrapping a chocolate bar in an exam hall bursting at the seams with other peoples stress. He's either a 1) Complete and utter twat who doesn't seem to think he's making much noise or 2) doesn't care if he's making much noise, which invariably also makes him a complete and utter twat.

I can understand someone sucking a sweet or something, but sitting down in the middle of an exam eating a chocalate bar with all the ruffling of the wrapping and all of that is just selfish nonsense.

How about I sit beside you at your next exam with a bag of chips and a 6 pack of Dutch Gold? After all, thats how I like to relax, I don't see why I should have to give a **** about how other people might react...

Denerick

Just as an addendum, why the hell does someone need to eat during a 3 hour exam? Just have a good breakfast before you go in, jeesh!

Jonathan

Denerick wrote: »

Just as an addendum, why the hell does someone need to eat during a 3 hour exam? Just have a good breakfast before you go in, jeesh!

Quinn? That you? What is coming up in our exam?

mathew

Denerick wrote: »

Just as an addendum, why the hell does someone need to eat during a 3 hour exam? Just have a good breakfast before you go in, jeesh!

Diabetic possibly.. or other medical condition.. again it doesnt excuse making a lot of noise tho..

ronivek

If you can't concentrate with a minimal amount of distractions for what couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes than you quite likely deserve to fail your exams due to irrational rage. I was somewhat sympathetic until you mentioned the invigilators walking past your desk disturbing your bubble of concentration. We should suspend them off the ceiling and have them propel themselves to students who need their help by flapping their arms like wings. Jesus H. Christ.

Three hours is a long time for people to go without food; especially those with certain medical conditions. Indeed even some people without medical conditions find it hard to concentrate without some sugar in their blood. Although to be fair to others they really should pick some food that doesn't require noisy unwrapping and/or munching.

Rant over.

Never had any problems with the wallet; and to be honest I'm not sure how I'd react if I had to keep it in my bag unless the bag was in my view. I certainly wouldn't be giving it to anyone who wanted to confiscate it.

Mark200

Denerick wrote: »

OFFICIAL RANT:

Sat an exam on Tuesday and the guy beside me unwrapped a kit-kat and ate it as bold and F-ing brass. I muttered rather loudly under my breath, 'jesus f-ing christ' and he continued eating. I could hear him and the wrapper made such a noise and there was even a smell of the chocolate.

What a bloody selfish careless b-stard! Worst thing was that the supervisors didn't give a rats ass, just walked past.

And thats another thing, bloody supervisors shuffling past you every couple of minutes. I'm sitting a bloody degree exam and I could do without that crap especially if they aren't even going to act on some waster who feels that an exam is a bloody f-ing picnic.

RANT OFFICIALLY OVER AND OFF MY CHEST!

The guy who thinks he owns a library desk all day, even when he leaves it for a few hours, ranting about selfish careless bastards? Oh the irony

Mark200

limerickmunster wrote: »

They asked me for my student card today and I got my wallet out and took the student card out of it and nothing was said....

Same thing happened in my exam yesterday... someone got out their wallet to show their student card. They definitely mentioned at the start thought to not bring wallets to the desk... I guess it just wasn't worth having the person get up and make noise just to put it away in their bag

Running Bing

Denerick wrote: »

Just as an addendum, why the hell does someone need to eat during a 3 hour exam? Just have a good breakfast before you go in, jeesh!

A lot of the time I need to eat in the last half hour of a three hour exam or my stomach starts growling like mad (wouldnt want you complaining about the selfish b*stard beside you with the noisy stomach:D).


I can see where your coming from though. I usually throw a few wine gums into my pocket, I would find it a bit inconsiderate if I was messing with wrappers during exams or eating something noisy like crisps.


EDIT: Still not as bad as hogging library desks:p

Denerick

I was waiting for someone to bring up the desk hogging - a low blow. Hit me right smack in the groin. Not nice.

Seriously though, the two don't compare. Examination day is all about the stress; not giving a f-ck about how much noise you make and how you distract beside you is completely inconsiderate. Its people like him who I hog desks from.

Denerick

As for the exam conductors, they don't need to walk past you every two seconds, bumping into you or anything else like it. I like the proposal that they held from the ceiling with a piece of string. Either that or they seperate the desks a couple of inches more so they don't appear to be breathing down your neck.

Mark200

Denerick wrote: »

I was waiting for someone to bring up the desk hogging - a low blow. Hit me right smack in the groin. Not nice.

Seriously though, the two don't compare. Examination day is all about the stress; not giving a f-ck about how much noise you make and how you distract beside you is completely inconsiderate. Its people like him who I hog desks from.

Actually, you hog desks from everyone.... not just the people who make noise. If you're trying to claim that it's the people who make noise that come later then you're wrong... it's usually the people who make noise that arrive first into the library in a big group with their friends.

I agree though that people who eat during the exams are really annoying. My concentration is bad enough without having to block out un-necessary noises. I'm sure some people like diabetics or whatever have no choice which is fair enough, but it's still annoying. Some guy beside me yesterday was drinking coffee during the exam and you could hear every single swallow and every time he put down the cup it was really annoying.

Jonathan

Seriously. Get a set of ear plugs. Cost 1 from the pharmacy on westland row.

Denerick

I hog library desks and I like doing it. I'm quiet in the library though and thats why I take such measures. The library is full of morons who think they are at a rock festival. Ye can all go and f-ck yourselves if you don't like it, come in earlier or don't stop whinging. If someone beside me takes out a chocalate bar today at the exam there is no accounting for what I might do to him.

Mark200

Denerick wrote: »

I hog library desks and I like doing it. I'm quiet in the library though and thats why I take such measures. The library is full of morons who think they are at a rock festival. Ye can all go and f-ck yourselves if you don't like it, come in earlier or don't stop whinging. If someone beside me takes out a chocalate bar today at the exam there is no accounting for what I might do to him.

Maybe they'll take it out because they "like doing it".

Denerick

Mark200 wrote: »

Maybe they'll take it out because they "like doing it".

They two don't compare. In the exam hall everyone is on an equal footing and everyone is sitting an exam. In the library, most of them are morons who might as well be having a party with their mates they way some of them go on. If I get in first and hog a desk its only because of those same said morons who think they can do whatever, whenever they want for the rest of their lives.