(Approved by the Rector on 18 September 2025)
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS [Infographic]
A. Responsibility to Attend Examinations
1. Students are responsible for checking the dates, times and locations of their examinations from the examination schedules and for presenting themselves at the appointed place and time. Examination schedules will be announced at least one month prior to the examination period.
2. If any part of the assessment for an examination is conducted through means other than a formally invigilated written examination, the instructor will announce the relevant arrangements, and it is the student’s responsibility to acquaint themselves with these details.
3. A student who is unable to attend an examination because of illness, misadventure, or other extenuating circumstances, or who would be significantly disadvantaged if required to do so, may be permitted to sit the examination under special conditions. Such special arrangements, which may include additional time, a re-scheduling of the examination, the use of dictating or other assistance, and/or the use of premises outside the University, should be approved in advance by the Dean or Director of the academic unit concerned. In all other respects, the University regulations governing examinations will apply. Students requesting special arrangements on medical grounds will be required to substantiate their requests with a medical certificate or other documentary evidence. Students requesting special arrangements on other grounds are required to reimburse the University for any expenses incurred.
4. A student is required to inform the academic unit concerned in writing immediately if they are unable to sit for an examination because of illness, accident or other causes, or if any factor arising immediately prior to or during the examination could adversely affect their performance. The student must state clearly the examination in question, the cause of the absence or the manner in which the performance was affected, and must enclose the relevant supporting documentation, such as medical certificates.
5. Any student failing to give notice to the academic unit concerned as specified in Examination Rules (Article A, Item 4) within seven calendar days after the examination may lose the opportunity to have these circumstances considered or to appeal against the decision of the Academic Council/Pedagogic Committee.
6. A student requesting a rearrangement of final examinations solely on the grounds of attending external examinations, such as TOEFL, CET4/6, etc., will not be considered.
B. Use of Materials and Aids
1. No stationery will be provided at the examination venue. Students should bring their own necessary writing and drawing tools.
2. All questions in a written examination must be answered using only answer booklets, supplementary sheets and other materials provided by the University for that examination. Students at any examination, either written or practical, will not be permitted to use any paper, books, notes, dictionaries, instruments, aids or other materials unless expressly authorized in the rubric of the examination paper. Details of any permitted materials and aids will be provided to students in advance by the examiners. Authorized materials and aids will be subject to inspection by the invigilators.
3. Where electronic calculators are permitted in an examination, they should be nonprogrammable unless expressly allowed, hand-held, self-powered and silent in operation. They should not have any print-out, graphic or word-display functions, or dot-matrix technology in the main display (e.g., electronic dictionaries, smartphones, smart watches, etc.). Students may not use any external media associated with an electronic calculator, such as instruction booklets, magnetic cards or memory modules. Students are responsible for ensuring that their calculators are in working order, have sufficient power, and that alternative means of calculation are available in case their electronic calculators fail during an examination.
4. Except for authorized materials and aids, students are prohibited from using any other electronic devices (e.g., smartphones, smart watches, electronic dictionaries, etc.) during an examination. All unauthorized electronic devices must be switched off during an examination.
5. Mathematical tables and all other materials provided by the University for use in examinations must not be removed by students from the examination venue.
C. Before the Examination
1. Students are required to bring along their personal identification documents and UM Campus Cards to every examination for verification purposes. Students who are unable to present their cards will not be allowed to sit for the examination.
2. Invigilator should ensure that only examination students are allowed to enter the examination venue.
3. Students should check their examination venues and seat numbers from their Final Examination Timetable.
4. Students will be admitted into the examination venue at least 5 minutes before the commencement of an examination. Students who arrive late and are admitted will not be given extra time. No student will be admitted into an examination venue 45 minutes after the commencement of an examination.
D. Entry to Examination Venue
1. Students shall not enter the examination venue until permitted by an invigilator. Upon entering the examination venue, students become subject to the authority of the invigilators and must act according to any instructions given by an invigilator.
2. Students with watch alarms or other apparatus which could create noise (e.g., smartphones and smart watches, etc.) should switch them off before entering the examination venue and place them under their seats in a position clearly visible to the invigilators. These electronic devices must not be switched on or used during the examination or before the students leave the examination venue.
3. No food or drink is allowed inside the examination venue.
4. Taking photos or recording is not permitted inside the examination venue.
5. Students shall observe silence within the examination venue except when it is necessary to communicate with an invigilator, ensuring that such communication does not distract other students. A student who persists in causing disturbance to other students after a warning may be required to discontinue the examination and leave the examination venue.
E. During the Examination
1. Students shall not start writing until given permission by the invigilator.
2. Students should first read through the whole question paper when an examination begins. If an incorrect question paper is distributed, or if the questions indicate that other materials should have been provided but have not, students should inform the invigilator immediately.
3. Students should pay attention to any general directions which may be stated either on the cover page of the examination paper or at the beginning of each question. They should also listen carefully to the presiding invigilator’s announcements.
4. Invigilators shall make announcement for instructions of the examination and remind students of the consequences of cheating before an examination starts.
5. Students must write the subject title, subject code and their student number clearly on the front page of each answer booklet and on the cover page of the examination paper.
6. Students must read the instructions printed on the examination question paper before doing the examination.
7. No student will be permitted to leave the examination venue during the first 45 minutes and last 15 minutes of the examination.
8. Students wishing to leave the examination venue temporarily will be permitted to do so under the supervision of an invigilator. Under such circumstance, students shall not bring any unauthorized electronic devices with them when leaving the examination venue, nor use any unauthorized electronic devices while away.
9. a. If circumstances arise during an examination which, in the opinion of the invigilator, render it necessary for the examination to be cancelled or postponed, the invigilator will stop the examination and, as soon as possible, arrange for the written scripts to be collected and report the matter to the respective academic unit.
b. When a report is made under such circumstances, the academic unit concerned will investigate the matter reported and take action if necessary. In the event another examination is ordered to be held, the new examination will be deemed to be the prescribed examination, and a report will be made to the Dean or Director of the academic unit concerned.
F. Collection of Scripts
1. During the last 15 minutes of each examination period, students must remain in their seats until instructed to leave by the invigilator.
2. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all answer sheets or booklet are collected by the invigilator and that all work to be considered by the examiners is submitted. Work removed by the student from the examination venue will not be accepted for evaluation.
G. Conduct of Candidates
1. Students shall comply with the Examination Rules and all instructions given by an invigilator.
2. Students shall observe silence within the examination venue except when it is necessary to communicate with an invigilator, ensuring that such communication does not distract other students. A student who persists in causing disturbance to other students after a warning may be required to discontinue the examination and leave the examination venue.
3. No person may impersonate a student, nor may any student allow themselves to be impersonated during any examination.
4. During an examination, students shall not communicate in any way with other students, nor give or receive any information, materials or aids to or from other students, nor use any materials or aids not specifically authorized for that examination.
5. a. Student who is found cheating or misconduct will be informed by the invigilator, who is empowered with the authority, of the academic unit concerned, to discontinue the examination. Expulsion from the examination venues should occur only when deemed essential.
b. The academic unit concerned reserves the right to withhold issuing the results of examinations within the investigation period.
H. Disqualification
1. Violations of Examination Protocol
If a student fails to comply with any examination instructions during an assessment or examination, they will be disqualified and receive a failing grade (i.e., F/NP) for the course, along with at least one written warning. Examples of such violations include, but are not limited to:
a. A student disregards the instructions given by the invigilator.
b. A student begins to write notes or answer questions without permission or announcement before the assessment or examination starts, or continues to write after the invigilator announces the completion of the assessment or examination.
c. A student is found with any unauthorized articles, materials, notes or books on the examination desk, in the desk drawer, or on their person.
d. A student is found with any unauthorized electronic devices (e.g., smartphones, smartwatches, smart glasses, electronic headsets, electronic dictionaries, etc.) switched on.
e. A student leaves and enters the examination venue without permission.
f. A student continues to create noise or disturbance for other students after receiving a warning.
2. Individual Cheating
If a student is found cheating during an assessment or examination, they will be disqualified and receive a failing grade (i.e., F/NP) for the course, along with at least one demerit. The following situations will be considered individual cheating, but are not limited to:
a. A student improperly obtains knowledge of any assessment or examination materials prior to the assessment or examination.
b. A student copies from another student or any materials during an assessment or examination.
c. A student obtains information or materials from an external party, including chat groups and artificial intelligence.
3. Mass Cheating
If a student is involved in a mass cheating activity, they will be disqualified and receive a failing grade (i.e., F/NP) for the course, along with at least two demerits. Additionally, a disciplinary panel may be convened to address the situation and a record of these proceedings will be kept in the student’s file. The following situations will be considered mass cheating, but are not limited to:
a. A student impersonates another student, or allows themselves to be impersonated.
b. A student is found to be an organizer or a key participant in a group cheating activity with two or more individuals, including improper communication with any person inside or outside the examination venue.
I. Disturbance
In the case of disturbance during an examination, such as very loud external noise, the invigilator may authorize additional time beyond the scheduled duration to accommodate the disruption.
J. Supplementary Examination
1. a. A student unable to attend an examination due to sickness or any other special reason as approved by the Dean or Director of their academic unit may apply for a supplementary examination. If medical support is required in the examination venue, the student will have to submit medical certificates or other supporting documents issued by a government-recognized hospital. All associated charges will be borne by the student.
b. A student who is absent from an examination will be requested to submit a written request with valid reasons, under normal circumstances, to the academic unit concerned within seven calendar days from the date on which the examination is held.
c. A student will lose the right to apply for a supplementary examination if the requirements of Article J, Item 1.b are not fulfilled.
2. Supplementary examinations are normally held two weeks after the end of the final examination period.
3. Fee for Supplementary Examination
An administrative fee will be charged for the supplementary examination and no action will be taken to update the student record if payment is not settled. Please refer to the Table of Fees for the relevant charges.
K. Appeal
1. A student requesting a review of their examination performance must submit a written application to the Dean or Director of the course offering unit concerned, stating the grounds for the review and providing relevant evidence within two weeks of the issuance of the academic reports. Late application will not be accepted.
2. Complaints regarding the academic judgment of an examiner or an Academic Council/Pedagogic Committee will not be considered valid grounds for an application for review.
3. Every appeal case will be reviewed through the Academic Council/Pedagogic Committee only once, and the conclusion from the Dean or Director will be the final decision in the case.
4. The academic unit concerned will inform the student in writing of the decision for each case.
5. Under no circumstances will the examination script be released.
L. Cognizance of Examination Rules
Every student will be deemed to have both understood and accepted these examination rules.