Freshmen

Freshmen site: Examinations

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When do exams take place?
In your first year you work in blocks. That is to say that the year is divided in four blocks and at the end of each block you need to take exams. Some subjects are given in two blocks.
Recently most programs of the School of Economics have been switched over to a half year (semester) system.
hand with pencilEach block lasts from six to eight weeks and after that you have a week or two of exams and resits. The exams take place in autumn, around Christmas, in the spring, and in May/June.
The resits for the first block precede the exams of the second block. Therefore you should make sure that you pass all exams the first time, otherwise you will have less time to prepare for the next block's exams!
After your first year at university (or alreaydy in your first year if you are doing an economics program), you will switch over to a semesters schedule (6 months). The autumn semester runs from September to January/February; the spring semester from February to July. You only have exams in the periods of December/January and May/June. In August you will have the opportunity to take resits. The exact dates and times are in your student portal.

I have heard that you need to register for exams in advance? How does that work?
For all written exams you need to register electronically. You will need your administration number (ANR) and UvT password. On your personal pages in the student portal and in the electronic studyguide allows you to call up information on the exams you want to take, the dates for your exams and resits, and register for them.

How can I best prepare for the exams?
How you prepare yourself for your exams is very personal. Some people can study while listening to music and with a lot of distraction; others need to go and sit in the library; and some can only study at home in their own room.
This goes also for the materials you need to study. During lectures you will get an idea of what you need to know for your exams. Reading material, lecture notes, and especially the slides are important. Study associations can supply excerpts and questions from previous exams. Preparing your own excerpts is even better, for you get better acquainted with the subject matter.

How long do exams usually last?
Exams usually last three hours, however sometimes they are shorter, for example two hours for a multiple choice exam. After you have registered for your exams you will receive a memo stating the dates, times, and durations of your exams. If the time allocated for exams is too short for you (for instance, because you suffer from dyslexia) you can make an appeal to the school to extend your examinations time. If you are unable to take your exams in the regular hall, you can request the examination board to place you in another hall, where you will be able use the facilities you need. Always include supporting evidence (for example from your physician) with your request.

How will I get the results of my exams?
Your exam results and all your marks are always available via the student progress monitoring system. You can gain access to this sytem with your UvT administration number and password.

What happens if I do not pass an exam?
You will have to resit the exam. This will have consequences for your other exams, so make sure you pass most of your exams the first time! If you don't pass them second time then you must try again next year.
You must attain a minimum of 70% of the credits (42 credits or ECTS) in your first year so that you can continue taking your course. In some programs you are even required to score more in order to be allowed to take exams for certain second-year subjects.

Which mark counts if I need to resit?
If you need to resit then usually the highest mark counts. Sometimes only the most recently obtained mark counts, even if it is lower. The rules can vary per subject and per program. Consult the OER (Education and Examination Rules) or the education office of your program.

What happens if I am ill on exam day?
If you are not feeling too miserable, you should try and make it to the exam anyway. Then at least you can say to have seen it, and who knows, you might even pass it!
If you are very ill then you should contact your study advisor as soon as possible. He/she will decide if your reasons for not taking the exam are sufficient to let you do a resit earlier, or to allow you to take an oral examination.You will have to present medical evidence of your illness. You will generally have to wait until the next resit.
If you are ill quite often or miss exams (or classes) regularly, you must report study delay within six months to a student counsellor.

What can I do if I have overslept?
If for some reason you have overslept and arrive late for your exam (the alarm clock was broken, your bicycle was stolen, there was a traffic jam) then there is little you can be done for you. For most exams you are allowed to arrive a maximum of 30 minutes late (in the first 30 minutes no one is allowed to leave the room). If you arrive later, you will not be allowed in anymore, and you need to wait until the next exam takes place (resit period).