Exams And Results
How you are assessed will vary. Some subjects will require several assignments throughout the semester, others may include exams. Regardless of the format of your final assessment, the underlying principles of success remain the same. Plan your time, be organised, know your content, and convey your thoughts in an accepted academic format.
This section looks specifically at exams, resources to help you prepare, the administration side of exams, and receiving your end of session results.
Topic List
Exams
Examination centres
Preparing for exams
Exam success
Special consideration
Receiving your results
Support
Exams
Your subject outline will advise whether there is a final examination in your subject and what format it will take. Exams are usually held in the final two weeks of each session. Around mid session, the Examination Office will send you details of the time and place your exams will be held.
Read your exam timetable carefully and check that the times of your exams do
not clash. Should your exams clash, please contact the Examinations Office
Examination Centres
Exams are held on campus and at specified Examination Centres. The locations of these centres are listed online through the Admin Info link in my.csu. You will not be required to travel more than 120 km one-way to attend an examination. If you have any problems related to your examination centre you should contact the Examination Office.
You must take identification to any exam. Only your student ID card, driver's licence or passport is acceptable.
Make sure you know how to get to your examination centre before the day of your exam.
Changing Your Exam Centre
If you need to change your exam centre you can do so online up to six weeks before exams commence by going to my.csu and clicking on the Admin Info link.
A fee will be charged for requests made less than four weeks before exams commence. A Centre cannot be changed in the two-week period prior to the commencement of the exam period.
A change of address does not automatically bring about a change of examination centre. You need to change it online or request a change in writing.
Preparing For Exams
What to expect at an official end of session examination
You will probably be invited to enter your examination room about 10-15 minutes before reading time commences. You will need to find your exam seat – this can vary at different exam centres and for different examination centres. Please make sure you know how to find your exam seat, or ask your supervisor for assistance. Please ensure you listen to and follow the direction of your examination invigilators, as failure to do so may result in your removal from an examination.
As a general rule, you will not be able to take many things into the exam room with you. For those with open book exams, your exam notice will tell you what you can take in(for internal students your lecturer should let you know what you can take in ). For those with closed book exams, you should only expect to take in basics – pens, pencils a ruler. Calculators need to be non-programmable unless you are advised otherwise; if you take the wrong type of calculator into your exam you will not be able to use it.
You should have photo ID with you (preferably your CSU ID card, but any photo ID will be fine as long as it bears your signature).
Please note, you are not allowed to take your mobile phone into an examination room. You will need to make arrangements to leave your phone somewhere safe. Personal effects such as wallets and handbags are best left outside the exam venue as well. If you need to take personal items in, please ask your supervisor for instruction on what to do with them (theft of personal items from exam venues are not covered under insurance policies). As a general rule, you also cannot take food into your examination room unless special condition arrangements have been approved. You are able to take water into your exam room, but it should be in a see through bottle.
When you sit down to your exam, you should expect the following: an exam paper (it may be coloured, or on white paper), and perhaps a multiple choice answer sheet, and or answer booklets of varying sizes. You should also have an attendance slip to complete.
At this stage, you can’t do anything with your attendance slip, and you aren’t permitted to look at your paper. Your photo ID card will need to be placed on your desk – now is a good time to do that.
Once your supervisor announces that reading time has commenced (where applicable), you will be able to commence reading and writing. You are strongly encouraged to complete your examination administrative paperwork (attendance slip, exam paper, and exam stationary).
You will not be allowed to complete these details once the exam is over.
Should you need to go to the toilet during your examination, you will be escorted to and from the toilets. It is best to do whatever possible to minimise this need as this movement can be disruptive to your performance and that of your fellow students during the examination.
Lastly, should you need to leave the examination early, you need to be aware that you can't go in the first 30 minutes of your examination, nor can you leave in the last 15 minutes. Should you leave your examination early, please respect your fellow students by leaving as quietly as you can.
**DISCLAIMER: CSU has recently approved changes to examination reading time. The changes to exam reading time take effect in Session 1, 2010 (the first teaching session under the new teaching calendar). Students with end of session examinations to be held prior to June 2010 will not be able to write during reading time.
Past Exam Papers
Some subjects make past exam papers available for study purposes. If these papers are available, it's is a good idea to go over past exam papers so you have an idea of the kinds of questions that may be asked and what will be expected of you.
Some past exam papers are located on the Exam Search web site: Exam Search
Please note that not all past exams are released for use, or parts thereof (e.g. multiple choice sections may not be included in a paper).
When you work on a past exam, try working to the time limit indicated on the paper. This will give you practice at managing your time and will provide better preparation for the actual exam. Form a study group to prepare for exams. Explaining an answer to someone else really shows you how good your own understanding of a topic is.
Exam Success
It's never too early to start preparing for exams. Learning Skills have developed a website based on the most commonly asked questions about exams at CSU. The site also explains the different types of exam formats, e.g. multiple choice, essay, short answer and provides tips on each type. Check in your subject outline as soon as you receive it to find out if you will be having an exam, and schedule in appropriate amounts of study time on your timetable leading up to the exam.
Remember to keep eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep around exam time. Getting sick won't help your study program.
Developing Your Academic Skills 
Locate the Exam Success website and look through the various sections on preparing for exams.
Exam Stress
Some people become stressed prior to and during an exam. These nerves can then affect your performance in your exam so try to address your nerves in a positive way. Prepare for the exam as much as you can both physically and mentally.
Destressing For Exams
The Student Counselling website has some great advice for staying sane during exam time. Go to the section on destressing and incorporate these exercises into your study routine.
Special Consideration
If you are prevented from attending an exam due to illness or other reasons termed misadventure, you can apply for special consideration within three working days after the date of your scheduled exam. Support documentation is required (e.g. a doctor's certificate which states you were/will be unable to sit the exam; a police accident report, or a letter from a counsellor). For more information, refer to the University Regulations.
Receiving Your Results
Your end of session results will be sent to you via your eBox. You can also view all your past results online.
Support
Any questions about the administration of your exams should be directed to the Examination Office. If you have questions concerning the content of exams, consult your lecturer.
Learning Skills
Advisers can assist with exam study strategies.