Tests and examinations are attempts to establish how well students have mastered the subjects being examined, and the effectiveness of the examining procedure depends on an instructor getting a clear indication of a student's achievement during the course. Thus the effectiveness of the procedure is based on the trust or confidence which everyone must have in the process, including students, instructors and those who must evaluate students' capabilities at a later date, based on their academic performance. Anything which would undermine that trust is a threat to the value of a student's education, and the following procedures and policies are intended to protect the security and reliability of the examination procedure in the spirit of the following section on Scholarly Ethics.
Instructors may give intra-term tests, commonly called mid-terms, during any regular lecture or laboratory period except during the last week of classes of each term. Laboratory exams and music juries may be scheduled in the last week of classes up to the first day of final exams. If a student is absent from an intra-term test without excuse, the grade assigned to him or her will be zero. Students who are prevented from taking an intra-term test by illness or other extreme circumstances may request to take an alternate test at a later date, presenting to the instructor, in the case of illness, a physician's note which indicates that the student was unable to attend class on the day in question, using such wording as "In my opinion [the student] was unable to take an exam on...". A general note indicating that the student has simply seen a physician will not be sufficient. At the instructor's discretion, a student who misses an intra-term test for a valid reason may be excused from writing an intra-term test, and the missed test will not be included in the calculation of the final grade.
The dates for the Final Examination Week are listed in the Academic Schedule, see Academic Schedule, Fall Term Deadlines, and Winter Term Deadlines for the respective term.
Final exams will not make up more than 40% of the course grade, except in the case of private music instruction, where the final exam may be weighted up to 50%. In no case will supplemental exams be given.
Final exams must be taken at the time specified in the official exam schedule. Students will not be scheduled to write more than three final exams in a 24-hour period. Final exams must be written in official exam booklets distributed by the instructor at the time of the exam. In no case may a student substitute another booklet for the one distributed at the time of the exam.
If a student is prevented from writing a final exam by illness or other extreme circumstances, the student must submit a completed “Permission to Miss a Final Examination” form to the Associate Registrar for an exemption or alternate exam. In the case of illness, the student must also present a completed “Physician's Statement for Missed Final Exams” form which indicates that the student was unable to write the exam on the day in question. A general note indicating that the student has simply seen a physician will not be sufficient. Both forms are available in, and need to be returned to, the Registration and Student Finance Office.
If the Associate Registrar determines that the student's reason is valid, he or she will notify the instructor who may exempt the student from writing the final exam or may require the student to take an alternate exam normally scheduled during the final exam period. If a student is absent from a final exam without a valid excuse, the grade assigned to him or her will be zero. If an exemption is granted, the final exam will not be used in calculating the student's final grade.
If the students request for an exemption or alternative exam is not granted, the student has the right to appeal the Associate Registrar's decision to the Associate Vice President Academic Services and Registrar. The written appeal needs to include grounds for the disagreement with the original decision and further documentation should be provided. The decision of the Associate Vice President Academic Services and Registrar shall be final.
Students must not finalize plans for departure from Edmonton during Examinations Week until they have received the final examination schedule (early October for the Fall term; early February for the Winter term).
Students must not make travel plans which conflict with their final exam schedule. The Associate Registrar will not normally consider booking transportation out of Edmonton before all exams are complete as a valid reason for missing a final exam.