Link to the University of Waterloo home page
2022-2023

The Undergraduate Calendar

 

 

University Policies, Guidelines, and Academic Regulations

Assignments, Tests, and Final Exams

Additional Rules for Final Examinations

The First Hour

Once a final examination has begun, all students must remain for the first hour. Students who arrive more than one hour late for an examination may be barred from writing the examination if students have already completed the examination and left the examination room. The decision to allow students to write the examination is at the discretion of the proctor. If students are allowed to write the examination, the proctor shall mark the time of entry clearly on all of the answer booklets.

Food and Drink Consumption

Students are prohibited from consuming food and drinks (with the exception of water in a clear bottle with no label) during their final examinations. Students can make arrangements for a short nutrition break supervised by a proctor outside the exam venue during the final examination.

If a single short break will not be sufficient because a student is medically required to consume food or drinks regularly during a final examination, they must register for this accommodation with AccessAbility Services and must submit appropriate documentation from a recognized professional at least three weeks before the start of the final examination period.

Illness During an Examination

Students who become ill during the writing of an examination and are unable to continue should ensure before leaving the site of the examination that the proctor in charge is notified of the situation. In addition, students must notify their course instructor and supply the medical documentation specified above within 48 hours after the partially completed examination.

If students complete an examination, even though they are ill, the grade obtained in the course will normally stand. Students may seek exception to academic regulations on the grounds of illness. These requests must be accompanied by appropriate and timely documentation. The academic unit or faculty of these students may take the illness into consideration, and possibly alter academic standing, but the grade will not normally be altered.


Office of the Registrar
University of Waterloo
Ira G. Needles Hall
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519-888-4567