General exam information

Please bring your Student ID card to all examinations to verify your identity with an Exam Invigilator. If you have lost your Student ID card, visit Flinders Connect for a replacement.

If you do not have a Student ID card, you must bring other photographic identification such as a Drivers License, Proof of Age Card or Passport, which will be verified against the university database by Exam Invigilator staff.

If you wear a burqa or niqab, please arrive arrive at the examination venue early to have your identification verified by an Exam Invigilator staff member of your choice.

It is important to understand your obligations in undertaking in person invigilated examinations, failure to do so may result in being dismissed from the examination venue and reported to the relevant college in accordance with the University’s policy on Academic Integrity.

• Student ID cards or other photographic identification must be presented at every examination. 
• No items are allowed in the examination room except the permitted items listed below, specified in your exam timetable or advised by your topic coodinator e.g. textbooks, programmable calculators. NB: Computer labs (CML and IST) will require a mobile phone where MFA is required to log into exams then must be placed away.
• There are no bag storage facilities available at exam venues, therefore we strongly advise you to not bring any items other than those permitted. 
• Eligible NESB cardholders will receive additional time provisions.

Items permitted on your desk:

• Student ID card or other photographic identification
• Writing materials e.g. pens, pencils, eraser in a transparent pencil case or clear plastic sleeve
• Transparent water bottle with no labels
• Soft lollies (no wrappers) and sultanas

Items permitted in bag / under your desk: 

• Mobile phones
• All watches (digital or analogue)
• Wallets
• Keys
• Food and nuts
• Non-transparent pencil cases
• Tissues

Non-permitted items:

• Any items not listed above, specified in your exam timetable or advised by your topic coordinator are not permitted.

Eligibility

A Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) student is a student who, at the time of commencement:

• Was born outside of Australia and is from a non-English speaking country, AND
• has lived in Australia or another English-speaking country (i.e New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom or the USA) less than ten years previously, AND
• Speaks a language other than English at home.

Conditions

Students from a non-English speaking background (NESB) will receive the following variations to test and examination procedures for the duration of their course:

• extra time of ten minutes per hour of the test or examination (writing time only), and
• use of an English language dictionary*, except where the topic coordinator determines that the nature of the examination in a particular topic may make the use of a dictionary inappropriate.
  * Electronic, specialised, technical, scientific and notated dictionaries (including those with diagrams or images) as well as thesauruses are NOT permitted unless specified by the topic coordinator.

Cards

NESB cards are issued automatically each year to eligible students after Semester 1 and Semester 2 Census dates and are valid for the duration of their degree. Cards are sent electronically to the student’s Flinders email and they do not require a new one sent each year.

To ensure eligible students receive their cards automatically, the following details need to be entered in the Student System, via the “My Details” tab, at the time of enrolment or before the semester census date:

1. Year of entry into Australia or year of commenced study with an Australian school
2. Country of Birth
3. Main language spoken at permanent home residence.
   
4. Citizenship

If you believe you are eligible for a NESB card and do not receive your NESB card shortly after the semester census date, please submit an Ask Flinders request. If the details you have registered in the Student System are verified as correct, a card will be generated and emailed to you.

Details must be updated in the Student System by the following dates:

• Semester 1 - Sunday 13 April 2025
• Semester 2 - Sunday 7 September 2025

If you have changed degrees from the previous year, please also submit an Ask Flinders request to get a new card issued.

Special Conditions

Whilst NESB status is automatically determined based upon eligibility criteria, there may be special circumstances impacting students who don't meet the criteria but would benefit having additional support in their assessments due to language barriers impacting their academic performance. In these circumstances students can apply for special consideration, where they will be issued with a NESB Card for the duration of their course.

Students applying for special consideration must be able to demonstrate that English language barriers exist and have the potential to impact on their academic performance. Additional information and supporting evidence must be provided for an assessment to be made.

To lodge a request for Special Consideration, submit an Ask Flinders request along with supporting evidence.  

Supporting evidence should include:

• Evidence of prior educational achievement and experience, including confirmation of the language of instruction, or
• Evidence of a recent English Proficiency test including results, and
• Written support from at least one Topic Coordinator, supporting the request for NESB status based on their observation of the student’s academic performance/engagement, or
• Any other information which supports the request by demonstrating English language barriers.

All cases will be assessed, and the student will be notified of the decision.  A student who is unsatisfied with the decision may request a review in accordance with the Student Review and Appeal Policy.  To request a review of the decision, the online form must be completed and lodged within 20 University business days of the date of the decision. 

If you need to apply for a deferred assessment due to medical or compassionate reasons, follow these steps:

1. Fill out the Deferred Assessment Application form.
2. Send the completed form to the College responsible for your topic within three (3) working days of the exam or assignment due date. The form includes the College's contact details.
3. If you prefer a paper version, you can download it in MS Word format [here].

You can also submit your application online and attach the necessary supporting documents.

Applications based on medical or compassionate grounds must include supporting evidence, such as:

• A medical certificate from a doctor.
• Documentation from an appropriate professional.

Ensure the supporting evidence covers the relevant dates (e.g., the medical certificate should be for the date of the exam).

In-Person Invigilated Exams

• Do not attend if you are unwell.
• Contact your medical practitioner or the University’s Health, Counselling and Disability Service for an appointment and obtain supporting documentation.
• Submit a deferred assessment application within three (3) working days of the exam.

Online Exams (Quiz/Test and Invigilated)

• If unable to complete due to medical or compassionate reasons, complete the Online Examination Incident Report.
• Contact your medical practitioner or the University’s Health, Counselling and Disability Service for an appointment and obtain supporting documentation.
• Submit a deferred assessment application within three (3) working days of the exam.

Deferred Assessment Process

• Your application will be reviewed by the College, and you will be notified of the decision.
• If approved, a deferred assessment grade (e.g., IDE - Incomplete Deferred Examination) will appear on your results.
• Check the topics mapped to College page if unsure which College your topic is aligned to.

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity for a student who has not achieved a passing grade for a topic to demonstrate that they have achieved the learning outcomes of the topic by completing an additional assessment activity, which is determined by the Topic Coordinator. You do not need to apply for a supplementary assessment; you will automatically be awarded this if you meet all the criteria.

If you have been offered a supplementary assessment, you will see a supplementary assessment grade on your results. Eg SE (Supplementary Examination).

Please view the Assessment Variation Procedures for further information.

Some deferred and supplementary examinations held by the Topic Coordinator or College may be scheduled outside of the dates stated above. You will be notified by your College if this is the case.

Semester One and Two examinations as well as Deferred and Supplementary examinations may take place at the following venues:

-          Alan Mitchell Sports Centre (Bedford Park)

-          Small Group Rooms (Bedford Park)

-          Tonsley

-          Flinders City Campus

-          Adelaide Convention Centre (Flinders City Campus Students ONLY)

Flinders Campuses

Adelaide Convention Centre Venue Map

Please ensure you check your examination timetable for correct exam time and location. As the exam venue may be cool, we recommend dressing warmly to ensure your comfort during the exam.

Students from Flinders City Campus who have exams at the Adelaide Convention Centre will receive directions to the venue via email before their scheduled exam.