Examinations – May 2020

If you are due to take examinations in May 2020, this note provides you with important information
about these exams.

1. Key information

1.1 Your examination paper will be accessed from a BREO community

called Online-Exams-OSEAS
1.2 We have given you additional time to complete your exam paper but you are not
expected to spend more time than the set length of the exam paper
1.3 We will use the BREO clock to determine the overall time you have to access and
complete your exam paper.
1.4 We have set a word limit of 800 words per exam hour. For example, if your exam
is 2 hours long, your word limit is 1600 words.
1.5 We understand that you may need to use references, to quote sources (correctly),
to refer directly and legitimately to standard information. But if an answer is
judged to contain other copied text, so that it is not the original work of the student,
we will award a zero mark for that question
1.6 We recommend you upload your work on a regular basis during your exam, but we
will only mark your final submission

2. Exam Timetable: The exam timetable is available on BREO now in Exams Information for
Students. You should check when your exam has been scheduled. All times are set by using
British Summer Time (BST).

3. Video Guide: We will be making a video available on Monday May 11 May that will explain
more about how you download your exam paper and upload your answers.

4. Examination times

We know that you have to manage your exams whilst at home, so we have extended the time
available for you to complete them. We have created two time slots, one in the morning and the
other in the afternoon. You will not have more than one exam per day.

Examinations up to 2 hours: Morning 09.00 – 13.00 OR Afternoon 14.00 – 18.00

Examinations longer than 2 hours: Morning 09.00 – 15.00 OR Afternoon 14.00 – 20.00

This does not mean that we expect you to spend all this time writing! You should aim to spend
no more time than the examination paper allows. We have given you additional time because
we know that some of our students are working in circumstances where they may need to take
breaks, and have to deal with other things.

5. Word limits

To help you focus your answers, we have set a word limit of 800 words per exam hour. This is
not 800 words per hour that you have available to take the exam. You must keep to this limit. It
is a limit, not a target. We recognise that our students will type at different speeds, although we
want your best answer, not the longest possible one.

Your Unit Co-ordinator will upload any information about the breakdown of the exam word limit
that might be useful to you). In most cases, this is not necessary.

They will also tell you there if you need to upload anything else, alongside your Word document
answer sheet.
6. Taking the exam

The examination paper will be available at the start time as given in the exam timetable. You
must upload it by the deadline, according to the BREO clock. Do not leave this until the last
minute. You can, and should, upload your work regularly, as you work through your answers.
We will only mark the final version you upload. There is no facility for uploading after the exam
time is over.

Make sure you know how to check your word count and stick to the word limit. It is 800 words
per examination paper hour.

Use your own words

It is essential that you use your own words to answer questions. This will require you to
paraphrase and summarise information. We will not give any marks for writing that is not in
your own words, any more than we would in a campus examination. We will apply plagiarism
checks to all submissions. We understand that you may need to use references, to quote
sources (correctly), to refer directly and legitimately to standard information. But if an answer is
judged to contain other copied text so that it is not the original work of the student, we will
award a zero mark for that question.

7. If you can’t take the online exam

If you have problems taking your exams, our mitigating circumstances process is there to help
you, and your institution will also support you. And there is always support if you are feeling
anxious

https://www.beds.ac.uk/student-support/

8. Further Information and Advice

We have collated some further information and advice to support you in preparing to take your
exams online.
 General advice for taking online examinations

We hope you will feel able to take your exam(s) online, if you have the technology to do so. We know
you have worked hard throughout the year preparing for them, and we want to offer you as much
support as we can.

This may be the first time you have taken an examination or a timed assignment online. We recognise
that, and to help you, we have:

• Not made the task more difficult just because you are at home and not in an exam room
• Allowed extra time for you to manage the process.

Setting up technology:

• Software – Make sure that you have access to software that you will need (such as Microsoft
Office) and the correct web browser.

• Accounts – Make sure that you can access everything you will need during the exam. For
example, make sure you can access (and are confident using) digital library resources.

• Workstation – Make sure that you have a comfortable sitting position and find a location that
minimises screen glare. Try to ensure that you are working in a comfortable temperature with
suitable lighting and minimal noise. Once you have identified a potential location check that you
have a strong internet connection.

Revision:

• Revising – Review your lecture notes and read up on the topics you don’t understand. Some
familiarity with topic areas will save you time on the day of the exam. It can be helpful to create a
revision timetable and revision aids. Remember that although you do not have to memorise
information as you might in a campus-based examination, you will still need to make sure you
know and understand your subject.

Before the exam:

• Think about what you already know about your exam – This will allow you to go into an exam
with a plan. For example, splitting your time evenly based on number of questions and possible
marks available. We are setting an absolute word limit for these examinations of 800 words per
hour of examination (and pro rata). There is no margin of error in this limit, and your marker will
not read beyond the word limit. So spend some time now, working out what this means for your
exam: how many questions are there? How will you divide your word limit as well as your time,
between them? This is a word limit, not a target! You do not have to reach it but you must not go
over it. It refers to the length of the exam paper, and not to the full length of time you have
available to complete the exam.

• Your devices – If you share a computer at home make sure that you have said when you will
need it. If you are using a laptop / tablet make sure that this is fully charged. Make sure the
charger will be available in case you need it.

• Anxiety – Many students feel very anxious about exams and the current situation may
exasperate your feelings. There is a range of support available from your institution – do get in
touch if you need some extra help.
During the exam:

• Plan answers – Before you start writing spend a few minutes planning your answer. What is
essential information that needs to be included? What will need the most explanation?

• Answer the question – Look for keywords and action verbs (e.g. compare / analyse) which will
indicate what to include and how to structure an answer. Do not just write everything you know
about a topic.

• References – Include references in your answers, only where you would have done so in a
campus examination. We will not be giving marks for extra references because you have sources
to hand. And in fact, if we read more references than we would normally expect to find, your
answers will be of less value, not more. We want to know, in examinations, that YOU understand,
and can express your understanding.

• Diagrams – Do not import diagrams, charts or other visuals from sources. Draw them yourself, as
you would in an examination, or write up what they show in text.

• Proofread – Leave yourself time to proofread your answers before you submit.

• Monitor time –If you use a clock or timer to keep track of time, make sure you use the BREO
clock to tell you when you must submit – the BREO clock provides the deadline.

• Take mini breaks – As with any extended work on a computer it is important that you take
periodic mini breaks away from the screen.

Further help

• Study Hub guides – A range of general exam revision guides are available:
https://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/studyhub-library/a-z-resources