The University’s Assessment and Results Policy sets out what can and can’t be taken into exams with you. Any breaches of this policy will be investigated as academic misconduct under the Student Academic Integrity Policy. If a finding of academic misconduct is made due to having unauthorised materials in an exam, penalties can include receiving zero marks for the exam or subject, and in some cases suspension or termination of enrolment.
In addition to the loose pens, pencils, erasers and rulers that you can take into the exam venue, other authorised materials include:
- clear bottle of water
- pharmacy medications and other items in accordance with alternative exam arrangements
- mobile phones, tablets, laptops, wallets and purses must be placed underneath your desk (electronics to be turned off and no items to be taken into the toilets, this includes smart watches)
- additional items as indicated on the examination cover sheet in the case of open book exams
The following items are deemed to be unauthorised materials according to section 5.70 of the Assessment and Results Policy:
(a) textbooks;
(b) notebooks;
(c) diaries;
(d) paper, including blank paper;
(e) manuscripts;
(f) course notes and other study materials;
(g) calculators, unless authorised by the examiner;
(h) dictionaries, unless authorised by the examiner;
(i) wristwatches;
(j) mobile telephones;
(k) audio or video equipment;
(l) tablets, laptops and other electronic devices;
(m) pencil cases;
(n) notes of any kind including those written on rulers, calculators or calculator covers, on the student’s body or anywhere else;
(o) periodic tables and formula sheets;
(p) bags;
(q) equipment cases; or
(r) any other item or material that may cause disruption or provide students with an unfair advantage.
For more information on responding to allegations of misconduct, see our page on Misconduct.