All you need to know about T2/S2 exams and final assessments
The Trimester 2 exam period is next month – from Monday 11 to Friday 22 October. The Semester 2 exam period is held in November with the exam timetable released on Monday 4 October. If your units include exams, you must be available to sit them during this timeframe.
Most exams and final assessments will be delivered online through your CloudDeakin unit site. Some courses/units with accreditation requirements also have on-campus exams. If this applies to you, you’ll have received an email to your Deakin email address.
Here’s how to get yourself ready for exams.
Check your exam details
- Find your individual exam timetable in StudentConnect.
- Check each of your unit sites for details about your exams and final assessments. Each unit will have different requirements, so review the information carefully.
- If you have an Access Plan through the Disability Resource Centre, adjustments will be applied to exams where relevant. Make sure you check your Deakin student email and unit site for further information.
Understand how online exams/final assessments will work
Online exams/assessments may comprise the following options:
- A supervised online exam. Information on how to prepare and sit your exam will be in your CloudDeakin unit site.
- A timed exam. Make sure you log on early with any resources you need so that you can meet the time limits.
- A timed exam available during a 24-hour window. As an example, you may have a two-hour exam and can choose when to start. Remember: once you start your exam, you’ll only have two hours to complete it, and you must finish and submit it before the end of the 24-hour window.
- An exam you download to work on and then return to the site to upload. Permitted working times for these exams should be listed in your unit site (for example, 24, 48 or 72 hours). These exams have strict deadlines – there will be no extensions or allowance for late submissions, so ensure you allow enough time at the end of your exam to upload your work before the submission time finishes.
Make sure your time zone information is accurate
If you’re based in another time zone, make sure you:
- Double-check your address/exam location details are correct. In your exam timetable, you’ll see we have recorded a ‘Current location’ for you. This must represent the time zone you’ll be in during exams. Most online final assessments will be time-limited and require you to start at the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) listed in StudentConnect. If you need to set or change your location for time zone purposes, you can do so until Monday 13 September – no further changes will be possible after this date. Please do this as early as possible, as updating this information is important for the timing of your exam.
- Plan ahead! You may have exams of varying durations and submission times that overlap. These are not considered clashes, and exam dates and times will not be changed.
Know what to do if you have an on-campus exam
If you’re required to attend a physical exam location (on-campus), due to accreditation requirements or special arrangements, it’s essential that you prepare early:
- Read Deakin’s general rules for exams to know what you can and can’t bring into an exam, as well as rules and procedures for physical exams.
- Check out your exam location early. Use our campus maps and Campus-based exams webpage to make sure you know exactly where you’ll be sitting your exam. Then plan to arrive early on the day!
- Get your Deakin Card. Your Deakin Card is your official student ID, and you’ll need to present it in order to sit any venue-based exams and borrow resources from the Deakin Library. If you haven’t already ordered a Deakin Card, do it online now.
- Wear a face mask: As per current Victorian Government guidelines, you must wear your face mask at all times while travelling to and sitting your exam, except if an exemption applies.
Get study support
Study Support has a range of tools, services and resources to help you prepare for exams. Our in‑depth academic skills resource includes tips on revising for an exam and how to manage the exam on the day. You can also find some hints and tips from a student mentor. There’s even a handy relaxation technique you can try.
Plan ahead to access resources
When preparing for your assessments, especially open-book exams, be mindful that there are limited concurrent licences for some online textbooks. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to access these during exam periods. Please talk to your unit chair or refer to our Study Support resources about how best to prepare.
Manage your workload and do some practice exams
Managing your time effectively is an important part of studying for your exams. Use our study workload planner to figure out how to fit your study time around the other commitments in your life.
Get together with your study group and write practice quizzes for each other. You’ll get as much from researching and writing your quiz as you will from answering your study group’s quizzes. You can use apps like GoConqr to create quizzes or pick something else from Study Support’s set of digital study tools. You’ll also be given opportunities to do some practice exam activities as part of your unit.
Access technical support if needed
During your exam it is important to remember to:
- Save your work regularly.
- Be aware of file submission types:
- Documents that are subject to Turnitin Originality reports need to be in one of the following formats: Word, PDF, PowerPoint or Excel (.doc, .docx,
.pdf, .pptx, or .xlsx). - Maximum file size is 100MB for Turnitin Originality reports.
- Submission using alternative file types may result in the inability to process and mark the assessment task.
- File names should be under 30 characters and must NOT include special characters e.g: , : ; ~ / ! @ # $ % ^ & * + | ( ) { } [ ].
- Documents that are subject to Turnitin Originality reports need to be in one of the following formats: Word, PDF, PowerPoint or Excel (.doc, .docx,
- Allow plenty of time to upload/submit your exam at the end.
If you have any issues accessing your unit sites or online exam material, or you need help with any of the digital platforms or tools required to complete an online exam/assessment, contact Deakin’s IT Help Desk as soon as possible:
- Off-campus: 1800 463 888
- International: +61 3 5227 8888.
During the exam period – Monday 11 to Friday 22 October – Deakin’s IT Help Desk support will be available at the following times (AEST):
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm.
If you have any further questions, visit the General exam information page – and good luck!