Exam Procedures

Please read all of these Examination Procedures carefully, as you will be held accountable should you fail to satisfy them.

I. GENERAL RULES

A. COMPUTER USE

You may use a computer for your essay examinations if you install and register SofTest. Please download your exam file before coming to your exam room. See the UC Hastings website for details. Computer use in an exam room is restricted to answering exam questions in SofTest.

B. EXAM NUMBERS

You must pick up an exam number from the UC Hastings Records Office before your first exam. Examinations are anonymously graded and you are to use your exam number in place of your name on examination materials as instructed by the proctor. If you have the same professor for two anonymously graded courses in the same semester, you may request two different exam numbers.

C. EXAM ROOM

You must take the exam in the room to which you have been assigned. You must sign in and out of the exam room as directed by the proctor. When signing in you must present your UC Hastings ID (or other valid photo ID). If your name does not appear on the sign-in sheet, you must report to the Records Office or Room B-8 in 198 McAllister Street. Bluebooks, scantrons, scratch paper, and other materials will be provided by the proctor as necessary. You must provide your own earplugs, if needed.

D. EXAM ROOM RESTRICTIONS

Please do not wear heavy perfumes or scents in the exam room. Food or drink—other than liquids in a securely closed, screw-top container—are not allowed in the exam room. Liquids that are not in a spill-proof container will be disallowed by the proctor. While briefcases, backpacks, and purses are allowed in the exam room, you may not access extraneous information of any sort during a closed or limited open book exam. Prohibited materials found in the hallways, corridors, or restrooms will be confiscated.

E. EXAM START TIMES

The proctors have been instructed to start all exams promptly at 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.

You should plan on arriving at your exam room at least 15 minutes ahead of time if you are using a bluebook and at least 30 minutes ahead of time if you are using a computer. Late arrivals will not be given extra time and will be subject to exclusion from the exam. No extension of time will be permitted if you arrive late for an examination.

If you are 30 minutes late or later, you will be not be permitted to sit for the examination and will receive a grade of “Administrative F” for the examination. Receipt of the “Administrative F” may be avoided only on the basis of an extraordinary and compelling excuse as determined by the Academic Dean.

F. NO TALKING

Once an exam has begun, you may not converse with another student for any purpose. Requesting, giving, or receiving unauthorized assistance in any form during the course of an exam is prohibited. Under no circumstances may a student leave the building during the course of an exam until his or her examination materials have been turned in to the proctor.

II. DELAY OF EXAMINATIONS

These rules can also be found in Section X of the Academic Regulations

A. GROUNDS FOR DELAYING EXAMS

• All examinations must be taken on the date and at the time they are regularly scheduled, with the following exceptions:
  • Conflicts and 24-Hour Rule: If you have two examinations at the same time or if you are scheduled to sit for an examination that begins within 24 hours of the end of another of your exams, the examination shall be rescheduled according to the “delayed exam” guidelines in Section C below. (AR3003).
  • Compelling Reasons: The Academic Dean may authorize a delay of your examination if you submit compelling reasons for the delay based upon health reasons, accident, personal emergency, or some other extraordinary circumstance (AR3004).
  • Health Reasons: Students may reschedule examinations if they have a medical or psychiatric emergency or a severe health condition. A student who knows in advance that he or she must delay an examination should fill out a “Petition to Reschedule Examination” and submit it to the Records Office. This petition must be accompanied by medical documentation from the Health Services Office or the student’s own doctor. If a medical condition arises on the day of the examination, the student should contact the Records Office immediately. Medical documentation will be required to postpone the exams, so the student should see a doctor as soon as possible. All requests for examination delays for medical reasons will be reviewed by the Academic Dean (AR3005).

B. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF DELAYS

During the semester, please file a “Petition to Reschedule Examination” in the UC Hastings Records Office to request an examination delay. During the exam period, call the Records Office at (415) 565-4613 if you wish to delay an exam. You must provide documentation of any health or special circumstances. The response to your petition will be e-mailed to your UC Hastings e-mail account. Please file as soon as possible.

C. SCHEDULING THE DELAYED EXAM

The rescheduled examination will in all cases be administered after, not before, its originally scheduled date. The second of the two conflicting exams will be rescheduled to allow 24 hours between the two examinations. If this creates an additional conflict, the examination will be delayed further. Rescheduled examinations are usually administered at 10:30 a.m. in Classroom B in 198 McAllister Street.

You must complete delayed examinations by the end of the examination period for the semester unless authorized by the Academic Dean. See section III, below, for information regarding Incomplete grades.

III. INCOMPLETE GRADES

You cannot graduate if there is an “Incomplete” grade on your transcript. The following information explains how a grade of Incomplete may be resolved.

A. EXAM COURSES

If you are unable to sit for an examination due to health, accident, or other extraordinary circumstances, you may receive a grade of “Incomplete” with the permission of the Academic Dean based on documented hardship. You must remove such incompletes from your record during the next regularly scheduled examination for the course. If you do not, a grade of F will be substituted for the incomplete grade and no credit shall be received. No incomplete may be removed by examination at another law school.

B. NON-EXAM COURSES

A professor may issue you an incomplete grade for a non-examination course without the approval of the Academic Dean. You must remove the incomplete grade from your record by the last day of the following semester. If you do not remove the incomplete grade with the time limit, a grade of F will be substituted for the incomplete grade and no credit shall be earned.

IV. WITHDRAWAL

A. FROM UC HASTINGS

You may submit a request for a permanent withdrawal from UC Hastings to the Academic Dean no later than the beginning of the examination period of the semester in which the withdrawal is requested. If you fail to request a withdrawal within the time allowed and fail to sit for scheduled examinations without prior authorization from the Academic Dean, you will receive an F in each of those courses for which you fail to take the examination. Please consult UC Hastings Academic Regulations 2908 and 2909.

B. FROM A CLASS

You may withdraw from a class, with the approval of the Academic Dean, no later than the date of the scheduled examination for that class. If you fail to request a withdrawal within the time allowed and fail to sit for the course’s scheduled examination, you will receive an F in the course.

V. GRADES

Grades will be available on WebAdvisor once they are approved and entered by the Records Office. Please be patient since not all professors turn in their grades by the deadline. The deadline will be listed on the Records Office main page once available.

***Please review the UC Hastings Academic Regulations for more detailed information.***