Exam Conflicts
A conflict is defined as two FINAL exams scheduled at the same time.
If you have two FINAL examinations scheduled in the same time slot (ie. two exams scheduled at 2:00pm on the same day), you will be receiving an e-mail to your Western or @uwo.ca account, which will provide details on how to proceed and appropriate people to contact.
Multiple Exam Situation
A multiple exam situation is defined as:
- 3 or more final or mid-year examinations in the December or April exam period scheduled within 3 consecutive periods or 23 hours,
- 4 or more final or mid-year examinations in the December or April exam period scheduled within 6 consecutive periods or 47 hours, or
- 5 or more final or mid-year examinations in the December or April exam period scheduled within 9 consecutive periods or 71 hours
A period refers to the morning, afternoon or evening slot on an exam day.
If you are in any of the above listed situations, you will be receiving an e-mail to your Western or @uwo.ca account in the middle of March, which will provide details on how to proceed.
By maintaining BOTH a Conflict and a Multiple Exam policy, it is Western University’s objective to provide students with a fair exam schedule. We remain committed to supporting all students during their studies here.
Examples:
A) Three exams in 23 hours or 3 exams in 3 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:
|
Exam Period |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
9:00AM |
|
Exam 3 |
|
2:00PM |
Exam 1 |
|
|
7:00PM |
Exam 2 |
|
B) Four exams in 47 hours, or 4 exams in 6 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:
|
Exam Period |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
9:00AM |
Exam 1 |
|
|
2:00PM |
|
Exam 3 |
|
7:00PM |
Exam 2 |
Exam 4 |
C) Five exams in 71 hours, or 5 exams in 9 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:
|
Exam Period |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9:00AM |
Exam 1 |
|
Exam 4 |
|
2:00PM |
|
Exam 3 |
Exam 5 |
|
7:00PM |
Exam 2 |
|
|
Missed Exams
Sleeping In, Misreading the Schedule, Flight Arrangements
Professors are not required to set a Special Examination for these reasons. If you are only half an hour late, you may be given permission to start the examination. Otherwise, contact the Department and the Academic Counselling Office immediately. You are expected to schedule vacations and flights that don't conflict with the examination schedule. Travel arrangements are NOT considered grounds for permission to write a Special Exam.
Illness or Compassionate Grounds
Students must provide a Student Medical Certificate completed by their medical practitioner. Click to download the new STUDENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (SMC).
If, on medical or compassionate grounds, you are unable to write final examinations you should contact the course instructor as soon as possible to let them know that you are unable to write the exam. You should then contact the Academic Dean's Office (433-3491, ext. 4406) to advise them of your situation. You should understand that academic accommodation will not be granted automatically on request. You must demonstrate that there are compelling medical or compassionate grounds that can be documented before academic accommodation will be considered. In all cases, action must be taken at the earliest possible opportunity, preferably prior to the scheduled examination.
Instructions:
- You require the permission of the Dean, the instructor, and the Chair of the department in question to write a special final examination.
- If you are unable to write a final examination, contact the Academic Counselling Office immediately to request permission to write a special final examination and to obtain the necessary form. You should also contact your instructor to let them know. If your instructor is not available, leave a message for him/her, and send an email.
- Be prepared to provide the Academic Dean's Office with supporting documentation. Medical notes must specifically address the issue of your ability to sit your exam, e.g., "... medically unfit to write exam on such and such a date" rather than "was seen in clinic". It is also helpful to have an estimated recovery time noted.
- You must ensure that the Special Examination form has been signed by the instructor and Department Chair and that the form is returned to the Academic Dean's Office for approval.