Examination opportunities

1. With the exception of the School of Medicine and the School of Allied Health Professions, two examination opportunities are scheduled per semester: in June and July for first-semester modules and November and January for second-semester modules, and the latter two opportunities for all the modules that were presented over a period of an academic year. No further examination opportunities exist.

In respect of practical examinations and where a system of continuous evaluation is used, the second examination opportunity does not apply.

In respect of clinical examinations in the School of Medicine examinations are only written during the first examination opportunity, and students cannot exercise a choice for the second examination period. Students may qualify for a second opportunity in terms of the regulations as contained in the calendar of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

2. A student who does not participate in the first examination opportunity in June, may sit for the second examination opportunity in July. A student who does not participate in the first examination opportunity in November, may sit for the second examination opportunity in January.

3. A student who participated in the first scheduled examination opportunity in a given semester, and obtained an examination mark of at least 30 %, with a final mark of at least 45 % in the module, can participate in the second examination opportunity. If a final mark of less than 45 % was obtained, the module must be repeated.

4. A student who participated in the first scheduled examination opportunity in a given semester, obtained a final mark of at least 50 %, but did not obtain the required subminimum of 40 % in the examination, can participate in the second examination opportunity.

5. Students who have successfully completed a module, but who would like to improve their final mark, may sit for the second examination opportunity, provided that a final mark of at least 60 % was obtained.

6. A student in his/her final year who has to extend his/her study period after writing the June examination because he/she failed only one module during the June examination without considering the November examination that would still have to be written, will be admitted to the second examination opportunity in July without any stipulations.

7. A student in his/her final semester who has to extend his/her study after writing the November examination because he/she failed only one module during the November examination, will be admitted to the second examination opportunity in January without any stipulations.

What do I need to pass?

1. To complete a module successfully, a final mark of at least 50 % has to be obtained.

2. The calculation of the final mark is outlined in the study guide for the module in terms of the following guide-lines:

(i) A subminimum of 40 % applies to the mark obtained in the examination. (ii) Where more than one paper is written in a module, or where a paper consists of more than one section, a subminimum of not more than 50 % may be stipulated per paper/section. (iii) The weighting assigned to the examination mark may not be less than 40 %, nor more than 60 %.

3. Where a system of continuous evaluation is used as the exclusive means of assessment, the final mark is based on the student's performance assessed during assessment opportunities distributed over the period of presentation of the module.

4. To pass a module with distinction, a final mark of at least 75 per- cent has to be obtained.

Degree with distinction Where a modular system applies, a degree is awarded with distinction if an average of at least 75 % has been obtained in the minimum number of credits that are required for the qualification. The qualification must be obtained within the prescribed period plus one year.

Promotion

1. A promotion system does not apply to all modules, but where it does apply all information is contained in the module guides.

2. Continuous and end (summative) assessment have been decentralised, and these forms of assessment take place during the term of presentation of the module.

3. Students who obtain a module mark of 65 % or higher, are promoted (i.e. they pass) and no further examination has to be taken in that particular module. The module mark becomes the final mark that the student is awarded for the module in question.

4. Students who obtain a module mark of less than 65 % sit for the officially scheduled examination opportunity.

5. To pass a module with distinction, a module mark of at least 75 % has to be obtained.

6. Students who are promoted (i.e. who pass), but who would like to improve their final mark, may participate in the scheduled examination opportunity.

Examination venues do's and don'ts

(For the full requirements, download Institutional Rules and Qualifications)

1. Every person who sits for an examination at the University of the Free State must be a registered student of the University.

2. Every student must have his/her student card available to show to an invigilator should he/she request it.

3. No student will carry pencil-and-pen holders, books of any kind, notes or paper on which writing appears, cellular phones, dictaphones nor electronic equipment on his/her person during the examination session, with the understanding that in the case of an open-book examination, the prescribed book(s) will be allowed in the examination hall.

4. No student may give or receive help, or attempt to help or obtain help from another student or from the invigilator, or have a conversation with anybody else.

5. Students must, at the request of an invigilator, hand in all attendance forms, examination scripts and documents which have been handed out, at the designated point in the examination hall.

6. No student will be allowed to enter the examination hall after 30 minutes since the start of the examination session have elapsed, or demand to be allowed extra time should he/she arrive late;

7. Students may not leave the examination hall within 45 minutes of the start of the examination session.

8. The University accepts no responsibility for a student who has made an error with regard to the examination timetable.