Exams

A written sit-down exam is taken in an examination hall simultaneously with other students. There are two forms of sit-down exams: paper exams, written with paper and pen, and digital exams, written and assessed in a web-based system called DISA at the University of Gothenburg. Therefore, digital exams at the University is often referred to as DISA exams.

Sit-down exams are often held in the University's common examination halls, but they can also take place in examination halls at departments. Your teacher will inform you about the specific arrangements for your exam.

Read more about written sit-down examinations

Information for those who will write an exam in the common exam halls

A verbal examination can take various forms, such as seminars, a presentation, or role-play, sometimes in combination with written assignments or a take-home exam. It can be conducted individually or in a group. It is common for you or your group to answer and/or discuss pre-defined questions posed by one or more teachers.

In the case of a verbal examination within a course, there are requirements for documentation of the conducted examination. Two teachers should be present at the the verbal examination. If the examiner has not participated in the examination, the documentation should be detailed.

A take-home exam is an evaluative assignment that you complete by yourself at home, with access to all your subject notes, texts and course materials.  It may be referred to by different names at different department, such as an assignment for submission, essay, or pm. You'll be given a set time to complete the assignment, the amount of time depends on the task length and complexity.

The assignment often consists of one or more questions that you should analyse and answer in a longer text, including and citing specific evidence and examples from the course materials. You may be asked to analyse and interpret a set of data or problem, critically analyse a case or scenario or present a argument on a topic in the course subject.

Things to consider when you are going to write a take-home exam:

• Read the exam questions carefully.
• Follow the instructions on how your text should be structured and how and when it should be submitted.
• Acknowledge your sources to avoid cheating and plagiarism.
• The University offers support in academic language and study strategies.

Before you can apply for your degree certificate, you must complete an independent work, a degree project. This is usually carried out at the end of your education at first- and second cycle level. Your education will provide details about your degree project.

Information about degree projects

In certain subjects, it is common to have practical forms of examination, such as laboratory work or various clinical situations.

Information about correction of grades can be found in Rules and regulations for first- and second-cycle examinations at the University of Gothenburg:

"If there is an obvious inaccuracy in a grading decision owing to a clerical error, miscalculation or similar oversight, or if there is some confusion as to students or examination tasks, the examiner may make a decision to correct the grade. Corrections that are unfavourable to the student must be made with great care and only in clear cases. Students are to always be afforded an opportunity to express their opinion before such a correction is made.12 A decision on a grade cannot be appealed against.

A grading decision cannot be appealed. However, a student may request that the examiner reconsider their decision. Such a request ought to be made in writing and submitted to the course coordinator or examiner.

If the examiner finds that a decision about grades is clearly incorrect on the grounds of new circumstances or for some other reason, the examiner shall change the decision, if it can be done quickly and easily and it does not mean that the grade is lowered.

A student who has received at least a Pass grade cannot have the grade altered to a Fail at their own request."

Do you want to request a correction of your grade?
Such a request should be in writing and submitted to the course coordinator or examiner. Your department will inform you of the procedures that apply to you.

Information about changing examiner can be found in Rules and regulations for first- and second-cycle examinations at the University of Gothenburg:

"If a student who has failed the same examined component on two occasions wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request ought to be submitted to the department in writing and granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary. This request is to be submitted to the department coordinating the course where the student's performance was assessed. The department is to consider a student’s request to change examiner without undue delay. A head of department, or person appointed by the head of department or equivalent at the department coordinating the course, makes decisions on a change of examiner for an individual student.

A student may ask for a change of examiner after the first examination session if the number of occasions for work experience, VFU or corresponding training periods is limited to two."