Exams

General information:

In Finland written exams are often used and oral exams are used only rarely. Usually the exams require writing essays but occasionally there might be other tasks such as multiple choice questions. The teachers will inform students about these beforehand.

• Usually one has to register for the exam in Korppi, (a data system for organising studies) or by filling out a registration form (the brown envelope). The brown envelopes are available around the campus.
• You have to fill the form according to the guidelines printed in the envelope. Leave the envelope empty and return it to the right department (the department which is responsible for the exam) usually at least seven days before the exam.
• Sometimes no registration is required. During courses the staff will inform you about the registration and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask for help.

Types of exam:

• Exams at the end of the courses together with book exams are the most typical types of exam in our university.
• Home exams consist of tasks which are meant to be completed on students' own time and returned to the teacher in time.
• Group exam is an exam taken together with a small group usually under supervision to be completed within a certain amount of time, e.g. 6 hours.
• Although oral exams are rarely used in Finland, poster sessions and oral presentations can be accounted for as exams or as parts of them. The language courses also entail oral exams when oral skills of a language are evaluated.
  

Exam procedure:

• Before the exam begins, staff members distribute envelopes containing the examination questions to students by calling them by name. After getting your envelope you can enter the hall. Note that brown envelopes are not always used. They are mainly used in faculty examinations when several people do different exams in the same room.
• If brown envelopes aren't used students will take their seats and when everyone is seated, the staff members will distribute the questions sheets.
• Students are not allowed to take their bags with them to seats, so they must be left at the front. If you need something from your bag during the examination, inform the supervisors. You can do that by raising your hand and waiting for them to come to talk to you.
• Supervisors will tell you when you can open your envelope, when you can read the questions and start answering the questions.
• Usually the duration of general examinations is four hours. The time starts when students are allowed to open the envelopes and/or see the questions.
• Supervisors can allow a student to take part in an examination even if he or she arrives late, if no-one has left already and that this does not disturb others.
• Students are allowed to use only the paper provided by the university. You can get the papers in the hall before the exam starts. If needed, the staff will give more paper in the middle of the exam, too.
• You can leave the examination hall when 30 minutes have passed since the beginning of the examination. Return your papers, the question sheet included, in the envelope (if they are used) to the supervisors. Usually you also have to show some ID when handing in your papers.
  

Assessment

Grading scale

Numeric scale after 1.8.2005	ECTS equivalence	ECTS verbal scale
5	A	excellent
4	B	very good
3	C	good
2	D	satisfactory
1	E	sufficient
0	FX, F	fail

For more detailed information, visit
University of Jyväskylä Examination Regulations.