At the end of each course or module, your knowledge will be tested in the form of a summative assessment. The most common mode of assessment is a written examination. There may also be laboratory sessions involving documentation such as reports, oral presentations, project work or academic papers.
In the course synopsis, the examiner provides information about summative assessments, the dates of ordinary examinations and the first retake week, plus any aids permitted during examinations. At Chalmers, it is compulsory to sign up for each examination, with exams taken anonymously. Students should sign up for examinations in Ladok.
The course homepage in Canvas normally has various past examination papers which you can use to practice before your examination. If these are not present, contact your teacher or department.
Modes of assessment
On-campus examinations
Written examination: this means that you will sit a written assessment within a set time. Examinations are held on campus.
E-examination: on some courses, summative assessments take the form of on-campus e-examinations. This means that an examination is generated, sat and assessed in a web-based system. You sit your on-campus examination on your own computer instead of on paper. Chalmers mainly uses Inspera for e-examinations. However, other systems such as Canvas may be used.
Computer-based examinations: you sit your examination in a computer room at Chalmers.
Take-home examinations
Take-home examinations are a mode of assessment whereby you complete an examination at home. The examination has a set time allowed and is taken unsupervised. All aids are normally permitted, meaning that you will have access to required reading and other material. Unless otherwise stated in the course synopsis, take-home exams must be completed alone. Thus, collaborating or taking assistance from others is not normally permitted. A take-home exam may involve a written assignment or having to answer questions in a system such as Canvas.
Tests
A test is a minor exam which can be compulsory or voluntary. Tests are not usually anonymous. Their purpose is usually to support students in their learning process.
Project assessments
A project is a piece of work which may be carried out by an individual student or group of students. This will be stated in the course synopsis. Project assessments may be based on such things as written reports, prototypes, software, drawings, illustrations, illustrated reports or other documentation. For an impartial assessment, it should be possible to distinguish an individual student’s contribution to group work. A combination of written, oral or other appraisals is used in assessing a project. For assessment of projects in Architectural Engineering, there is normally continuous assessment of various elements such as lectures, peer assessment, seminars, supervision, laboratory sessions and final reports.
Oral examinations
For oral examinations, you may be assessed either individually or in a group. In addition to the examiner, a co-assessor should participate in the examination.
Examination dates
Each study period concludes with a period of ordinary examinations. The academic year also includes several retake periods.
Searching for an examination date
Search for scheduled examination sessions by typing in the course code or course name (or part of the course name).
Course projects and examinations set by the department
Course projects and tests, plus certain other summative assessments, may have different examination dates than those arranged centrally. These will be marked “Contact examiner” in the syllabus. Contact the department that is running the course to sign up for the exam and obtain more information about when the summative assessment is scheduled. When the department is running an exam, the same codes of conduct apply as for centrally arranged hall exams.
Number of examination sessions
Provided the course examination is running, you may take it an unlimited number of times.
- For courses that are compulsory, elective or compulsory elective, three examination sessions are arranged in each academic year. One of these examination sessions falls during the autumn semester.
- For courses that have been deleted from the programme syllabus, at least two retake weeks are arranged two academic years after the course was run for the last time. One of these two examination sessions falls in the autumn semester.
Signing up for examinations and examination code
To sit an exam, you must be registered on the course and have signed up for the exam. If you have not signed up for the exam, you will need to sit it at the next opportunity. You will not be admitted to the examination hall if you arrive without having signed up. No exceptions will be made. Please note that neither an administrator nor an examiner can sign up you after the registration deadline.
Permitted aids during examinations
The examiner determines which aids are permitted during an examination. These are stated in the course synopsis and on the examination paper. Pens, erasers, rulers and dictionaries are permitted aids in all examinations. Dictionaries are not permitted in language examinations unless the examiner has stated that they are approved aids.
If the examiner has allowed Chalmers-approved calculators as an aid, the following applies:
- calculators can have a display that shows digits, letters and mathematical symbols
- it cannot be a graphing calculator
The following models are permitted, including those with additional letters or numbers in their model’s name (e.g. Casio FX-82EX):
- Casio FX-82
- Casio FX-85EX
- Sharp EL-W531
- Texas TI-30
If you are uncertain of what applies to your summative assessment in terms of aids, ask your teacher.
Possibility to borrow aids for the exam
You can borrow a calculator if it is approved as an aid for the exam. The possibility to borrow a computer is only available for digital exams via Inspera. In this case, you or your teacher need to report this to the Examination Administration Office well in advance.
Using past papers to prepare
The course webpage should have various past examination papers. If none are present, you can contact your teacher or the department that provides your course.
You can request a copy of a written examinations papers that is maximum two years old and that has not already been collected. After you fill out the form, please e-mail the form to the department where the exam was given. Contact information to the departments.
Request a copy of a written examination below (in Swedish)
Double examinations – when two exams clash
Do you have two exams at the same date and time? One of them can be moved to the morning or afternoon, if an examiner approves it. Once an examiner has approved the change, you must email the Examination Administration Office: tentamen.stodet@chalmers.se no later than ten working days before the start of the examination period, providing the following:
- date
- course codes
- the order in which the exams are to be sat
- attach your examiner’s approval for the examination that is to be rescheduled
Adapted examinations for those requiring educational support
If you hold a valid Nais certificate granting adaptation, an adapted examination may mean you get an extension, use of a computer-based educational support program or that you sit the exam individually or in a small group. You need to apply for adaptations at least 10 days before the examination period. You must be signed up for the exams you intend to sit. You do this in Ladok for students.
The Examination administration office will know what support you have been granted, meaning that you won’t need to inform them before each examination.
The exceptions are take-home exams and tests. For these, you will need to inform the examiner of what support you require and ask about possible adaptations. Students should contact their examiner no later than ten working days before the summative assessment and be able to present a valid Nais certificate before a decision about adaptations can be made.
Educational support for students at the University of Gothenburg
If you are a student from the University of Gothenburg, you will need to inform the Examination Administration Office of what support you need. You should therefore email no later than 10 working days before an examination, stating your required adaptations. You will need to do this before each examination. State the course, date, support required and attach your Nais letter from the coordinator and email it to: tentamen.stodet@chalmers.se
Sign up and apply for Nais here
Examinations at other universities
Shipboard examinations during a placement
If you are receiving shipboard training (a placement) you may, under certain conditions, sit your exam whilst aboard, or at another location during such training. Use the form below to apply. If you have questions about your examination during shipboard training, please contact Student Services at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences: studentadm.m2@chalmers.se