7. Examinations and Assessments

7.1. Written Examinations

Many courses are assessed by written examinations sat in Trinity Term of each academic year. These written examinations usually take place in weeks 6–8 of Trinity Term. It is generally the case that the lecturer of a course is the assessor for the corresponding examination. An assessor is responsible for the setting and marking of that paper under the oversight of a board of examiners and with another assessor checking the exam.

Assessment by examination at the end of the academic year gives students due time to process the lecture course’s concepts and develop the relevant techniques. Assessment at the end of the year also allows time for revision and to place the course’s material alongside that of other related courses. Completion of questions in the examination will require both a demonstration of the standard theory and techniques of the lecture course as well the ability to apply that theory/technique in somewhat new and unfamiliar ways.

General information on University examinations can be found on the Examinations and Assessment section of the University website (http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/). Practical information and support for sitting in-person exams is provided on the Oxford students website (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/in-person-exams). This page also gives information on the standards of conduct expected in examinations.

Information on what to do if you would like examiners to be aware of any circumstances that may have affected your performance before or during an examination (such as illness, accident or bereavement) is available at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/problems-completing-your-assessment and in the Examination Conventions.