Exams KU Leuven Practical information Content of this

Exams @ KU Leuven : Practical information

Content of this session • Individual exam schedule • Different examination formats Oral exam o Written o Papers Cultural differences, grading Do’s and don’ts (at the day of your evaluation) Consultation of results & feedback Ombuds o • •

IES

Individual exam schedule (IES) • Where can I find it?

Individual exam schedule • Exam date, hour, room o o Students with exam facilities are located in different rooms Check before the start of the exam period • And during the exams (e. g. switching rooms) • Questions? o Contact your ombuds

Different examination formats

Different examination formats • Oral • Written Essay questions o Multiple choice • Paper • Computer exams o • Read the ECTS file of your course carefully • Check the information of the course o o Toledo instructions Sample questions, tips and tricks

Oral exam : progress • Location: classroom • Materials • • Student card Pen Open book or closed book No food/drinks unless otherwise told • Questions o 2 -3 questions on cards

Oral exam : progress • Check the guidelines of your professor • Preparation time : Mostly about 30 minutes (can be shorter) • Presenting (mostly +/- 15 minutes) o Oral presentation based on written preparation o Goal of additional questions? o Prof stops you? o • Is this a good sign? o o Dress code No feedback!

Written exam : essay questions • Reading the question carefully “Why” vs “how” o “What’s theoretical relevance of …. ” Draft in keywords Situating answer o broader context, background info Not : just showing knowledge, always relevant for question Structure … o • •

Written exam : multiple choice • Multiple choice = one choice (single choice exam) Multiple alternatives • Correction for guessing if indicated on the ECTS file o Ask for information from your professor o

Papers • Independent work • Sources and referring o Required in scientific writing (better too much than not enough) o KU Leuven has tool to detect plagiarism o Within text quotations, reference list o Avoid plagiarism : www. kuleuven. be/plagiarism

Cultural differences

Cultural differences? • Exams are difficult! • No selection at the beginning of programme but selection during the programme (= exams) • Grades are probably lower than in your home country • No information about results after oral exam

Grading

Grading Mark Transcript US ECTS % of succesfull Your answer 20 Outstanding A+ A 10% Exceptional, additional analyses, additional information Very good A B 25% 19 18 17 16 15 Good A- 14 13 Above average Satisfactory 10 30% D 25% B 12 11 C B-C+ C E 10% Own examples, counter examples, comparisons, critics, applications Structuring answer Memorizing literally, basic understanding 8 -9 Insufficient D Superficial knowledgecomprehension 0 -7 Very insufficient F Lack of knowledgecomprehension

Marks • Average : 12/20 • • 0 – 9 : 25% 10 – 14 : 50% 15 or more : 25% 20/20 : only 0. 2%

What are the levels of achievement? What are the levels of achievement a student can receive when he or she obtains the degree of Bachelor or Master? • • Distinction (cum laude) = 68% Great distinction (magna cum laude) = 77% Greatest distinction (summa cum laude) = 85% Greatest distinction (summa cum laude) with the congratulations of the examination committee = 90%

Do’s and don’ts The day of your evaluation

Do’s and don’ts • Always bring: student card, pens/pencils… (in transparent plastic bag) • Additional items for exam? : calculator, study material, dictionaries BEFORE EXAM o Check info on ECTS-fiche/TOLEDO o Calculator? • Calculators with memory capacity is never allowed (e. g. no TI 84!) o Dictionary? • Not allowed, unless mentioned in ECTS-file (course description) of the course DURING EXAM o Supervisor will let you know at the beginning of the exam o when in doubt ask supervisor before taking out the items o Check first page of your exam

Do’s and don’ts • • Arrive on time= 30 minutes upfront Bathroom breaks are ‘facilitated’: don’t go alone Drinks are allowed, food normally not More than one group in the room – colour coded exams Scrap paper will be given to you (if needed). You need to hand these in as well, can’t take them home… You need to take off your jacket and hang it on the side of the classroom. No hats, … • Do not disassemble your exam • No cell phones or smartwatch: posession of phone is fraud!!! Leave these in your backpack.

Do’s and don’ts • If you like to receive a ‘zero score’ o Stay in exam room for at least 30 minutes with the exam copy, hand in your blank copy after 30 minutes • If you do not want to take part in the exam, do not show up, you will receive an ‘NA’ grade = not attended exam grade • If you take a seat and start the exam o Stay in exam room for at least 30 minutes, in this way people arriving late can still start their exam. • Finalizing the exam o Complete and sign both parts of the proof of participation • One part for you, one part for the supervisor • This is the only verification of participation for you: keep this somewhere safe just in case!

Not on time? • I am late: can I still participate? Go to your exam room • If you arrive within 30 min of the official starting time: you can still start your exam • You can not start if another student has handed in an exam already • Official end time of the exam also holds for you (no additional time)

Not able to make it? • Contact the ombuds before the exam!!! o o Students with a visa: make sure you participate Unforeseen conditions (e. g. illness) • Official attestation needed (eg. certificate from physician) • As soon as possible, send copy by mail to your ombuds via https: //feb. kuleuven. be/febadvisor/ • Catch-up exam? o o o Decided independently by your ombuds Only if the student has followed the procedures NEVER CONTACT YOUR PROFESSOR

Consultation of results & feedback

Exchange students Results and study progress

In case of failure In case of ‘NA’ or a grade less than “ 10/20” • No obligation to retake the exam, ask your coordinator in your HOME university what to do • Retake period for everyone = August/September at KU Leuven • If you would like to retake exam: o register for the retake through KU Loket o Registration opens 3 rd of July 2020 (after 6 pm) o Deadline to register for the retakes is 9 th of July 2020 o Kathleen Monsieur will send you a reminder via email

Registration for exams • Automatic for January and June exams • Necessary for August-September exams

Degree students Results and study progress

Exams: Pass/fail? • Passing a course ? o o 10/20 or more (= credit ) Only the courses < 10/20 2 nd exam chance • Exception: Degree students can tolerate one 9/20 if: • % within your program ≥ 68% (= distinction) • Only for one course • Not for Master’s thesis • Two evaluation moments for each course (incl. thesis) o o o Eg fail course in January • 2 nd chance in August/September Eg fail course in June • 2 nd chance in August/September Register in KU Loket for August/September exams!!!

Courses < 10/20 2 nd exam chance • Retake a course if you obtained less than 10 out of 20 o No retake for higher levels of achievement • Best result : you keep the best mark! (only within the same academic year) o Eg. Advanced Micro-Economics • January: 9/20 • August/September: 6/20 • => You keep the 9/20! (= BR ‘Best result’)

% CSE

Your study progress file •

Feedback

Feedback exams • After every exam period (Jan, June and Aug/Sep) • Goal o o Have a look at your exam Compare expected answer with your answer Discuss study method Expectations lecturer

Ombuds & support

Who is my ombuds? Michelle Maria Clara Sofie Ruth Suzanne Kurt • Contact details? https: //feb. kuleuven. be/eng/student-platform/contact/ombudsperson-leuven • Use the FEBadvisor to ask questions or to ask for an appointment: https: //feb. kuleuven. be/febadvisor/

Possible questions for your ombudsperson • There is an overlap in my exam schedule. Can something be done about this? • I am ill and cannot participate in my exam tomorrow. What do I have to do? • I have a certificate for exam accommodations from the Disability Office. How can I make use of these exam accommodations ? • I am facing some personal problems that make it hard for me to focus on my studies. Who can I contact? • …. .

Ombudsperson: what? What? • your point of contact and confidential adviser • information about rights and duties concerning exams Illness during exams, exceptional individual circumstances … • accommodations for students with disabilities o Dyslexia, AD(H)D, hearing impairment … • officially recognized special statuses o working students, student athletes, student artists • mediator between students and instructors/examiners if needed o

Ombuds: how and when? How? • Individual appointment (via the FEBadvisor) • Q & A via the FEBadvisor • Information on the renewed student’s portal (Exams) • Referral to other KU Leuven Services if needed When? • At any point in your study career • Strict deadlines apply! (e. g. exam accommodations, exam deferral)

Check us on the student platform! https: //feb. kuleuven. be/eng/student-platform/exams

Check us on TOLEDO in ‘Education@FEB’!

Still haven’t found what you are looking for? Contact our staff/your ombuds via the FEBadvisor (www. feb. kuleuven. be/febadvisor) FEBadvisor: New Question

Find all student services at the FEB House of Students – welcome on the 1 st floor! FEB House of Students College of Premonstreit Naamsestraat 61 3000 Leuven Tel. 016 32 66 12

Good Luck!