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 • •

Individual Exam Schedule

Individual Exam Schedule (IES) • Where can I find it?

Individual Exam Schedule/Exam Card • Exam date, hour, room o Check before the start of the exam period • And during the exams (e. g. switching rooms) o Exam card • Questions? o Contact your ombuds

Different Examination Formats

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

Oral Exam • Check the guidelines of your professor • Preparation time : Mostly about 20 - 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 - decent 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 • •

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 o Required in scientific writing (better too much than not enough) KU Leuven has tool to detect plagiarism Within text quotations, reference list 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%

Do’s and Don’ts The Day of Your Evaluation

Do’s and Don’ts • Always bring: student card + exam card, pens/pencils… (in transparent plastic bag) • Additional items for exam? : calculator, study material, dictionaries BEFORE EXAM o Check info on ECTS-file/TOLEDO o Calculator? • Calculators with memory capacity are 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 • Drinks are allowed, but don’t drink too much so that you don’t have to • • • go the bathroom during the exam, food is normally not allowed 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 your hat and leave them on the side of the classroom. Do not disassemble your exam No cell phones or smartwatch: possession of phone is fraud!!! Leave these in your backpack.

Do’s and Don’ts • If you do not want to take part in the exam, you don’t show up and you will receive a ‘NA’ grade = not attended exam grade (visa students can not have a NA) • If you take a seat and start the exam o Stay in exam room for at least 45 minutes, in this way people arriving late can still start their exam. • Finalizing the exam o Make sure that the supervisor signs your exam card at the end of every exam • 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 first to the Ombuds service! • If you arrive within 45 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) • Call the ombuds before the start of the exam • Catch-up exam? o o o Decided independently by your ombuds Only if the student has followed the procedures NEVER CONTACT YOUR PROFESSOR

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

Consultation of Results & Feedback

Degree Students Results and Study Progress

Your Study Progress File % CSE

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’)

Exams: Pass/fail? • Passing a course ? 10/20 or more (= credit ) o Only the courses < 10/20 2 nd exam chance o Tolerances: - BBA + preparatory programmes – Tolerances 10% of total credits (minus the exemptions) – only possible with a grade of 8 or 9/20 - Master students – No tolerances!! o

Your Study Progress File •

Study Progress (1) First year, registration 19 -20 • Cumulative Study Efficiency (CSE) < 30% o o 1 year refusal to re-register for the same programme Re-orientation! • Cumulative Study Efficiency (CSE) < 50% o o Binding condition: following year CSE 50%! Re-orientation?

Study Progress (2) Second year, registration 20 -21 • Cumulative Study Efficiency < 50% o o 1 year refusal to re-register at KU Leuven for all programmes Re-orientation!

How Many Times Can I Register For a Course? • Second time in a programme? yes • Third time in a programme? o o CSE > 50% → yes CSE < 50% → no Next academic year: You’re not allowed to register for any programme at KU Leuven which includes this course. o MBA/MIBEM: yes • Fourth time in a programme? No Three following academic years: You’re not allowed to register for any programme at KU Leuven which includes this course.

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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 -> No tolerances at KU Leuven – contact home university • 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 beginning of July 2020 o Deadline to register for the retakes is 11 th of July 2020 o Rebecca Rampelberg will send you a reminder via email

Feedback

Feedback Exams • • • After every exam period (Jan, June and Aug/Sep) Feedback lecturers o Have a look into your exam o Compare expected answer with your answer o Discuss study method o Expectations lecturer o Register digitally!!! General feedback o Discuss overall results and study planning & study method o Year program & tolerances o Study career consultants (T’Serclaes 1 st floor A-side)

Ombuds & Support

Who Is My Ombuds?

Ombuds – Stuvo+ - www. stuvoplus. be • Issues with educational services/internships and or exams • Force Majeure • Irregularities – Fraude or Plagiarism • What if you don’t understand your exam results or deem them unreasonable

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? • …. .

Ombuds person: Who? • 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? Check the folder you received • Contact ombuds during exam periods: Monday to Friday: 8 am till 6. 30: A 01 -01 Tel. 02 210 13 19 (always phone force majeure on the day of the exam or the day before / other issues , complaints, asking for appointment is possible by mail. • Saturday: 8. 30 am-9. 30 am and 12. 30 (for morning exams) pm-1. 30 pm (for exams starting at 13. 30). : mobile 0470 90 43 89 (no text messages and no messages on voicemail, mobile only for Saturday’s.

Find all Student Services at The T’Serclaes Building • Ombuds service: T’Serclaes – 1 st floor – A • Study career consultants: T’Serclaes – 1 st floor – A • Student administration: T’Serclaes – 1 st floor - B • International office – T’Serclaes – 5 th floor - A

Good Luck!