Examination Day Policy

It is the policy of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix that all examinations are expected to be taken at the scheduled time as per each individual syllabus.

Tardiness to an Examination

Any student arriving after the official examination start time will:

• Be allowed to sit for the examination.
• Must complete the examination in the time remaining (no extra time given).

Late arrivals will be documented by the examination proctor and tracked by the Office of Student Affairs.

If the student states that they are unable to begin the examination due to a legitimate excuse (see Examination Absence Years 1-4 Policy), the student will be excused and must complete the online absence request form. An alternative examination day will only be granted upon approval of the absence request.

Interuption of an Examination

1. Pre-Clerkship Examinations:
   1. If the examination has not yet begun, the student will notify the proctor. The proctor will determine if the difficulty lies with the student or the examination-taking system.
      1. If the source of the difficulty lies with the examination-taking system, the proctor will attempt to rectify the situation.
         1. If the problem is resolved, the student will be instructed to start the examination, with the full allotted time given.
         2. If the examination-taking system cannot be corrected, the examination will be rescheduled. The student will take the examination during the alternative time period, if possible. If not, the Director will reschedule the examination for the soonest possible time. The Director can consider the student’s wishes for an examination time, but because of potential scheduling difficulties, the final decision will be made by the Director.
      2. If the student states that they are unable to begin the examination, the student will be excused. The student will then take the examination during the alternative time period, if possible. If not, the Director will reschedule the examination for the soonest possible time. The Director can consider the student’s wishes for an examination time, but because of potential scheduling difficulties, the final decision will be made by the Director.
   2. If the examination has begun and an interruption occurs, the student will notify the proctor. The proctor will determine if the difficulty lies with the student or the examination-taking system.
      1. If a difficulty arises in the examination-taking environment or with the examination-taking system, the proctor will attempt to rectify the situation.
         1. If successful, the examination will resume, with the length of the delay added to the originally scheduled ending time of the examination, so that the student will have the full time allotted to take the examination.
         2. If the proctor cannot rectify the situation, then rescheduling of the examination will occur as in I.1.a.ii. At the rescheduled time, the student will complete the remaining questions within the remaining time allotted for the examination.
      2. If the student states that they are unable to continue with the examination, the student will be excused. The proctor will sign the student out of the examination-taking system. When able, the student and Director will discuss a time for completing the examination. The student will complete the remaining questions within the remaining time allotted. Appropriate provisions will be made for review of previously answered questions while adhering to the original designated time allotment.
2. Clerkship Examinations & Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE):
   1. If the examination has not yet begun, the student will notify the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director, who will then determine if the difficulty lies with the student or the examination-taking system.
      1. If a difficulty arises in the examination-taking environment or with the examination-taking system, the proctor will attempt to rectify the situation.
         1. If the problem is resolved, the student will be allowed to take the examination, with the full allotted time given.
         2. If the examination-taking system cannot be corrected, the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director and Clerkship Director will reschedule the examination for the soonest possible time. They can consider the student’s wishes for an examination time, but because of potential scheduling difficulties, the final decision will be made by the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director and Clerkship Director.
      2. If the source of the difficulty lies with the student, the proctor will ask if the student requires immediate medical care, and attempt to help the student obtain it, if necessary. The chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director and Clerkship Director will reschedule the examination for the soonest possible time. They can consider the student’s wishes for an examination time, but because of potential scheduling difficulties, the final decision will be made by the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director.
   2. If the examination has begun, the student will notify the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director and Clerkship Director will determine if the difficulty lies with the student or the examination-taking system.
      1. If a difficulty arises in the examination-taking environment or with the examination-taking system, the proctor will attempt to rectify the situation.
         1. If successful, the examination will resume, with the length of the delay added to the originally scheduled ending time of the examination, so that the student(s) have the full time allotted to them to take the examination.
         2. If the chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director cannot rectify the situation, then rescheduling of the examination will occur as in II.1.a.ii.
      2. If the student states that they are unable to continue with the examination the proctor will excuse the student. The chief proctor/examination coordinator/examination director must close the examinee’s examination and file an incident report with the National Board of Medical Examiners. The student examination score is excluded from the class results. This examination will not be counted as a first attempt and will be rescheduled as in II.1.a.ii.