This page includes information about approved examination materials.
You must adhere strictly to the following rules. If you ignore them or any instructions given by an examination supervisor, you may have your examination cancelled and face further action.
You are required to keep these details and refer to them again before the exam.
Check your examination Admittance letter for details of approved materials specific to your examination(s).
Calculators and electronic devices
If the use of a calculator is permitted in an examination, this will be specified in your Admittance letter.
- You may take extra batteries in to the examination room, but any time lost due to calculator malfunction CANNOT be made up.
- You may be required to enter the name and model number of the calculator you have used on the cover of the examination answer book.
- Programmable calculators capable of storing and displaying text, graphics, and have symbolic algebraic manipulation capabilities are NOT permitted. You may be asked to remove all batteries at the same time, which will erase anything that may have been stored in the memory.
- You may NOT borrow a calculator from another candidate after entering the examination room.
No other electronic devices capable of storing, transmitting or receiving information, e.g. electronic diaries, personal organisers, pagers, electronic translation devices etc, are permitted in the examination.
Dictionaries
All students are allowed to bring a dictionary into the examination room. Only the following types of dictionary are permitted:
- A one-volume non-technical English dictionary such as a ‘concise’ or ‘pocket’ version.
- A print-based translation dictionary English/Foreign Language.
Note - Dictionaries should NOT contain any handwritten or typewritten notes in English or any other language.
Government Acts
You may only bring the original Government Act booklet into those examinations for which there is a requirement. Photocopies of Government Acts or Acts downloaded from the Internet will NOT be permitted for use in examinations.
Other materials
The only reference publications allowed in the examination room are those listed for each examination.
- Unless stated otherwise, any books used for examinations must NOT contain any added handwritten notes, printed or typewritten matter (in English or any other language) or drawings or diagrams.
- These books may contain added underlining, highlighting or sidelining of words or passages. Book markers may only be used to show section numbers.
- Books must be produced for inspection on entry into the examination room, and at any other time during the examination when requested by the Supervisor.
- No spare copies will be available if you forget to bring your own and you will NOT be allowed to borrow copies from other candidates in the examination room.
Any material which does not comply with the above provisions shall be taken from the candidate by the Supervisor and the candidate shall NOT be permitted to use such material, but shall have it returned after the alleged breach of rule, or rules, has been dealt with by the Open Polytechnic. No allowances will be made for the loss of marks attributed to such confiscation.
Got a question?
If you have any questions about approved examination materials please get in touch: