Exam Administration Policy

Professionalism Reporting

Policy Statement:

The following requirements for the administration of computer-based written examinations are intended to ensure an efficient examination process that results in accurate assessments of student knowledge and other skills.

 

Policy Requirement:

  1. All course and subject examinations will be delivered in a computer-based format on students’ personal devices.  Students must bring fully charged laptop computers and chargers to examinations.
  2. Unless otherwise instructed, the following items are NOT PERMISSIBLE in examination areas: cell phones, smart watches, pagers, purses, satchels, backpacks, notes or papers of any kind (including clinical skills exam rooms). Hats with brims or bills (such as baseball caps) as well as hoods on hooded sweatshirts may not be worn during an exam. Note: KSOM does not provide secure storage in examination areas and is not responsible for items which must be left outside of exam rooms and OSCE/CPX post-encounter rooms, and students choosing to bring such items do so at their own risk.
  3. Any student found with unauthorized items in the examination area or on their person will receive a grade of Fail for the exam and will be subject to additional disciplinary measures.
  4. Students must be in the examination room and in their seats at the scheduled examination time.  Unexcused tardiness (in their seats after the scheduled time) is considered a professionalism lapse.
  5. Students may not be allowed to sit for the scheduled exam if they are more than 15 minutes late. They will be required to meet with the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or their designee.
  6. Students who arrive late are not given extended testing time and are held to the original end time set for the exam. Students who are late for three or more exams may be required to appear in front of the Student Performance Committee at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
  7. Once a student begins an examination, it is not possible to grant an excused absence for that particular examination. The grade for the attempted examination will stand as the final grade for that administration of the examination.
  8. Students must complete all examinations in the designated examination area. After a student has completed an examination, they must quietly leave the examination area and there shall be no discussion with other students still working on the examination. If necessary, proctors will ask students to leave the examination area.
  9. Late examinations must be approved by the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or their designee.  The timing of the late examination is at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
  10. “Not ready to take the examination” is not an acceptable justification for delaying an examination.
  11. A student requesting more than two late exams in an academic year may be placed on an administrative leave of absence for the remainder of that academic year. If a student is placed on administrative leave, the student can appeal to the Student Performance Committee for the opportunity to take additional late examinations.
  12. Missed Examinations: Failure to take an examination at a scheduled time – either the original exam, a late exam, or a retake exam – will result in a grade of “Fail” and a score of “zero” will be recorded for that exam.
  13. Failure to adhere to any of the above policies will trigger an incident report to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs who will determine next steps based on KSOM policy.

 

Process

  1. All exams are administered on campus in a proctored environment.
  2. Students must make an effort to avoid even the appearance of any breach in examination security. Any student who is suspicious that cheating is occurring during an exam should immediately alert a proctor.
  3. During an examination and during individual breaks, there shall be no talking among students, regardless of the content of the conversation.
  4. Breaks may be taken one person at a time within designated areas only for restroom or refreshment purposes and with a proctor escort. The number of breaks during an examination may be limited depending on the type and length of the exam.  Test time continues to count down during breaks.
  5. All finalized examination scores will be posted in the course of record. Students failing a course or subject examination will be notified via email.
  6. A student who is unable to take a scheduled examination or will be more than 15 minutes late for any reason must notify the Office of Student Affairs at (323) 442-2553 as soon as circumstances preventing the examination or leading to a late arrival become known. The student must correspond directly with the Assistant or Associate Dean for Student Affairs or their designee to discuss the reason for the absence either in person or via email or phone.

Reviewed and Approved: July 21, 2021

Medical Education Curriculum Committee (MECC)