On-campus written exams
Information about how your on-campus written exam will run, including venue details, what to bring, and what to expect on the day.
If you're taking an exam at the Royal Exhibition Building or Wilson Hall, you must power off your phone before you enter the exam venue. You don't need your phone to Okta verify or open the Respondus browser for your exam.
Venue
Your exam timetable lists the venue for your exam. Further information about faculties and services, along with videos showing how to take your exam at each venue can be found below.
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Getting there
- The Royal Exhibition Building (REB) is in the Carlton Gardens next to the Melbourne Museum
- All exams enter via the north entrance (opposite the museum). Doors open 15 minutes before your exam start time. You may not be allowed entry if you are more than 30 minutes late
- Seating: Your timetable will show which side of the building your exam will be (East towards the left as your enter, or West towards the right as you enter), but venue staff will direct you to your seat
- Public Transport: The closest tram stop is Melbourne Museum/Nicholson St #11 on tram route 86 and 96, which stops directly outside the REB. The closest train station is Parliament Station, approximately seven minutes walk away from the REB. Bus routes 250, 251 and 402 travel to Melbourne Museum/Rathdowne St. View nearby stops and stations here
- Parking: Closest paid parking is available in the Melbourne Museum carpark located in Carlton (enter via Rathdowne Street or Nicholson Street).
Facilities and services
- Bathroom and water: Toilets and hydration stations are available outside the venue before exams. These are also available in the building once doors open
- First aid and medical assistance: Medics will be onsite at the venue should you need assistance
- Bags: Our advice is to not bring a bag. Limited bag storage will be available outside the venue. However, there may be lengthy wait times to collect items. The University of Melbourne takes no responsibility for any items left in storage. Learn more about bags storage.
Royal Exhibition Building exams seating map
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Getting there
- Wilson Hall is located on Parkville campus, at the corner of Monash Road and Wilson Avenue. It is a five-minute walk from Gate 10
- The entrance for exams is via the northern doors, which face Raymond Priestly Building. Doors open 15 minutes before your exam start time. You may not be allowed entry if you are more than 30 minutes late
- Public Transport: There are multiple public transport options, the closest tram stop is Melbourne University/Swanston St #1.
Facilities and services
- Bathroom and water: Toilets and hydration stations are available in the building once doors open
- First aid and medical assistance: Medics will be onsite at the venue should you need assistance
- Bags: Our advice is to not bring a bag. Limited bag storage will be available at the foyer area of the building. However, there may be lengthy wait times to collect items. The University of Melbourne takes no responsibility for any items left in storage. Learn more about bags storage.
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Getting there
- The Kwong Lee Dow Building is located at 234 Queensberry St, on the corner of Leicester St and Queensberry St. It is a five-minute walk from Gate 10 of the main Parkville Campus.
- The entrance for exams is off Leicester St. Doors open 15 minutes before your exam start time. You may not be allowed entry if you are more than 30 minutes late
- Public Transport: There are multiple public transport options, check the stops and stations nearby to 234 Queensberry St.
Facilities and services
- Bathroom and water: Toilets and hydration stations are available in the building
- First aid and medical assistance: Medics will be onsite at the venue should you need assistance
- Bags: Our advice is to not bring a bag. Limited bag storage will be available at the foyer area of the building. However, there may be lengthy wait times to collect items. The University of Melbourne takes no responsibility for any items left in storage. Learn more about bags storage.
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If you are sitting an exam at Melbourne Business School, view the venue map to find out more about this venue. You must check in at the reception desk before the start of your exam.
What do I do for my 1:1 exam at MBS?
- Arrive 15 minutes before your exam start time
- Go to Melbourne Business School reception desk
- Your exam supervisor will be waiting in an orange vest
- Your exam supervisor will escort you to your exam room
- Bathrooms are available on each floor
If you are running late to your exam, please still head to the Melbourne Business School reception where your exam supervisor will be waiting for you for up to one hour.
Please note this venue is not available to visit prior to your exam, so you will not be able to visit or access the space in the exam lead up. If you have any accessibility issues or any questions about the venue, please let us know by submitting an enquiry.
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- The Law building is located at 185 Pelham Street, Carlton. Exams will take place on ground level and level 1
- Arrive 15 minutes before your exam start time
- Bathroom facilities are available in the building
- Bags: Limited bag storage will be available at the foyer area of the building. However, there may be lengthy wait times to collect items. The University of Melbourne takes no responsibility for any items left in storage. Learn more about bags storage.
Seat number
Check for your seat number (for each exam) on your exam timetable via my.unimelb. Seat numbers can release closer to the date of your exam, continue to refresh your timetable closer to your exam day.
Seating plans are also displayed at the exam venue on the day. Arrive 15 minutes before your exam start time so that you are settled in before exam starts.
What to bring to your exam
Your student card
You must bring your student card to your exam for attendance tracking.
If you don’t have a student card, you will need to order a student card here. To ensure you have your student card ready for Semester 1, 2026 exams, please order at least 3 business days before your exam day.
If you have lost your student card, you can bring another acceptable photo ID as proof of your identity (this cannot be a photo, a copy, or a digital version). This may delay the identification process and impact the start of your exam.
- Passport
- Australia state or territory issued driver's licence
- Australian state or territory issued proof of identity card
If we are unable to verify your identity at your exam, your photo will be taken in the exam venue and you will need to report to Stop 1 the following business day after your exam with acceptable photo ID to have your identity verified in person.
Permitted materials
Only permitted materials are allowed on your desk and other items must be stored correctly, as per the University’s Assessments and Results Policy. Exam supervisors will confiscate unauthorised materials if it appears that you are using them improperly.
Standard permitted materials for all exams include:
- Identification card (hard copy student ID, passport, or Australian Government-issued photo ID)
- Pencils, pens, erasers
- Clear bottle of water
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You may bring and use the following if they are authorised by your subject coordinator and stated on your exam cover sheet as a permitted item:
- Calculator (Casio FX-82 any suffix and non-programmable); you are responsible for ensuring your calculator is in good working order with fresh batteries. Note: Calculator lids must be removed and stored under desk
- Notes (in the format authorised by your subject coordinator)
- Printed Dictionaries - English language or Language other than English. Dictionaries must not be used during reading time
- Mathematical instruments (Protractor, compass, ruler, circle template)
- Scientific models (Molecular model)
- Liquid pens and correction tape can be used; however, bottles of whiteout are not permitted
You may also bring other items if they are approved by the University your 'Alternative Exam Arrangement' (AEA) plan, such as
- Food, if required for medical reasons or if you are taking a clash exam (back-to-back exams with a brief break in between)
- Pharmaceutical medications
- Noise-cancelling headphones (i.e., earmuffs/ear defenders with no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity)
- Ergonomic supports
- Diabetes testing kits
- Technology customised to individual student needs (e.g., Braille note computer).
We do not recommend bringing valuable items (including wallets, passports, keys, phones and tablets/iPads). If you do, these must remain under your desk.
All electronic devices must be turned off before you enter the exam venue. You may place these on the floor under your desk for the duration of the exam.
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You can’t use the following during your exam, unless authorised by your subject coordinator and stated on your exam cover sheet as a permitted item.
- Food (unless approved for medical purposes)
- Drinks other than water. Coffee and energy drinks are not allowed. Water can be in a clear or unlabelled bottle, with no writing or text allowed
- Calculators
- Dictionaries, printed or electronic
- Pencil cases
- Notepads or loose sheets of paper
- Textbooks or course notes
- Diaries
- Noise-cancelling headphones with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity; foam earplugs are allowed
- Analogue and digital watches; no watches are permitted to be worn during your exam
- Personal electronic devices, including mobile devices, music players, computers, iPads and smart watches.
All electronic devices must be turned off before you enter the exam venue. You may place these on the floor under your desk for the duration of the exam.
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If you have an open book exam, your lecturer will advise what materials you can use during the exam. This information will also appear on the cover page of the exam.
You must keep large textbooks under your desk when they are not in use.
Electronic devices containing reference material are not permitted.
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Lost property will be held at the exam venue until the next business day.
Any lost student cards will be handed into Stop 1. Any other items will be passed on to UMSU at the end of each week.
If you’ve lost something, the lost property room (G10, Old Union House) is open on Mondays 4-4:30pm and Thursdays 3:30-4pm for you to check.
Bag storage
Bags are strictly not allowed inside venues, so our advice is not to bring a bag.
If you do, limited storage in shipping containers will be available outside the venue. These are open prior to each exam session and re-opened for collection once the exam has finished. Storage containers are closed during exam time, so please speak to security staff if you finish your exam early. Please expect lengthy wait times to collect items.
The University takes no responsibility for any items left in storage, so we advise leaving any valuables and unauthorised devices (e.g., smart watches, iPads) at home.
Exam rules
It's your responsibility to comply with these exam rules and all other assessment policies, student conduct policies and academic integrity policies. You must follow the Academic Integrity guidelines.
Discussions with others
- No talking to other students during your exam.
- You cannot discuss the content of your exam with another student who has not yet taken the exam. This includes talking, texting, sharing notes/materials, discussing via social media, etc.
During exams
- Turn off your mobile completely and place it under your desk
- Only permitted materials are allowed on your desk and other items must be stored correctly (refer to what to bring)
- During reading time there must be no writing, making notes, selecting answers or typing in any way, unless otherwise specified on your exam cover sheet
- You must not leave your seat during your exam without permission from an exam supervisor
- Remove everything from your pockets before going to the bathroom. If you are take anything (such as notes or your phone) to the toilet, you will be reported to your faculty.
Leaving exams
- You can’t leave the venue in the first 30 minutes of writing time or in the last 15 minutes of the exam
- You must not take any paper materials with you when leaving the venue.
What happens during your written campus exam
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- Arrive at the exam venue at least 15 minutes before your exam start time
- You may not be allowed entry if you are more than 30 minutes late
- If you’re not sure what your seat number is, confirm it via the printed exam seating charts available
- Have your student ID or an acceptable form of photo ID ready
- Make sure you have the materials you need, once you enter the venue, you can’t leave
- Turn off your phone and electronic devices, including smart watches and place them under your desk.
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- Doors open 15 minutes before the official exam start time.
- Walk in and take your seat. If you can’t find it, speak with a staff member wearing a vest (any colour). Remember once you’re in, you can’t leave the venue!
- Read the sticker on your desk. There are instructions on what can and can’t be on your desk. Place only permitted items on your desk. This includes your ID, which must be placed next to your seat number on the desk.
- Store your valuables under the desk, including laptops, phones, tablets and smart watches. All your electronic devices must be switched off. Your phone must remain switched off until you are outside the venue.
- Do not open your exam paper or touch your exam until you are given permission to do so by an announcement over the loudspeaker.
Example of a desk with exam paper, multiple choice answer sheet and script books.
Example of desk arrangement with exam paper and script books.
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- Most exams have a reading time of 15 minutes. If you've been allocated 30 minutes, you will be given separate instructions before your exam. Reading time allows you to familiarise yourself with the exam paper before the exam officially begins.
- The start of reading time will be announced over the loudspeaker.
- If you have a question about the content of your exam paper, put up your hand and the examiner for your subject will be on hand to answer your question.
- Unless otherwise indicated on the front cover of your exam paper, do not use calculators or write on your exam paper or forms during this time. Otherwise, your papers will be replaced and you may be reported to your faculty.
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- Write your name and student ID on every form – this takes about 2 minutes. You will not be given extra time at the end of the exam to fill this in, so do this at the start.
- If you have questions, feel unwell, need water or want to go to the toilet, raise your hand for assistance.
- It will be announced when you have 15 and then 10 minutes left of the exam.
- If you finish early, put up your hand and a supervisor will come over to you. Please note you cannot leave in the last 15 minutes of the exam.
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- There will be an announcement which will instruct you to stop writing. You must stop immediately or you will be reported to your faculty. This includes writing your name and ID on your forms.
- Place every paper that you have been issued with, including question papers, script books, answer sheets, graph paper and formulae sheets inside the cover of a single script book. A supervisor will collect these from you shortly. You're not allowed to take any exam papers with you.
- You need to wait in your seat until it is announced that you can leave. During this time you’re not allowed to talk or use your phone.
- Once you can leave, collect any belongings and exit quietly.