School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences
Student Safety & Study Skills
Handbook 11/12

• Preparing yourself
• Revision strategies
• Exam strategies
• Advice on resitting examinations
• Examination room rules
• Assessment and Grading Criteria
• Sandwich mode
• Finding out results

Advice on Resitting Examinations

You will be alerted to any module referrals by the published pass lists around the middle of July. You will then receive a letter towards the end of July detailing the requirements you will have to satisfy. Make sure you know exactly when and where the resit is to be held (usually end August-start September) and what the format of the paper is going to be. September resit examinations are not automatically allowed but depend on attendance and other factors.

If you fail a module during the year you may be given an opportunity to try again in September (you may call this a resit - the university calls it a referral). This is not a right: it is not automatic and not everyone is allowed a resit (referral). If you fail a module at the first attempt you will not be allowed to resit the exam or coursework in September if your attendance has been poor. You are required to attend all lectures, laboratory classes, tutorials, and seminars and to attempt all assessments. In chemistry modules, lecture attendance below 80% may result in you not being granted a referral and in all subjects failure to attend a laboratory will result in you not being allowed a referral. More specific advice about attendance will be given in the individual module documentation. Similarly, if you do not hand in coursework or you do not sit the exam you may not be given a referral. It is important, therefore, that you sign registers when they are distributed and attempt all assessments. Currently registers are taken in chemistry lectures and labs, pharmacy labs, biology labs, and all maths classes. If you are absent for more than a day or so you should complete an absence form (obtainable from the school office - room H608) and attach a medical certificate (if the absence is for more than three working days). A referral is also unlikely to be granted if your marks are very low.

Failure in an examination may have uncomfortable consequences but the situation can be retrieved if you take the steps outlined below. First, however, you will need to be quite honest with yourself and the staff - were you lazy/having too good a time and left revision until too late? Do you know which topics you have a poor understanding of?

After giving some careful thought about the reasons for your poor performance, please read the following options:

• You may wish to make arrangements to discuss your academic situation and progress with your personal tutor or a relevant member of the academic staff; in which case this should be done before 31st July.
  
  
• Arrange with an appropriate member of staff to do practice answers during the summer and submit these answers in good time for marking before the examinations. You are strongly advised to commence revision/preparation immediately. While staff will help you if they can, do not expect staff to be available at any time to suit you over the summer vacation. Please note that you are entitled to clarification of your position but not entitled to further formal tuition.
  
  
• Obtain copies of past papers but make sure the format has not changed.
  
  
• Make sure your lecture notes, handouts and reference lists are complete and accurate. If not, arrange to borrow or copy those of one of your colleagues.
  
  
• Buy or borrow the relevant text books if you do not already possess them.
  
  
• Organise your summer so that you have a programme of revision and stick to it. Remember that the summer is a very bad time for revision; most of your fellow students will be relaxing while you are studying. Do not let that distract you. By all means take a holiday - it will relax you and refresh your mind - but remember that you must pass the examination.
  
  
• Work steadily and regularly. Do not try to cram everything in at the last minute. If you can, discuss difficult topics with another student.
  
  
• Ensure that you understand your notes, revise them, and then attempt to answer practice assessment questions. Compare your answers with your notes and prepare model answers for assessment.

Overseas students September examination arrangements

In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to take exams in your own country at a British Council or local college if one is available to make the arrangements for you. Exception: Exams with practical (laboratory) components. You will be required to complete an ‘Overseas Examinations Form’ which is available with instructions from the school office and you will be expected to liaise with both the school office and British Council (or local college) in the run up to the resit period.