As well as testing performance within a time limit, and under stress, exams tend to focus on retrieval and organisation. The various exam formats will be used to sample students' knowledge and understanding broadly and/or deeply, depending on the intended learning outcomes for the module.
Essay questions
Short essay questions give students the chance to show understanding, evaluation and synthesis skills, and to demonstrate familiarity with key sources in the field.
Problems to solve
Good for measuring analysis skills, application of theory in practice and problem-solving strategies.
Multiple-choice questions
Most useful for testing for a broad range of knowledge quite quickly. It is possible to measure understanding, evaluation and problem-solving skills with more complex questions.
There are a wide variety of multiple-choice and other types of questions available through the University’s e-assessment system.
Planning exams
Exams are organized by Schools with the support of the Exams Office. Within the exam season, rooms for both paper and e-assessment are booked by the Exams Office. Practicalities for online exams which take place outside these times are the responsibility of the module convenor.