How can I prepare to take an assessment at King's?
Before taking your assessments, you should:
- Read and understand the rules governing Academic Misconduct and familiarise yourself with the Misconduct Policy and Procedure before taking an exam at King’s. It is of the utmost importance that you are aware of the rules regarding examinations at King’s.
- Check that you are registered for your upcoming exams in good time.
- Check your personalised exam timetable on KCL My Timetable. The full examination timetable for the upcoming assessment period can also be viewed in our article When are assessment periods and when will I get my exam timetable?. If you can't see an exam/module on your timetable, take a look at our article Support when registering for your exams/ accessing your exam timetable for further guidance.
- Check your candidate number, which can be found on Student Records.
- Ensure you have all the equipment you'll need to help you revise and take assessments. You should also take a look at your course handbook for guidance on more information on the equipment you'll need throughout your studies.
If you're taking an online exam
In addition to the above, you should:
- Ensure you are able to access the platform that your exams are scheduled to take place (e.g. KEATS) a couple of weeks before your exam. If you are having issues with accessing the platform your exams are scheduled to take place, please contact your department/faculty as soon as possible.
- Turn on the auto-save option on Microsoft Word or Pages, and the auto spell-checker. If you are using any assistive technology the day of your online exam, make sure you are familiar with how to use this (for example, MS Word Read Aloud, speech to text).
- Ensure that you've got access to a quiet space to take your assessments; read the section 'Where should I take/study for my exams' below for further guidance.
What can I expect during my online exam?
We have a separate article What can I expect during my online exam? that explains what happens before, during and after online assessments.
If you're taking an in-person exam
In addition to the above, you should:
- Read our article What are exam hall offences? for guidance on what is considered to be an exam hall offence.
- Read the guidance within Examination Information for Candidates for further guidance on exam hall etiquette.
- Read our article Travelling to and taking your exam at ExCeL London for further guidance on what you can expect once you've arrived at the venue and during your exam.
- Plan your journey to ExCeL London in good time; our article above contains useful information to help you to do so.
Important to know:
- You will have a 24-hour period in which to open your assessment. Once the assessment has been opened, you will have a pre-set period of time to complete the assessment, which will begin counting down once the assessment has been opened. Any additional time granted by your PAA will be included in full for this form of assessment.
- The deadline for submission will be 24 hours from the date and time on your timetable. You can open and submit your assessment at any time within the 24 hours provided. You are not expected to spend any longer on your assessment than the original allowed time. In this instance, additional time granted by your PAA arrangements will NOT be applied.
Where should I take/study for my exams?
Where appropriate, online assessments have been designed to enable you to take these remotely. Where possible, the expectation is that online assessments will be completed off-campus.
Whenever possible, you should ensure in advance that you have a quiet place for you to take your online exam, where you will not be disturbed by others. If you are in a shared environment, it may also be useful to let others know that you will be taking an online exam in advance. You may find noise-cancelling headphones useful for blocking out external noise in shared spaces. You can also try to study for, or take your exam at a different time than others if the timing of your assessment allows you to do so.
I don't have access to a quiet space, where can I take my online exam/study on campus?
We recognise that some students may not have an appropriate quiet study space, or adequate internet access needed to undertake their assessments. If you wish to sit your assessments on campus, you can use the dedicated informal learning spaces on campus; Please read our article Where can I study on campus? for further guidance.
Important to know: Informal learning spaces will be designated as ‘quiet’ spaces to better support students completing their assessments. However, these will not be formally invigilated or monitored. We, therefore, advise all students to be mindful of others and their surroundings when using our informal learning spaces.
Additional academic/ IT support for completing assessments
Academic support at King's
Read our article Academic support when taking assessments at King's for an overview of the additional academic support you can access during the assessment period and throughout your studies.
IT Support during assessments
If you need access to a laptop, you can request to borrow IT equipment from King's.
If you are experiencing difficulties with accessing online learning and resources or issues with hardware, please contact the IT Service Desk. Please read our article What can I expect during my online exam? for guidance on contacting IT with technical issues with online exams.
Looking after your wellbeing throughout the assessment period
Top tips to combat stress
It’s normal to experience stress and anxiety as you prepare to take an exam or complete an assessment. We’ve shared some helpful tips to help you combat stress during this time.
- Take time out of your studies to look after your wellbeing
- To boost your concentration levels, ensure you are getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep a day and eat a healthy balanced diet.
- Improve your time management skills by creating a revision timetable (and stick to it!)
- Take regular breaks when revising.
- Practice taking timed mock exams to help you to familiarise yourself with the format of online assessments.
- Whether it’s a peer, your personal tutor or a loved one, talk to someone about any worries or concerns you may be having.
- When revising, try to limit your use of social media. Having a ‘social media detox’ before your exams can help you to boost your mood and decrease stress levels.
Additional resources to help you deal with exam stress:
Wellbeing support from King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU)
It’s important to take time out of your studies to look after your wellbeing and manage stress during this time.
There are a range of initiatives at King’s held to encourage students to take care of their mental health/ wellbeing and to connect with peers.
King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) hold a variety of student-led activities throughout the academic year:
- De-stress from exams by getting involved in a wide range of fun online activities and events during the exam season.
- The Wellbeing Hub is the online space for students to find activities, events, and resources to boost their wellbeing and thrive during their studies.
- The Campus Conversations team are student partners of KCLSU Wellbeing, who create student-only spaces and promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all students at King’s.
Articles you may find helpful:
King's Sport & Wellness
Through the King's Wellness Scheme, King’s Sport & Wellness offers a wide range of free online classes covering popular self-care activities including meditation, journaling, and yin yoga.
Accessing mental health & pastoral support
King's College London also offers an online support service called Togetherall that you can use at any time. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any device with an internet connection. Our article Mental health support from Togetherall includes more information on using Togetherall for the first time.
I need to speak to someone
The Counselling and Mental Health Support Service (C&MHS) offers free and confidential online support. Read our article Registering with the Counselling & Mental Health Support Service for guidance on making an appointment.
Other articles you may find useful:
Pastoral support at King's:
- You can contact the Wellbeing & Welfare Advisor dedicated to your faculty to help you navigate our wide range of support services. To find out more, please refer to Who are the Faculty Wellbeing & Welfare Advisors?
- The Chaplaincy is open to all and can provide emotional support.