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Department of Economics

Exams - Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

They will be similar to past exam papers in terms of the level of difficulty. The format of exam papers will be explained in the exam rubric, so you should check each module that you are taking. Many exam papers will have the same format as past years, but please do check the rubrics for each of your modules which will be linked from the Exams ResourcesLink opens in a new window page.
Yes. The Department has released a series of Economics Mock Exam Papers, one for UG Year 1, UG Year 2, UG Year 3, Diploma and MSc modules. These will be available daily to you on AEP for a short period prior to your exams. You can take a mock exam once a day during this period, as many times as you want to. The Department will provide you with feedback for your first attempt at the mock exam, if you undertake it during a set period (to be notified prior to the start of each exam session). Feedback will consist of providing you with advice should you have made a technical error in using AEP or submitting your paper. No feedback on the academic content of your paper will be provided. Feedback will not be provided if you made no technical errors. The University also plans to provide a general practice paper which is also accessed via AEP. You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to practice using AEP.
Not for each module, but we will be providing a mock paper on AEP for each year group. Please see previous question.
Yes, each student registered on a module will be accessing the same exam paper in the same exam. The exceptions to this are if you have followed a previous year's syllabus, and therefore need a paper appropriate to that year, or for second-year exam papers where there are earlier-scheduled exams for finalists taking the module.
Will there be new content taught in term 3, or is it just used for revision? Term 3 will consist of some lectures which wrap up modules where material has not been completed in Term 2. There will be some revision lectures, and finishing off any assignments.
This will make revising and practicing a lot easier. Past papers will allow you the opportunity to work through questions. Module leaders use different approaches in their teaching and may use these in their classes. We do not offer solutions to past exams as a matter of routine, although some modules do make past answers available. You should use Advice and Feedback hours or forums to discuss your answers to past exams.
University policy is that students should be on campus or at their university term-term address to sit their exams. If you are unable to be in either of these locations, you will need to submit a mitigation application through the Tabula portal and wait for authorisation to be given. You should be able to evidence your reason(s) for not being at the university.
Our exam papers are carefully designed such that they can be completed within their designated duration. You will need to take responsibility for managing your time in the exam effectively.
If you believe one or more of your exams are missing, please contact the UG or PG team.
The Module code is the code that is assigned to the module, e.g. EC109 for Microeconomics 1; EC139 for Mathematical Techniques A; EC107 for Economics 1.
There is just one mock exam and it is not subject specific. It is just there to give you a chance to familiarise yourself with doing different things that may be required on the exam. There is a mock exam available every day at 9.30am for the first two weeks of Term 3 (all of these mock exams are the same), so that you can practice doing it on a day that is suitable for you and so that you can practice multiple times. You are not required to do multiple attempts, but should do at least one of them to familiarise yourself with the system and if you do make a mistake with it, then you are encouraged to do it again to make sure you get it right.
There is just one mock exam and it is not subject specific. It is just there to give you a chance to familiarise yourself with doing different things that may be required on the exam. There is an exam available every day (all of them are the same), so that you can practice doing it on a day that is suitable for them and so that you can practice multiple times. You are not required to do multiple attempts, but should do at least one of them to familiarise yourself with the system and if you do make a mistake with it, then you are encouraged to do it again to make sure you get it right.
You should ensure that you complete all parts of the exam paper as requested. Once you have finished your exam, you should go through and check you have completed all relevant parts before submitting it. You may find it helpful to have a checklist which includes this.
No, this does not matter. We will be able to identify your student number, with or without the 'u' at the beginning.
Yes, we would still appreciate that you do this.
No, you don't need to do this. Just include the number of the whole question.
No, we have not experienced this in any of the other exams.
When writing an exam, it is the quality of what you write that matters, not the quantity. Even those who are slower at typing have enough time to write excellent answers if you focus on the quality and content of what you are writing.

Timing of exams

For 2024/2025, exams will run for MSc modules during the periods 6th January - 10th January and 6th May – 19th June, and for undergraduate modules during the period 12th May – 19th June. You will see your personal exam timetable via the Student page of the Exams Office website as they are published. For the main Summer exam period, the timetable will be published the week commencing 21st April, after which you will be able to view your timetable. Please check the Exams Office websiteLink opens in a new window for full information.
You are not given any further extensions if you have a congested timetable, including two exams on one day.
You are not given any extra time if you have exams which are scheduled closely, or if you have two exams on the same day. Students are advised to expect a congested timetable and you will have had many weeks to prepare for your exams.
Yes, it is there for you to read through the paper and perhaps make decisions about which questions you might want to answer. During reading time, you will be allowed to make notes on your question paper, but you will not be allowed to open during Answer Booklet until you are instructed.

Invigilation

Dealing with mathematical expressions, equations and images

It is always a good idea to show your workings, as there will be method marks. If you very clearly cross out any mistakes such that it is clear which parts of your workings form part of your answer, then this will be fine to include.

Academic integrity and plagiarism

The penalties can include a mark of zero on the exam and a summons to an Academic Conduct Panel and an Investigating Committee of the Senate. This can then be referred to the University Discipline Committee and here the sanctions available include the termination of the student's registration at the University, without them then being able to proceed or graduate. Please see this link to Regulation 11 for more information.
All individuals detected as cheating will face serious consequences. For example, if one student provides to another student information of any sort whatsoever regarding an assessment paper (either on the nature of the questions or with guidance on answers) both students will be treated as equally culpable and subject to equally severe penalties.
You won't need to reference anything that is standard knowledge e.g. definitions or curves. If you quote something directly, then you should reference this, but your answer should be your own work.

Mitigating Circumstances

If you encounter technical or mitigating circumstances during a module exam, such that you are not able to upload the completed exam paper, then:

UG Students: You MUST submit a mitigating circumstances application via Tabula WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE CLOSING OF AEP, providing detailed clear context of the problem you encountered and specifying exactly which part of the paper you had problems uploading on AEP. This application MUST include relevant evidence on the nature of the problem and include a timestamp from within the window of the exam. You MUST also submit your COMPLETE script (no individual question answers such as a graph, an image, mathematical solution, etc) WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE closing of AEP.

For PGT students, a Tabula mitigating circumstances application should be submitted and then the complete script should be submitted to the resource account: economics.pgoffice@warwick.ac.uk].

Should you submit only part of your exam answers on Tabula/via email but also manage to submit the rest of the paper on AEP, then the Department will take the Tabula/email submission as your final submission and will only mark that. The department will mark an exam paper submitted (via Tabula [UG] or resource account [PGT]) ONLY if an accompanying mitigating circumstances application has been made. Failing to submit the exam on time without a supporting mitigating circumstances application could lead to a zero mark.

Supporting evidence for your mitigating circumstances applications MUST be submitted with within 5 working days of the affected exam. Screenshots or photographs which are provided as evidence MUST be time-stamped.

More details can be found here- https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/current/shared/exam-resources/guidance_on_technical_mitigating_circumstances.pdf 

In advance of your exam, if there is an IT issue you should take time-based evidence of any IT issue that may affect the examination as it occurs. This would typically involve the times when the issue(s) started, such as a photograph, screenshot or video of the issue as it occurs (e.g., “no internet connection” showing on a computer screen with a timestamp). It should then also include when the issue(s) were resolved and a narrative of the issue.

Please submit this evidence as mitigating circumstances on Tabula as soon as you have a connection.

Make contact with the UG Office or the PG Office and we will advise you on the best action, which might be not to take the exam if you are unwell.
You should evacuate the building and follow any instructions you are given. When you are able to return to the building, if the AEP is still open then you should complete your exam and submit via the AEP, if you are still within your time limit. You should then submit a claim for mitigating circumstances, with evidence, via Tabula to let us know about what happened. If you have exceeded your time limit on AEP, you should submit a claim and your exam paper via the Tabula mitigating circumstances portal and if possible, submit evidence of the disruption. You should do this as soon as you can. Please do not email individual members of staff or other general email accounts with your exam paper.

If you encounter technical or mitigating circumstances during a module exam, such that you are not able to upload the completed exam paper, then:

UG Students: You MUST submit a mitigating circumstances application via Tabula WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE CLOSING OF AEP, providing detailed clear context of the problem you encountered and specifying exactly which part of the paper you had problems uploading on AEP. This application MUST include relevant evidence on the nature of the problem and include a timestamp from within the window of the exam. You MUST also submit your COMPLETE script (no individual question answers such as a graph, an image, mathematical solution, etc) WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE closing of AEP.

For PGT students, a Tabula mitigating circumstances application should be submitted and then the complete script should be submitted to the resource account: economics.pgoffice@warwick.ac.uk].

Should you submit only part of your exam answers on Tabula/via email but also manage to submit the rest of the paper on AEP, then the Department will take the Tabula/email submission as your final submission and will only mark that. The department will mark an exam paper submitted (via Tabula [UG] or resource account [PGT]) ONLY if an accompanying mitigating circumstances application has been made. Failing to submit the exam on time without a supporting mitigating circumstances application could lead to a zero mark.

Supporting evidence for your mitigating circumstances applications MUST be submitted with within 5 working days of the affected exam. Screenshots or photographs which are provided as evidence MUST be time-stamped.

More details can be found here- https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/current/shared/exam-resources/guidance_on_technical_mitigating_circumstances.pdf 

Once you have opened the Word document, you should be able to type directly into it so the speed of your computer shouldn't have an impact here. You should practice sending yourself images to check on the timing of this and should take this into account when completing your exams. You may also want to get in touch with IT Services to see if they can offer any assistance with your computer.
You should make sure you leave sufficient time to upload your exam to the AEP and you may want to consider the best time to take any exam based on when your Wifi is at its best. You may also want to speak to any family members or others who you are living with and ask them to avoid using the Wifi at certain times when you are going to be downloading or uploading your file. If your Wifi does disappear when you are uploading your file, you should complete a mitigating circumstances submission on Tabula detailing the problems as soon as you can.

If you encounter technical or mitigating circumstances during an exam, please immediately contact the UG resource account (economics.ugoffice@warwick.ac.uk) /PG account: economics.pgoffice@warwick.ac.uk.

You must also submit a mitigating circumstances application via Tabula, providing information about the issue and including relevant evidence, within 5 working days of the affected exam.

You may find that you can still use your phone to submit mitigating circumstances on Tabula, even if you can't submit the evidence, you can still make the department aware of an issue and should do this as soon as possible. Once your wifi returns to your computer, you can then look to upload your exam on Tabula under mitigating circumstances.
Mitigation circumstances must be submitted via Tabula in the Personal Circumstances tab. More information can be found here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/current/ug/resources/services-and-support/academic-and-pastoral-support/mitigating-circumstances 
No, there is no limit to the number of mitigation claims that you can make.
You should go to the Personal Circumstances tab of Tabula, start a mitigation claim where you explain what has happened, submit evidence and upload your exam there as well.
This is just given as additional time in the exam. The clock doesn't pause for rest breaks, but additional time will be added to your overall time. You should already know the total time you have for any exam.
All students have the same time limits irrespective of where they are taking the exam. We have many students in all countries around the world and we didn't experience any issues with students submitting work from any country on an ongoing basis. If you do experience any issues, you should submit this via the Tabula mitigating circumstances portal.
It is automatically applied and you should be able to see this in AEP. If you are taking an in-person exam you will receive confirmation of your reasonable adjustment arrangements via email beforehand.
If there is an IT issue you should take time-based evidence of any IT issue that may affect the examination as it occurs. This would typically involve the times when the issue(s) started, such as a photograph, screenshot or video of the issue as it occurs (e.g., “no internet connection” showing on a computer screen with a timestamp). It should then also include when the issue(s) were resolved and a narrative of the issue.

Please submit this evidence as mitigating circumstances on Tabula as soon as you have a connection.

If any student has mitigation from any term, then they should submit this via the mitigating circumstances portal on Tabula. The exam board does not change the marks on any module, even with mitigation, but will look at the mitigation and what term(s)/years/exams were affected and will then take into account that mitigation when determining degree class.

Support

IT Services helpdeskLink opens in a new window would be able to provide technical help for you.
You need to submit a mitigating circumstances application through Tabula if you experience any technical issues that impact on your ability to complete your exam. 
It depends on the question you have. If your question is of an academic nature you should contact the module leader or your class tutor. If you have a general question about online exams, please contact the UG Office at economics.ugoffice@warwick.ac.uk or the PG Office at economics.pgoffice@warwick.ac.uk as appropriate for your course.

Marks, Progression and Classification

All students

It is always a good idea to show your workings, as there will be method marks.
All dates for releasing results are set by the university. At present, finalist results are due to be released on 12th July; first year results are due to be released on 15th July and intermediate year (second year) results are due to be released on 22nd July.
Yes. Everything answered refers equally to those who are deferring their exams until September.

UG

70% and above in any module is consistent with a 1st (please note we do not classify the 1st year). We do not mark to a curve.
Information can be found in the UG HandbookLink opens in a new window
Each module has a CATS (credit weighting), e.g. EC109 is worth 30 CATS. Your year average will be a weighted average across your modules.
Yes that is correct.
You need to pass all core modules with a mark over 40% or above, An overall average of 40% means across all modules weighting each by their CATS weight.
If you are taking an exam as a resit, then the maximum mark you can obtain is 40%. So if you pass the resit, no matter what mark you actually achieve in the exam, the mark you will be given is 40%. It is therefore capped.
Moderation takes place across all modules and this involves looking at the distribution of marks across each module. We will look at averages over the years to ensure that the distribution of marks is as we would expect. Scaling is part of the moderation process and can be used when necessary, but does not occur as standard practice.
All dates for releasing results are set by the university. At present, finalist results are due to be released on 12th July; first year results are due to be released on 15th July and intermediate year (second year) results are due to be released on 22nd July.
Exams will have method marks, so you should always show your workings.
The next examination period is September, so you would need to speak to your institution or to your line manager to ensure you can take the exam in September. If you are not able to do so, then the next opportunity would be summer 2025, but you would not be able to proceed until you have passed the required number of CATs or have the required average.

UG - Year 1

Year 1 will not count towards your degree classification, but you will still get marks for each module and for the whole year and this will be included on your transcript. Students must pass Year 1 to proceed to Year 2.
If you have an overall average of 40% or more and pass all core modules then you progress to Year 2. You do not have to resit failed optional modules - although these marks will appear on your transcript.
Year 1 is not classified and therefore is not always a good predictor of overall performance in the degree course. However, in the absence of anything else this will be the only thing we have got to make predictions.
As a first year student, if you fail a core module, then you will be required to resit it in the next examination period, which is in September. You need to pass all of your core modules (40% required) in order to proceed to the next year and also require an overall average of 40%. If you fail an optional module, the department will not require you to resit the exam. All exams that are taken as resit are now worth 100%. For second year students, you need to pass 60 CATS of modules (any modules) and have an overall average of 40%. You are not required to resit failed modules unless you are unable to progress to the next year.
You need to pass EC120 overall. If you fail one component, but have still passed EC120 overall, then you have passed that module. If you have a mark of less than 40% on EC120, then you will be required to retake both examined components (EC121/EC123 and EC122/EC124) even if you passed those.
For first year students, you need to get a minimum of 40% in each of your core modules and also need to have an average of 40% across all of your modules. For second year students, you need to obtain passes in any 60 CATS and obtain an overall average of 40% across all of your modules.
Year 1 is not classified and therefore is not always a good predictor of overall performance in the degree course. However, in the absence of anything else this will be the only thing we have got to make predictions.

UG - Year 3

The 120 CATS can be from any modules across your Honours Years (year 2 and 3). However, when we talk about the core average, this is then obviously based on your core modules.
No, it is 120 CATS from your Honours years, which is years 2 and your final year. Year 1 does not count except for in GL11 Mathematics and Economics.
RAE (EC331) is a core module for L100 and L116, so this module will form part of the core module calculation. The borderline works in exactly the same way.
Mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis, but the Exam Board has discretion to take these into account and to promote students to a higher degree classification.
If that assessment was not taken then the CATS weighting of it will not be part of the CATS value for assessments prior to 13th March. The weighting for the assessment would have been passed onto the exam.
If you fail any module, you will only be required to resit it if the failure means that you are not eligible for a degree to be awarded. You cannot just resit modules if you fail them.
Look at how much each assessment you took pre March 13 2020 is worth relative to the CATS of that module. For example a 20% test on a 15 CAT module would be worth 3 CATS. Do this for all your assessments on all modules and you can work out how many CATS you took pre 13 March 2020 as a percentage of your total CATS.
All exams are marked by two people as part of the marking and moderation process and a further clerical check will then take place. Students are not able to request a re-mark on any exam, as academic judgement cannot be challenged, so if you miss a required mark on a module for a Masters offer for example, you will not be able to request a remark.

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