Final and Midyear Examinations

• Examination Categories
  
• Examination Scheduling
  
• Examination Groups and Dates
  
• Administration of Examinations
  
• Religious Conflicts with Final/Midyear Examinations
  
• Examinations In Absentia
  
• Final Examination Options for Study Abroad Students
  
• Makeup Examinations
  
• Publication of Past Final and Midyear Examinations
  

Final and Midyear examinations are three-hour written tests administered and proctored by the staff of the Office of the Registrar at locations and times specified by the Registrar. Courses ordinarily hold final examinations, and half and full courses that run throughout the year also hold midyear examinations. Any deviation from the scheduled three-hour examination requires the prior approval of the Office of Academic Programs (for courses below the 200- or 2000-level) or the Dean of the Graduate School (for courses at the 200- or 2000-level). (See Examination Categories: Requesting a Substitution.) Examination substitutions for research courses, seminars, tutorials, and other low enrollment courses (see below for definition) are automatically approved by the Office of the Registrar. (See Course Administration: Hour and Midterm Examinations.)

To earn credit for a course or to count the course toward fulfillment of the requirements for a degree, the student must have attended the final examination (or midyear and final if a full year course) or an approved makeup. A student's unexcused absence from a midyear or final examination will ordinarily result in a failing grade for the course (ABS). The course head is not empowered to excuse student absences from midyear, final, or makeup examinations scheduled by the Registrar. Furthermore, the course head may not give a final examination at a special time to accommodate the needs of an individual student or authorize the substitution of another exercise for an examination. Undergraduate students who request special accommodations should be directed to their resident deans. Graduate students should be directed to the FAS Deputy Registrar.

Students are entitled to complete course requirements and to take the final examination. They must not be discouraged from doing so, even when previous course work has earned a cumulative failing grade. Only a student whose serious and persistent neglect of academic work has led to formal exclusion from the course is ineligible to take the final, midyear, or makeup examination. (See Addressing Student Problems: Neglect of Academic Work by Students: Exclusion.)