General conditions for digital examinations
Information for students
General conditions for digital examinations in the study program SPL 14 / for the field of African Studies
Examinations represent the central performance assessments during the study. They should provide information on whether the competencies and study objectives according to the curriculum have been achieved. Different types of courses require different types of performance. Which services and how they are to be provided will be communicated in the VVZ.
The changeover during SoSe 2020 from exclusively face-to-face examinations to digital examinations does not change the required independent performance. However, the framework conditions for holding examinations have changed considerably. These changes are based on the regulation "Regulations on Courses and Examinations", dated 13.05.2020
https://mtbl.univie.ac.at/storage/media/mtbl02/2019_2020/2019_2020_97.pdf.
Digital written exams will be handled exclusively via the Moodle learning platform.
Please note the following general instructions for the exam:
- Take a sample test if one is offered.
- Pay attention to the specific information and specifications of the course administration.
- Pay attention to and follow the instructions on the permitted aids.
- Pay attention to your time management on the exam.
- Allow time to hand in the exam.
The following study law and formal regulations/guidelines must be observed at our SPL
Exam time
The working time is specified for each exam in the VVZ.
Please pay particular attention to whether the time for downloading and uploading the answers is included in the time OR not.
If not, please remember to allow time for uploading!
In case of problems with downloading or uploading, please contact the course instructor immediately.
Open book exams - Allowed resources
"Open book" means that you can refer to numerous materials to answer the question. However, it does not mean that you may copy sentences/ text passages 1:1. Sentences from slides or other texts may not be copied without appropriate acknowledgement of the source. When answering the questions, you should always formulate your own thoughts and arguments independently.
In Open Book exams, all aids are allowed EXCEPT in the course catalog, where there are explicit exceptions in relation to the course in question.
In addition, the following applies:
- Correct citation is a basic requirement for obtaining a passing grade (apart from obtaining the required number of points).
- Incorrect citation will be factored into the grade.
- Missing citations will be considered cheating on a performance and will result in the entry of an "X" (cheating notation).
- Work and study materials, questionnaires, etc., prepared jointly with other students and used in the examination must be submitted within 2 days upon request. If these cannot be presented, unauthorized collaboration will be assumed in the case of identical texts from several students and an "X" will be entered (cheat mark).
"Normal digital exams" (not Open Book) - dealing with word-for-word memorized texts
Be sure to be independent and articulate in your answers:
- Pure reproduction of memorized passages from study materials will be awarded 0 points.
- No passing grade can be earned by merely reproducing memorized passages from learning documents.
- In the case of pure reproduction of memorized passages from learning documents, a plausibility check can take place in order to determine whether the content was actually learned by heart or whether plagiarism can be assumed.
Attention: There is no right to a plausibility check. Moreover, a plausibility check is not an additional examination ("re-examination"), but merely serves as an aid to determine whether there has been any cheating on an examination performance.
Check for text similarities
Instructors may make use of the possibility to check submitted texts for plagiarism.
Non-permitted aids in all types of examinations
The following occurrences will be considered as cheating on a performance and will result in the entry of an "X" (cheating mark):
- Any communication with other students during the exam (in person, by phone, WhatsApp, social media, etc.)
- Ghostwriting (exam or individual sub-services are written by others).
- Collusion (collaboration of several people) recognizable from the text: identical typos, identical typographical errors, same transcription errors, same incorrect application of formulas, etc.
- Use of learning materials prepared jointly with other students (if the course management allows the use of joint learning materials, it must be explicitly stated).
- Identical reproduction of lecture notes (if the course management allows the use of common learning materials, it must be explicitly stated).
Information on the process of entering an "X" (cheating notation)
1. the course management, when correcting the examination, determines that the performance was obviously not the student's. The course management informs the student and the responsible study program management by e-mail about the entry of an "X" (cheating remark) in the transcript including a brief explanation of why cheating took place (documentation of the facts).
2. the course management suspects that cheating has taken place:
Variant a): The student is summoned to a plausibility check within the assessment period (preferably via a video conferencing tool). Students who refuse the plausibility check will receive an "X".
After the plausibility check has taken place, the course director decides whether an "X" will be entered or whether the exam will be assessed regularly. If an "X" is entered, the SPL will be informed and the documentation of the facts will be sent.
Variant b): The student is requested in writing by e-mail to submit a statement. After receiving the statement, the course management decides on the entry of an "X", in this case the SPL is informed and the documentation of the facts is sent.