Exams

Semester Exams

End of semester exams (which may take the form of presentations, performances and demonstrations – including student reflection and self-evaluation -- in some classes) are summative exams that are administered in January and June in all Academy classes.  Students in IB classes will sit for mock IB exams during the 11th grade final and 12th grade midterm exam periods.  

Academy students will be required to sit for semester and end-of-year exams in all subjects according to the schedule created by the school. Make-up exams will be scheduled for students who were ill and have a doctor’s verification. Parents must inform the Attendance Office on the day of the exam if their child is ill, and must provide a doctor’s note the following day.  The exam schedule will be provided at the beginning of each semester.  Students will not make their own arrangements to adjust exam dates.  They will contact their guidance counselor who will work with their teachers to make arrangements. 

Students taking 5 or more IB or AP exams are exempt from attendance requirement during the respective examination session.  They are responsible however, for keeping up with assignments in any other class they might be taking during this period.   Students who take 4 or fewer IB and AP exams will be excused 2 days prior to their specific examination day during the IB and /or AP May examination session.   

Senior End-Of-Year Exams

To honor graduating seniors, June final exams provisions are made so that seniors may finish the year one week earlier than the other students.  At faculty discretion, seniors who have earned A- or A for each quarter and on the midterm exam in a year-long course may be exempted from sitting for the final exam in the course. They must be present for all scheduled class days.  An exam schedule for seniors will be distributed in May. Seniors who sit for IB exams in any subject are exempt from requirement to sit for ACS exams in those subjects.

Exam Protocol

(For administration of tests, midterms and final exams)

Developed by the Faculty-Student Honor Code Committee with input from faculty, students, administration and parents, May 2012

What Actions Constitute Malpractice/Cheating?

1. Looking at another’s paper during an exam;

2. Sharing information during an exam;

3. Letting others see your work during an exam;

4. Attempting to communicate with another student during an exam;

5. Having “cheat sheets” in one’s possession during exam;

6. Having class notes, books, and study guides on or near one’s desk during an exam (unless faculty indicates that they may be used);

7. Leaving notes in bathroom or other location;

8. Using electronic devices to store/research information; having electronic devices on one’s person during an exam;

9. Plagiarism;

10. Presenting false data/fabricated information on lab reports, projects, etc.;

11. Multiple submission of papers (using the same paper/project for another class);

12. Handing in another student’s assignment or project as your own;

13. Giving another student their assignment or project to hand in as their own.

Examination Procedures

General:

1. Students enter exam room with writing utensils & water bottle only (unless calculators or other materials are required);

2. Book bags, notes, books, electronic devices are left in locker or in front of the exam room, with electronic devices switched off to avoid disrupting exam decorum;

3. The use of graphing calculators is at faculty’s discretion;

4. Faculty reads exam protocol and reminds students to use restroom before exam begins;

5. Exam regulations are posted in each class;

6. Student writes and signs a statement at the end of each exam verifying that the work is their own and has not been acquired through actions that constitute as cheating. (“I certify that all work on this exam is my own and that I have upheld the principles of academic integrity in the completion of this work”);

7. Students must remain in class for the duration of the exam period;

8. Use of restrooms: before exam begins/after exam has been completed and turned in. In an emergency, students may be escorted to the restroom/nurse by a proctor;

9. Absences during exams can only be excused for death in the family or illness, which must be verified by a doctor’s note.

Faculty Responsibilities

1. Develop exams/tests that require critical thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation, judgment, speculation, prediction, etc.) Short or long essay responses that require these kinds of thinking are preferable to one-word answers, fill-in-the-blanks, matching questions that require only recall of information;

2. Design exams/assessment activities that require the amount of time allotted for students to complete them;

3. May use multiple versions of the test during each class session;

4. May not use the same exam for multiple sections of the same course;

5. Arrange for necessary OLP accommodations in advance of the examination;

6. Provide writing paper to each student;

7. Reset scientific calculators before the exam begins;

8. Distribute numbered exam copies directly to each student;

9. Arrange desks so that the environment is formal, with ample spacing between desks when possible. (If space is tight, request a room reassignment in advance of the exam day);

10. Assign seats to students;

11. Teachers must not leave the classroom during the exam;

12. Teachers must observe the exam process vigilantly;

13. All faculty members must report malpractice to Principal regardless of sensitivity toward individual students.

Student Responsibilities

1. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of rules and expectations for exam protocols, as well as to be aware of proper plagiarism/paraphrasing policies. (Ignorance is not an excuse for cheating or dishonest practices);

2. Students should protect their work and make it inconvenient for others to view their exam paper;

3. Students must not provide answers or assistance to others;

4. Students must come prepared with writing tools, erasers, sharpeners, and the like. They cannot ask others to borrow items;

5. Students must not disrupt examination room decorum in any way. Once the exam begins, silence must be maintained until all students have finished the exam. Students who disrupt exam room decorum will be asked to hand in their exam for grading and to report to the Principal immediately.

Consequences of Malpractice/Cheating

• Students caught cheating are allowed to finish their exam; however, the time of the violation is documented and any prohibited materials are immediately removed from the students’ possession. (Faculty member may require student to take a new seat.) Infraction is immediately reported to the main Office and the Principal deals with the incident on an individual basis;

• Violations are reported to Principal;

• Consequences apply as per Academic Integrity Policy prescribed in Student/Parent Handbook;

• Violations documented and remain in the students file;