C6.8 University Examinations

What Exams Are There in UK Universities?

Every country’s educational institutions have exams. Exams are currently the world’s fastest way to assess a person’s ability level in a specific stage or task. While they have many drawbacks and may not fully reflect a person’s true abilities due to various factors, they are universally recognized as an effective and efficient assessment method. There are many types of exams, such as university entrance exams, medical licensing exams, accounting certification exams, and language proficiency exams.

In domestic universities, exams are generally divided into written exams and interviews. Interviews are usually thesis defenses—there are almost no other interviews except for job-related ones. Most written exams are closed-book, with almost no open-book exams.

Types of Exams in UK Universities

Written Exam (Exam)

Written exams are generally divided into closed-book and open-book exams. For closed-book exams, students only need to bring pens and identification to take the exam. For open-book exams, you can bring any printed materials such as books and notes—electronic devices like mobile phones, computers, and tablets are not allowed. However, some UK university departments restrict students to bringing only a few pages of notes or a single sheet of reference material. This depends on the specific arrangements for that exam, so you can ask the lecturer in advance. Calculators are permitted for some exams, such as finance and accounting exams.

Shishengmiao’s reminder: Whether it’s a closed-book or open-book exam that requires lengthy discursive answers, you must include references. This means you not only need to revise the answers but also memorize references to include. These references are not full citations—only the author’s surname, publication year, and page number (if applicable). For example: “Everyone loves her (Miao, 1996, p.11). ” or “Miao (1996) mentioned that everyone loves her.” English dictionaries are allowed in most open-book exams, but the lecturer will collect them and place them on the podium after the exam starts, meaning you can only use them for a short time. Check with your lecturer in advance to confirm if dictionaries are permitted and how long you can use them.

Detailed guidelines on what references are, how to write them, their format, and key considerations are provided in earlier articles.

Presentation Exam

Detailed information about Presentation exams—including what they are, how to prepare for them, and key reminders—has been covered in a dedicated section earlier, so it will not be repeated here.

Presentation exams are not very common in domestic universities, but they are a regular part of UK university life, with several often scheduled per semester.

Presentation exams include individual and group-based assessments. For individual Presentations, you stand on stage to deliver a speech and complete the presentation material (e.g., PPT) independently. For architecture students, if photos or GIFs are insufficient for demonstration, you can also bring handcrafted models to showcase briefly during the relevant section. Group Presentations involve a team of students collaborating to complete all content, with each member taking turns to speak. Shishengmiao’s reminder: Stay focused on the theme and manage your time effectively during the presentation.

Lecturers will inform you of the Presentation requirements several weeks in advance—sometimes even at the start of the course—via in-class announcements and the university’s student portal. This gives you ample time to prepare, provided you do not leave it until the last minute.

Dissertation/Essay

Dissertations/essays are the most common form of assessment in UK universities. Detailed guidelines on how to write them have been provided earlier—you can refer to those for specifics. Almost every module includes a dissertation/essay assignment, with word counts ranging from several thousand words, while undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations typically require over 10,000 words.

Dissertations/essays are divided into individual and group assignments. Individual assignments are completed independently, while group assignments require collaborative task division.

Shishengmiao’s reminder: Whether it’s a group Presentation or group essay, try to team up with top-performing students. Avoid grouping with international students you’re not familiar with (or unsure of their abilities)—it may lead to frustration. If you end up with unreliable group members, the experience can be exhausting. Common issues include: failing to attend group discussions, not completing their assigned tasks or submitting poor-quality work that others have to redo, informing you of inability to meet deadlines at the last minute with excuses, or offering verbal suggestions that derail your progress.

InterviewSome UK university programmes include assessed interviews, where the interview performance contributes to your module grade. These interviews often simulate real-life scenarios involving interaction with lecturers or peers. Examples include mock job interviews (individual or group), or simulations where you act as a team from a multinational company tasked with solving a specific problem. You will need to prepare detailed outlines in advance, assign roles, propose department-specific solutions, discuss their pros and cons. The final outcome does not necessarily need to be a perfect resolution to the problem—instead, it assesses your leadership, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, language proficiency, and body language.

InternshipInternships can be short-term or long-term, depending on your module requirements. They must be relevant to your programme theme and are graded as part of your module assessment. Many UK university programmes now offer internship opportunities in the UK—you can find placements independently or with the university’s assistance.

Online AssignmentsSome programmes assign online tasks via the university’s student portal. The portal tracks details such as submission time and time spent completing the assignment—excessively long completion times may affect your grade. Additionally, you may be required to comment on other students’ online assignments, which lecturers will review. From personal experience, students who forget to submit can usually redo the assignment without failing, but those who miss a deadline for assignments announced weeks in advance will receive an immediate Fail and need to resit