Exam Policies
Updated Fall 2025 Semester (Subject to Change)
The exam policies and procedures are set forth below to provide each law instructor and student with a guide to the exam policies and procedures at the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Before the Exam
- Prior to the start of the final exam period, each student will be assigned a final exam number from the Law Registrar’s Office. Students will be given one exam number per semester to be used for their final exams for that semester only. Students with midterm exams will be given their number approximately one week before their midterm exam. To assure an anonymous grading system, each student is responsible for knowing their exam number for the semester and keeping it confidential.
- Each student is responsible for noting the exact date and time, length of exam, type of exam, and exam format for every exam which they are required to take. Such detailed information will be contained on the Final Exam Schedule and Details that is posted on the Students page of the Law School website a few weeks before the final exam period begins. Students should check the page regularly for any updates to the date, time, length of exam, and exam format.
- Students are required to complete a mandatory practice exam to prepare their laptop and familiarize themselves in Examplify every semester. Those students who do not meet this requirement will not be eligible to sit for their final exams.
- Throughout the final exam period and all exam-related activities, students are expected to follow the Student Handbook and Conduct Code. University policies—including Title IX and EEO—are applicable during this time.
The Day of the Exam
For Scheduled Exams through Examplify:
- Students are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the exam. The exam administrator and staff will begin situating students 10 minutes before the exam time starts. Once the time starts, students who come late will not be given extra time and will end at the set time.
- Each student must supply their own laptop.
- Students may only use their laptop (no other electronic devices) to complete their exam in Examplify.
- Students must have completed a mandatory practice exam prior to the start of exams to prepare the laptop and familiarize themselves with Examplify.
- Students are expected to have reviewed the exam instructions and inquire with faculty and the Registrar’s Office about the exam and exam procedures prior to the start of the exam period.
- Students must acknowledge the exam policies and Honor Statement prior to the start of each exam in Examplify. This acknowledgement form provides each student with specific exam policies and information about what constitutes academic misconduct.
- Students may not consult any unauthorized materials, written or electronic, during the exam.
- Unless faculty have specifically requested otherwise, a calculator will be available for students to use in Examplify during the exam.
- Students may not use any unauthorized electronic devices during the exam. A laptop may only be used to type exam answers in Examplify.
- Students may not discuss, send, or receive information (verbatim or in summary) about the exam in any way, including verbally, in writing, or through digital means such as a photo or screenshot, even if unsolicited.
- Students may not consult or communicate with anyone, other than exam administrators, while taking the exam.
- Students may not communicate with anyone who has not yet taken the exam, nor will discuss the contents of the exam with anyone until after grades for the course have been posted.
- Students must not contact the professor during the exam.
- If students have any questions about the exam, exam procedure, or are experiencing technical difficulties, students may contact the exam proctor, exam administrator, or the Law Registrar’s Office only.
- Students will not be given extra time in the event of technical issues or laptop malfunctions during an exam.
Take Home Exams through ExamSoft Student Portal
- Take Home exams must be completed within the final exam period as noted on the Final Exam Schedule and Details as noted on the Students page of the Law School website.
- Students may download the exam and submit the exam through the Examsoft Student Portal at any time during the exam window, as long as the student respects the time limit of the exam, and upload the exam by the absolute stated deadline, as noted on the Final Exam Schedule on the Students page. Students must submit their completed Honor Statement to lawexams@hawaii.edu.
Exam Room Policies
- Students should be seated with an empty seat between them and be ready to begin the exam no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the exam.
- Students must sign in upon entry at the front of the exam room. Students must launch Examplify on their laptop before the scheduled start of the exam.
- All cell phones and smart watches must be turned off completely and put away with bags and backpacks.
- Students should plan to not have access to their belongings including cell phones, smart watches, bags, backpacks, and all other personal belongings for the duration of the exam. For exams in large classrooms, personal belongings will be put in the front of the room. For exams in smaller rooms, personal belongings will be placed in a locker provided by the Law School. The exam proctor will keep the key to the locker during the entirety of the exam. At the end of the exam, the key will be returned so the student can retrieve their belongings.
- Absolutely no electronic devices may be used during the exam unless otherwise noted by the exam administrator. Laptops must only be used to type exam answers using Examplify.
- Students are permitted to bring and use their own pen, pencil, highlighter, and eraser, but any pencil case or bag must be stored with their personal belongings.
- The consumption of food is not permitted in the exam room during the exam.
- Beverages are permitted only in covered containers with snap-on or screw-on covers. Beverages in fast food cups or similar disposable cups are not permitted.
- Students are allowed to leave the exam room during the exam if they need to take a break or use the restroom. Students must sign the sign-out sheet prior to leaving the exam room and also sign back in.
- Students who need to leave the exam room for more than seven (7) minutes must notify the exam proctor or administrator. Students needing a longer break may be monitored by a law school staff member.
- Once a student starts the exam, they are expected to complete the exam in that exam’s administration. Students must notify the exam proctor if they believe they are unable to start the exam due to an emergency and must follow up with the Associate Dean of Student Services to request a rescheduling of the exam, including providing the reason for the request and appropriate documentation.
- Students may not bring any exam materials with them or talk to anyone while taking a break from an exam. Students are also prohibited from accessing their Law School locker or their personal belongings while taking an exam.
- If a student has a question about the exam or exam procedures, they may quietly come to the front of the exam room and notify the exam administrator/proctor. For exams in smaller rooms, the exam administrator will provide information regarding how to raise questions.
- The exam proctor will notify the class when 10 minutes remain in the exam.
- Students are allowed to turn in their exam materials to the proctor and leave the room if they complete the exam early. However, once 10 minutes remain in the exam, all students must remain in their seats until the end of the exam.
- Students must stop all work as soon as time is called at the end of the exam. Writing or typing after the exam has ended may result in a penalty.
- All students must turn in their exam questions and exam materials before leaving the exam room. Failure to do so may result in receiving no grade or an ‘F’ for the course.
- Students are responsible for ensuring their exam responses have uploaded to Examplify and they see the green confirmation screen before leaving the exam room.
- The Student Handbook and Conduct Code apply regardless of your exam location. All University policies —including Title IX and EEO—remain in effect during the exam and final exam period.
Upon Completion of the Exam
For Scheduled Exams through Examplify:
To submit the exam answer in Examplify, students must establish internet connection and upload their exam answer within two hours of completion of the exam. It is recommended that students upload their exam answer file as soon as they complete the exam. If a student does not upload their exam answer within two hours of completion of the exam, a late penalty may be assessed or the exam may not be graded.
Take Home Exams through the ExamSoft Student Portal:
- To submit an exam answer that is schedule on your own, students must log into the Examsoft Student Portal to upload the exam answer within the time limit set forth on the Final Exam Schedule and Details on the Students page of the Law School website and before the absolute deadline of the final exam period.
- Students must submit a completed Honor Statement by emailing it to lawexams@hawaii.edu within your exam window. Students will only need to submit one Honor Statement in the final exam period, even if you have multiple take home exams.
After the Exam
- Students may not discuss the contents of exams until grades are posted. This is necessary to assure the security of the exam in the event someone is unable to take the exam at the scheduled time.
- Under no circumstances should students identify themselves or their matching exam numbers to the professor (this applies to the exam itself, as well as before, during or after the exam) to protect their anonymity during the grading process. References or notations on the exam which the professor may recognize as coming from a certain student should be studiously avoided. Students should not discuss their exam with the professor until grades have been posted.
- Students should contact the Associate Dean for Student Services immediately regarding concerns about anonymity, exam irregularity, any transposed or forgotten exam numbers, etc.
- Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of exam rules, procedures or standards has occurred will immediately contact Law School Administration in writing:
- Describe the occurrence, and provide the names and/or further information about the student(s) and;
- Submit the above in writing (by email is fine) to the Law School Associate Dean for Student Services.
Posting of Grades
- Grades will be posted on the STAR [www.star.hawaii.edu] website approximately 30-45 days after the exam, although some grades may be posted sooner.
Final Exam Rescheduling
- Students should check the final exam schedule before registering for courses. Rescheduling will not be permitted if a student has two exams on the same day or on successive days.
- Exceptions to the provision requiring that all exams be taken at the scheduled time will be allowed only for medically certified disabilities or verified emergencies beyond the student’s control which substantially impair the student’s ability to perform on the exam at the scheduled time.
To the extent practicable, the student must obtain prior approval for the rescheduling from the Associate Dean for Student Services. The Associate Dean for Student Services will then discuss the student’s situation anonymously with the professor whose exam is being given. Students should not discuss the need for rescheduling directly with the professor in order to protect the anonymous grading process. The rescheduled exam should be given after the time of the regularly scheduled exam, on a date to be determined by the Associate Dean for Student Services and Law Registrar’s Office.
Requests for rescheduling or extra test time will not be granted for such excuses as studying for the wrong exam, oversleeping, tardiness, forgetfulness, car trouble, traffic congestion, etc.
************
Quick Reference Sheet
Please download the Quick Reference Sheet [PDF, 232KB] for Exam Taking