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IDL Examination Notes
October 2014
HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
Examination Notes October 2014
MSc/PG Diploma Petroleum Engineering by Distance Learning
1.
Introduction
These notes are distributed to all students of the above programme to provide guidance
regarding the structure and conduct of examinations. If you have any questions
regarding this document and its appendices, please contact:
Dr Amanda Lyness
Learning and Teaching Manager for IPE
[email protected]
EXAM ARRANGEMENTS
Examination sitting arrangement information will be sent to your Heriot-Watt University
email address (e.g. [email protected]). Please check your email for information.
Full instructions on how to access your Heriot-Watt student email can be found at
www.hw.ac.uk/students/webmail.htm
2.
Personal Identification
You are required to provide personal identification for the examination invigilator when
you arrive for an exam. The identification should have your photograph and for
residential students should be your university student ID card. A passport or
identification card such as your driver’s licence can also be used.
Candidates should bring their university student ID card to each exam and display it on
the desk for the duration of the examination.
3.
Medical and other Problems
If you are ill, or encounter any other significant problem that interferes with your
preparation for the examinations or prevents you from attending the examinations, it is
imperative that you inform the Learning and Teaching Manager as soon as possible.
Written evidence, including a medical certificate where appropriate, is required if you
wish the problem to be formally taken into consideration by the Examiners.
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In an emergency, contact:
Examinations Office
Director of Learning & Teaching
Deputy Director Learning & Teaching
Learning and Teaching Manager
+44 (0) 131 451 4048/3748
+44 (0) 131 451 4139
+44 (0) 131 451 3694
+44 (0) 131 451 3807
4.
Cancellation of Exams
Students who need to cancel must email the DL mailbox ([email protected]) except in
cases where they are cancelling due to mitigating circs. If the latter is the case they
email the Exams Office ([email protected]).
If students cancel before the registration date for the exam they can defer to the next
available diet for that exam.
If students cancel after the registration date for the exam diet but more than 24 hours
before their exam they forfeit the exam fee (i.e. cannot defer to a future diet).
If students cancel less than 24 hours before the exam they will be marked as Absent
(ABS) on their student record and will have used an opportunity for that exam.
The only exception to this is if a student has mitigating circumstances for cancelling an
exam. If that is the case students must email the Exams Office with supporting
evidence, and complete a Mitigating Circumstance form, within 5 weeks of the exam
diet. The Exams Office will decide whether the student may defer to the next available
diet for that exam.
There are no refunds for any exam cancellations
5.
Start Time
All examinations start at the scheduled time (Distance Learning Students will be sent
Exam Arrangements to the specific centre) but the Invigilator has the authority to delay
the start time if it is considered necessary. Students are not permitted to leave the
examination room within the first 30 minutes of the examination, except in an
emergency. After the first hour of the examination the admission of late arrivals will be
at the discretion of the Invigilator.
Bags and coats must be left outside the examination rooms. Please act in accordance
with any instructions issued by an Invigilator.
6.
Finish Time
Students are discouraged from leaving before the end of the time allocated. However, if
you are sure that you have finished, you may give your script to the Invigilator and leave
quietly, making sure that you cause a minimum of disturbance. You will not be allowed
to return to the examination room until the examination has been completed.
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During the 15 minute period preceding the end of the examination, students are not
permitted to leave. This is to avoid disturbing students who are trying to finish. At the
end of the allotted time, you must stop writing when instructed by the Invigilator.
Because of the anonymous marking procedure, collection of books takes a little more
time. This is to ensure that front pages have been properly completed and that the
number of answer books has been properly recorded. Students must remain in their
places until all books have been collected, or until dismissed by the Invigilator.
7.
Anonymous Marking
The University has a policy of anonymous marking. The procedure is based on special
examination stationery with a fold on the left hand side that conceals the candidate’s
personal details until after the marking process is complete. At that time, two nominated
representatives of the Institute examine all papers for evidence of tampering and are
then required to make a formal report to the University.
Please read the following information attached to this document:
Appendix A An image of the front page of the examination stationery.

Appendix B Anonymous Marking - Instructions for Candidates.
[Copies of this page are also distributed to all students at each examination]
8.
Open Book/Closed Book
If an examination is described as "Open Book", students are permitted to bring into the
examination room whatever written materials they wish. This may include lecture notes,
text books or pre-prepared notes. Use of additional aids, such as electronic devices, is
at the discretion of the Course Tutor. Unless otherwise stated the examination is
"Closed Book" and support material is restricted to items specifically authorised by the
Examiners.
A student who brings unauthorised materials into the examination room or uses such
materials to gain advantage in an examination is in serious breach of the Examination
Regulations. Please note that text, programs and mathematical formulae in electronic
form, e.g. as stored in the memory or other part of a calculator or similar electronic
device or system, are considered to be the equivalent of other forms of written or printed
notes and are therefore subject to the same restrictions.
Please see Programme Handbook available at:
http://www.pet.hw.ac.uk/study/distance/student_area/handbooks/G137_PEE_PetEng_P
rogHandbook_2013_14_IDL.pdf
There is a section on Academic Misconduct – web link at:
http://www1.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf
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9.
Examination Structure
Appendix E provides you with a copy of the front page of each examination paper,
confirming the structure of the exam.
10.
Materials to be supplied by the Department
The Department will make the following available, in addition to examination papers and
answer books:a) SPE Conversion Tables.
b) Any other special stationery as required.
11.
Calculators in Examinations – University Policy
Where a calculator is required for the completion of the examination, a student may use
any basic scientific calculator, except the following: graphics calculator, programmable
calculator and a calculator which features text storage or retrieval facilities. Please refer
to http://www1.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf.
Use of an alternative requires the written authorisation of the Course Director and such
authorisation must be available for inspection by the Invigilator. Distance Learning
candidates should consult the course director if in doubt as to the suitability of their
calculator.
When using a calculator in an examination, it is important to remember that the various
stages of a calculation should be presented and explained. Otherwise it is impossible
for the Examiners to determine the cause of an incorrect answer and to assign
appropriate marks.
12.
Toilet
The Invigilator may allow students to leave the examination room, one at a time, to visit
the toilet. If you wish to leave the room you must ask the permission of the Invigilator
who will record the time on the Examination Record form.
13.
Etiquette
Students are required to remain quiet during the examination period and to refrain from
behaviour which may distract or irritate other students. Once examination question
papers have been distributed, all conversation is forbidden.
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On the Day of the Examination
1. Examination Timetable and Location
Check the information carefully and make a note of your exam dates. Also check
the location of your exams and ensure you know where to go on the day.
An Examination Details Letter will be sent to your Heriot-Watt University email
address. Please regularly check your email.
2. Materials to be supplied by the Student
Students are expected to bring a calculator (non-programmable) and a suitable
range of writing and drawing instruments for all examinations.
(a) Pens
Use whatever pens you are comfortable with. Use of a pencil for writing text
is discouraged as it is less legible than ink and does not leave a
permanent record. However, coloured pencils are useful for drawing and
labelling diagrams. Pencils are recommended for drawing or graphing where
modification may be required.
(b) Drawing Instruments
the student is responsible for supplying materials appropriate to the specific
examination. For example, compasses and protractors may be required for an
examination with Rock Mechanics as a component. A 30 cm ruler should be
regarded as an essential instrument for all examinations.
(c) Dictionaries
Students from overseas, whose first language is not English, will be permitted to
use standard dictionaries in an examination, from that language into English
and vice versa. Specialised technical dictionaries, encyclopaedia and electronic
dictionaries are not permitted.
Note: dictionaries may be inspected by an Invigilator and can be confiscated if
found to contain hand-written annotation.
Further information on the use of Calculators and Dictionaries in examinations
can be found in: Regulation 9 (New) – Assessments and Examinations,
Paragraph 8, available at http://www.hw.ac.uk/ordinances/regulations.pdf
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Exam Preparation
Planning
a)
Early on decide how many days you will need to spend on each subject.
b)
Make sure you spend time on your weaker subjects and do not avoid
them. But, do not be over-confident about your stronger subjects and
consequently neglect them.
c)
Realise there are distinct stages to learning: - acquiring, understanding,
memorising, and testing knowledge. Allow time for each of these stages.
d)
Be realistic in your planning. Do not set yourself targets which you have
no chance of reaching. Consider the work you have to do, the time you
have and how fast you know your work. If you do not have adequate
time, go back and reconsider the amount of topics which you have
decided to learn.
e)
Even if you deliberately set fairly easily reachable targets you will still get
a psychological boost each time you achieve your goal.
f)
Never forget that a plan should be flexible. You will not be able to keep
exactly to your plan so be prepared to alter it along the way.
g)
Include spare days in your revision plan. These can be used to catch up
on any topic which you may need to spend more time on.
h)
Plan how and what you are going to revise during a specific day. This
should be continually reassessed a few days in advance - remember
keep it flexible!
i)
Try to alternate between subjects and topics.
How to Revise
a)
Make the learning process distinctive in some manner. The more
distinctive the learning the greater probability you will remember it at the
vital time. For example, use different coloured paper and pens. These
will act as memory keys and hence aid your recall in an exam. Similarly,
rhymes or keywords will help you to remember lists of information.
b)
Make use of Spider diagrams (Mind Maps) as this will aid your memory
and comprehension of the material. Straight-down-the-page notes
restrict you to a linear path of thought – a spider diagram enables you to
connect information in many different ways.
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IDL Examination Notes
c)
October 2014
Group revision sessions are an excellent way to improve understanding
and memory. In an exam when you are struggling to remember a point
the session where the topic was discussed will often come back to you.
Testing Yourself
a)
Sit down with a large blank piece of paper and write a topic name in the
centre and then build up a spider diagram around it.
b)
Simply add ideas as they come to you, drawing in lines to show how they
relate to each other. Once you have exhausted your ideas crossreference the flow diagram with your lecture notes, etc. to see what you
have missed.
d) Practice answering questions, both from past papers and those which you
believe might be asked in your exam. Prepare a detailed outline plan of
the answer. Be prepared to chop and change the plan and generally make
a mess of it: - this is its role, to help you order your thoughts.
e) Once you have finished the plan refer back to your texts and notes and see
what you have managed to remember and what you have not. But always
try to include only information that is relevant to the question asked, i.e:not simply everything you know about the topic.
f) Go through these processes a few times for each topic - you will soon
become aware of the points you need to spend more time on.
g) Once it is obvious you know something be prepared to leave it alone - your
time would be better spent on things you do not know yet.
h) Some people shy away from testing themselves because they are afraid of
finding out what they do not know. But stop and think about it, this is the
time to find out what you do not know, not in the exam.
Lifestyle
a)
Intersperse your revision sessions with days off, sport and social
occasions. Imagine your brain as a muscle - if you are constantly
working it will not have a chance to recover. If you rest it - i.e. take time
away from your work - it will recuperate and, in doing so, gain strength.
In the long run this is the best strategy for building muscle, not exercising
non-stop!
b)
On any day you revise also have adequate periods of non-work.
c)
Try not to work into the early hours of the morning and do not work too
many hours in any one day. If you do it is likely that your efforts will be
undermined because you end up feeling more and more tired and
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consequently are no longer able to take in and process information
efficiently.
d)
When at rest make sure you do something to take your mind off your
work. It is not enough to simply stop working - thoughts will still go
around in your brain.
e)
Do not go straight to bed after revision as you will have difficulty sleeping
because your brain is still active. Do something which needs your
attention - TV may not be enough. Sport or an evening out is good as by
the time you go to bed you are not thinking about work and are probably
so tired that you fall asleep before your brain gets a chance to start
thinking again!
f)
Try not to work right up until the exams - especially the night before a
morning exam or the morning before an afternoon exam. Last minute
cramming is likely to do more harm than good as it clogs up your mind
and makes it harder to recall other knowledge.
Examination Technique
a)
Listen carefully to the instructions given by the Invigilator.
b)
Read carefully the instructions on the front page of the examination
paper. In particular, take note of the number of questions to be
answered and the time available.
c)
In examinations involving more than one lecturer, you may be required to
answer questions from different sections of the paper in different
coloured books. Failure to follow such instruction may lead to a delay in
the marking process.
d)
Make a rough calculation of the time available to answer each question
and monitor time as you progress through the examination. Keep in
mind the fact that it is generally easier to achieve the first few marks for a
question than the last few. In other words, two questions part completed
will probably provide a higher score than one which is fully completed. It
is important therefore that you plan enough time to attempt the
appropriate number of questions.
i)
Before answering a question, read it through carefully and consider what
the Examiner is looking for. It is important that your answer reflects the
question and is as comprehensive as you can achieve in the time
allotted. Remember that the Examiner may not give you any credit for an
eloquent answer if it does not directly address the question which has
been set.
Recall the advice given in the section on “revision” concerning Spider
Diagrams. It may be useful to tackle some questions by using this
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approach in the examination to order your thoughts. These ‘notes’ can be
scored out and then you can write a coherent answer.
f)
Use diagrams, with labels, as appropriate to illustrate a complex idea
and/or to save time.
j)
For numerical questions, make sure you lay out your workings clearly so
that the Examiner can follow your train of thought. You will be given
credit for correct methodology, even if the answer is wrong.
g) If you have time remaining at the end, use it productively to check your
workings and to review your answers. Make sure you attempt the
prescribed number of questions. The Examiner is not interested in
marking any more than the required number of answers. If you decide to
attempt an extra question, you must decide which one to discard. You
must not rely on the Examiner to select the best answers.
Useful Websites
Extensive guidance on study plans, time management and assessment
techniques can be found on the internet. A collection of a set of recommended
web pages can be found on the students’ area of the Institute website:
http://www.pet.hw.ac.uk/study/distance/student_area/registered_studs.cfm?stud
ent=current
IDL students have also access to study skill resources provided by the HeriotWatt University library (part of Information Services http://www.hw.ac.uk/is/).
You can also link to this information via VISION – see under ‘Study and
Lifestyle Tips’.
A very useful link for both study planning and petroleum engineering resources
is http://isguides.hw.ac.uk/petroeng.
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Appendix A
Examination Stationery
The front cover of the examination answer booklet outlines detailed information
about how to complete your name and student registration number.
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An Examination Answer Booklet
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Appendix B
Anonymous Marking
This is a copy of the Anonymous Marking sheet that you will find in the examination
pack.
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ANONYMOUS MARKING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
1.
COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS ON FRONT COVER OF SCRIPT BOOK.
(Name, registration number, programme, year, signature, date, subject)
2.
COMPLETE DETAILS, AS ABOVE ON ANY ADDITIONAL SCRIPT BOOKS
USED.
3.
DO NOT SEAL ‘GUMMED’ SECTIONS(S) UNTIL THE EXAMINATION IS
FINISHED.
4.
USE THE TREASURY TAG PROVIDED TO FASTEN ALL USED ANSWER
BOOKS. DO NOT TIE KNOTS – LEAVE ANY UNUSED BOOKS LOOSE
5.
ENSURE THAT LOOSE PAGES (graph paper, drawing paper etc) ARE
FASTENED INSIDE THE SCRIPT BOOK, USING THE TREASURY TAG.
DO NOT ENTER CANDIDATE DETAILS ON ANY LOOSE PAGES.
6.
DO NOT COMPLETE STUDENT INFORMATION ON QUESTION PAPERS
WHICH ARE ALSO USED AS ‘ANSWER BOOKS’.
7.
FASTEN ALL ‘ANSWER BOOKS’ INSIDE SCRIPT BOOKS USING THE
TAG PROVIDED.
8.
CHECK THAT ALL SECTIONS OF THE SCRIPT BOOK(S) ARE
COMPLETED AND THAT ALL ADDITIONAL BOOKS / PAGES ARE
SECURELY FASTENED.
9.
ENSURE THAT THE SCRIPT BOOKS ARE SEALED BEFORE HANDING
IN - DO NOT USE GLUE OF ANY KIND.
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Appendix C
Examination Instructions for Candidates
This outlines the rules that the University outlines for all examinations.
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EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
•
Once you have entered an examination room, you are not permitted to talk to other
candidates.
•
Unless you have been given permission to have prior sight of the examination paper,
you are not permitted to start reading before the invigilator has announced that the
examination has started.
•
You are not permitted to start writing before the invigilator has announced that the
examination has started.
•
You must stop writing when instructed to do so by an invigilator.
•
Place your matriculation card or photographic Identification on your desk and in clear
view
•
You should not have any unauthorised electronic devices or pre-printed materials in the
examination room.
•
Cheating in an examination is treated very seriously by the University. If you do have
any material relevant to the exam which you have brought in by mistake, please hand it
over to an invigilator before the start of the examination.
•
Invigilators will carry out checks on authorised materials and calculators.
•
Attendance Slips – complete all sections of the Attendance Slip including the seat
number, where one has been allocated. Remember to sign and date the slip.
•
Exam script books – please complete all sections on the front of script books, including
the section on the right hand side, seat number, where one has been allocated, and
before you leave the Hall, the numbers of the questions that you have attempted.
•
Exam script books – please read the instructions on front and back of the script books
regarding the return of script books to the invigilator. No script books (used or unused)
may be taken from the examination room.
•
All script books used must be completed as above and held together using the ‘tag’
provided.
•
For Multiple Choice Questions or examinations where a script book is not required,
please return all completed papers to the invigilator at the end of the examination. You
may not remove any scrap paper from the Hall.
•
If you require additional script books or authorised materials, please raise your hand
and an invigilator will assist you.
•
You must not leave the examination room in the first 30 minutes and not within the last
15 minutes of the examination. This includes requests to go to the toilet; in this
instance, please raise your hand and you will be escorted to the toilet by an invigilator.
•
If you have a query on an examination question paper, please raise your hand to notify
an invigilator. Queries can only be dealt with in the first 30 minutes of the examination.
If you have a query after 30 minutes, please notify an invigilator who will take
appropriate action.
Academic Registry
May 2006
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Appendix D
Cheating in Examinations
This outlines the guidelines for any student who is caught cheating in examinations.
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TO ALL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
CHEATING IN EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSESSMENT
With examinations approaching, the University Senate wishes to stress to students
that cheating in examinations and other assessed work is considered to be a very
serious offence. This includes copying and using plagiarised material in exams,
project essays and dissertations. Please note that you are required to bring your
Matriculation Card or other photographic ID with you to all examinations.
The penalties which may be imposed by the University Discipline Committee if an
allegation of cheating is admitted or proven are severe and include the following:

Annulment of all assessment results (including exams and projects) from the
Diet in which the incident of cheating occurred

Downgrading of the degree to be awarded

Suspension or expulsion from the University
You should be aware that reading exam papers prior to the start of an exam or even
taking unauthorised material into an exam is considered to be an attempt to cheat.
If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, information is provided in
student handbooks and further advice may be sought from Course Directors, Tutors
or Academic Mentors.
UNAUTHORISED MATERIAL/EQUIPMENT
All students are reminded that they should familiarise themselves with the University
regulations and policies regarding unauthorised materials and equipment. Students
should note that unauthorised calculators and dictionaries in examinations will be
removed by invigilators and that the Academic Registry is not responsible for
supplying calculators and replacements cannot be guaranteed. Students should
also note that if mobile phones are taken into exams, they must be switched off and
left in bags at the front of the hall. If a mobile phone rings during an exam,
invigilators have been instructed to remove the phone in the presence of another
invigilator as witness.
Kathy Patterson
University Registrar
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Appendix E
Examination Paper Front Covers
All exams are 3 hours long
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