Is there an ideal schedule for administering exams in the Testing Center (i.e. number of days, length of exams, types of exams)?

Regardless of how many days are scheduled for a given exam, the majority of students come during the last day that an exam is available. 

The average length of an exam given during the regular semester should be equivalent to one class period, typically 50 minutes. To best ensure a 50-minute exam, the faculty member should be able to complete that test in 20 minutes or less. We track the average length of time that students take on exams, and we work with faculty members to write at test that the average student can take a regular class period.

The average length of an exam given during finals should not exceed 3 hours (per university policy). We know that the average time for some finals is closer to 5 hours and we feel that these exams should not be allowed to be given in the Testing Center during finals.

What are the requirements for administering exams in the Testing Center? What rules apply to administering midterm and final exams?

Exams given during the regular semester should be able to be completed in one regular class period

All exams given in the Testing Center should have a late-fee period. This practice spreads students across the available exam days.

For an exam with a testing window of two to three days, a late fee period of seven hours (or an entire Saturday) is needed. For testing windows of more than three days, an entire day of late fee period is needed – though this can be spread out over the last couple of days so a test can end in the middle of the last day if desired.

Final exams must run the entire finals period unless previously cleared through the Testing Center. For winter finals, we do allow/encourage some larger classes to end a day early to avoid over-crowding on the last day.

Final exams should be able to be completed by the average student in 3 hours.

Final exams given to more than 60 students (including multiple sections of students) will be scheduled before exams given to less than 60 students. This allows very large classes with multiple sections, especially those taught in large auditorium style classrooms, to give their exams in a more test-friendly environment.