What you need to know

MIT Faculty Governance dictates the rules and regulations for scheduling exams, conducting class, and assigning work.

One of its guiding principles is that faculty have a collective responsibility to all of MIT’s students, not just those whom they teach. As such, the Schedules Office will not approve requests for exams that conflict with standing Faculty rules. Faculty may request exceptions under extraordinary circumstances through the Chair of the Faculty before the final exam schedule is posted, during the third week of the fall and spring terms.

Know the rules

For complete information on general exam policies, review Section 2.50 of Rules and Regulations of the Faculty, along with guidance on beginning and end of term:

Among the topics covered are: class times, tests and academic exercises conducted outside of scheduled class times, end-of-term assignments for subjects with and without finals, ex camera finals, exercises after the last scheduled class, and excused absences from final exams.

These are a few key rules to keep in mind when planning for exams.

  • If an exam scheduled outside of normal class time conflicts with a student’s scheduled academic or extracurricular activity, you must allow the student to take the exam at another time.
  • Final exam periods are 9 AM to 12 PM and 1:30 to 4:30 PM.
  • Final exams may not be canceled once they are announced and the time of a final exam may not be changed after the schedule is published.
  • Final exams may only occur during the mandated examination period, in accordance with Section 2.11 of the Rules and Regulations of the Faculty.
  • The only exception is that the first half-term exam period is the final week of the subject. Exams should last no longer than, and take place during, your regular class time.