Policies and Procedures
The Testing Center operates by appointment only.
- Appointment hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST.
- No correspondence via phone or email will occur outside of business hours.
- Appointments must be made at least four (4) consecutive days in advance. Failure to schedule on time means you must attend class on test day and forgo your testing accommodations.
- Final Exam appointments must be scheduled at least two weeks (14 days) in advance of the first day of the final exam period.
- Testing appointments must begin at the same time as the in-class administration of the exam.
- Exceptions for accommodation-related time adjustments must be approved by the instructor.
- Arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment for check-in procedures. If you arrive late, your exam time will not be extended.
- Arriving more than 20 minutes late without notifying the Testing Center will be considered a no-show, and the appointment will be canceled.
- Appointments will be rescheduled based on the Testing Center’s availability.
- All appointments must be completed by 5:00 p.m., our closing time.
Breaks
- Restroom breaks during an exam count as part of the total test time unless otherwise permitted.
- Restroom breaks are allowed only in the restroom located inside the Testing Center.
- To use the restroom during your exam, raise your hand and ask the proctor.
- Once you sign in, you will not be permitted to leave the facility, except in an emergency.
- Eating is only allowed in the center’s reception area. Coffee or water is allowed in the testing lab.
Conduct
- Unusual and suspicious behavior will be questioned and may be reported to your instructor and/or the Office of Student Conduct without further notification.
- You will be monitored by a proctor via surveillance cameras, and your test session will be recorded and stored.
- Your exam will be collected once your time has expired.
- Talking is not permitted in the testing rooms.
- Arriving early to study before an exam is not permitted.
- The Testing Center is not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken personal items.
- Ensure your items are locked securely in a locker.
- To ask your instructor a question about the exam, raise your hand and inform the proctor.
Etiquette/Best Practices
- Consider scheduling all your exams, including finals, at the beginning of the semester.
- Use the restroom ahead of time to avoid unnecessary breaks.
- Visit the Testing Center before your first appointment to familiarize yourself with the facility and location.
- Be considerate of others; avoid distracting behaviors:
- Do not chew gum. Avoid excessive sniffing and coughing, as well as reading aloud.
- Do not drum fingers, pens, or pencils or tap feet. Be quiet when entering or exiting the testing rooms.
- Avoid wearing noisy jewelry or keeping keys on your person.
Check-In
- You will be asked to show your primary ID, which would be your Duke picture ID, during check-in.
- A secondary ID would be a valid Driver’s License.
- You may be required to keep your ID with you during testing.
- Prohibited items and electronics must turned off and stored in the provided locker.
- Exceptions will be made for SDAO-approved medical devices, which staff members may inspect.
Prohibited Items
- Bags and backpacks, food, and beverages.
- Textbooks, notes, dictionaries, reference materials, calculators, and any other unauthorized testing aids unless specified by the instructor.
- Non-medical electronic devices such as laptops and tablets.
- Copying or photographic devices such as digital cameras.
- Listening devices such as cellular phones, pagers/beepers, walkie-talkies, PDAs, or wireless communication devices, headphones, and MP3 players.
- Any other devices with recording, internet access, photographing, or communication capabilities such as digital watches, Fitbits, smartwatches, smart glasses, etc.
Outerwear
- Coats, hats, gloves, and scarves are not allowed in the testing lab. Light jackets and sweaters must remain on the back of your chair when not worn.
- Hoods may not be worn.
- Sunglasses may not be worn.
- Exceptions are made for those wearing religious head coverings and those with accommodations through SDAO. Staff members may inspect these items.
