UNDERGRADUATE TEST POLICY OF THE FACULTY OF LAW 2014 SEMESTER TWO OF 2014

1. INTRODUCTION The Faculty of Law supports the institutional assessment policy and

acknowledges the value of applying various assessment methods. The Undergraduate Test Policy of the Faculty of Law applies to those undergraduate law modules where tests are used as an assessment method to calculate a module mark.

This policy replaces the Undergraduate Test Policy of the Faculty of Law for

Semester One of 2014. 2. NUMBER OF TEST OPPORTUNITIES 2.1 At least three formal tests will be scheduled during a semester for each

undergraduate law module where only tests are used as an assessment method to calculate a module mark.

2.2 Each student must obtain a mark for two of the three test opportunities in

order to obtain a module mark. 3. TEST ONE 3.1 It is compulsory for all students to write the first test of a module. 3.2 Students who are unable to write Test One will only in exceptional

circumstances be allowed to write Section A of Test Three. Such students should apply to write this test by providing the faculty secretary (Bloemfontein campus students) or campus co-ordinator (Varsity College campus students) with a completed application form (Form A). The documentation required in section 3.4 should accompany the application form. The faculty secretary or campus co-ordinator should be provided with the required documentation within three business days from the date the student was regarded fit to resume with his/her studies. No late applications will be considered. It is the student’s responsibility to print the application forms that are available on Blackboard. No printed forms will be provided by the faculty’s secretary or campus coordinator.

3.3 A recommendation is made by the Programme Director/Faculty Manager

(Bloemfontein campus students) or the Academic Development Manager (Varsity College campus students) to the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law. The approval of the Vice Dean is required before a student will be entitled to write Section A of Test Three.

3.4 Only the following unforeseen or religious reasons will be considered in the decision of the Programme Director/Faculty Manager (Bloemfontein campus students) or the Academic Development Manager (Varsity College campus students) to approve the application:

3.4.1 When an illness that prevented the student from writing Test One was diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner or a registered psychologist. A medical report (see Form B) needs to be completed by a registered medical practitioner/psychologist and attached to the application form (Form A). A copy of the student’s identity document needs to be signed by the medical doctor and also attached to the application. The stamp of the medical practitioner should be affixed to Form B. The date of the consultation should be on/before the date(s) of the test(s) the student is not able to write.

3.4.2 Any circumstances that could be considered on empathetic and humane

grounds, e.g. the demise of an immediate family member which prevented the student from participating in the test (compassionate reasons). In such circumstances a sworn affidavit made at the South African Police Services (SAPS) in which the circumstances on compassionate grounds are described must be attached to the application form (Form A). A certified copy by the SAPS of any other document (e.g. death certificate) or funeral letter to support the circumstances of compassionate nature must be attached to the application form.

3.4.3 Any convincing, credible and conclusive circumstances that occurred without

prior warning and were beyond the control of the student (compelling reasons). A sworn affidavit made at the SAPS in which the compelling circumstances are described, must be attached to the application form. A SAPS case number must be included in the sworn affidavit if the student was involved in a motor vehicle accident or if a criminal act was committed against the student, e.g. assault. These documents must be attached to the application form (Form A). Oversleeping and being late for a test due to, for example, motor vehicle problems, traffic congestion, etc. will not be regarded as compelling reasons. Students need to plan their travelling arrangements in such a way to arrive at least one hour prior to the commencement of the test at the test venue.

3.4.4 Religious objections against the writing of a test on the scheduled date. In

such circumstances the student needs to attach a sworn affidavit made at the SAPS in which the religious objections are described; and a letter of motivation from the student’s religious leader, minister, pastor, bishop, etc. needs to be attached to the application form. An application to write Test Three based on religious objections must be handed in at the faculty secretary/campus coordinator at least 15 working days before the commencement of the first test series. No late applications will be considered.

4. TEST TWO 4.1 In order to grant students the opportunity to manage their assessment

timetable more effectively, a student can decide to participate in either Test Two or Test Three of a module.

4.2 A student who opts to write Test Three instead of Test Two does so at his or

her own risk. Should such a student not be able to participate in Test Three due to an unforeseen or religious reason described in section 3.4, he or she will not be afforded an additional opportunity to write a test and will therefore not gain access to write examination in that module. Consequently, students are strongly advised to write Test Two and not Test Three.

4.3 Students who were granted the opportunity to write Section A of Test Three

(see sections 3.2 to 3.4) need to write Test Two. The option of writing either Test Two or section B of Test Three is therefore not available to such students.

5. TEST THREE 5.1 The third test consists of two sections: Section A: The same demarcation of work as the first test Section B: The same demarcation of work as the second test 5.2 Students who were, due to unforeseen or religious reasons (see section 3.4)

not able to write Test One and who were granted approval to write Test Three, will answer Section A of Test Three.

5.3 Students who opted not to write Test Two will answer Section B of Test Three. 5.4 A student may not write the third assessment in order to improve his/her

module mark. 5.5 A student may not write Sections A and B of Test Three. 5.6 Lectures will continue during the third test week. 5.7 Students should avail themselves of the test-timetable for Test Three. No

conflicts/clashes will be accommodated under any circumstances.

6. REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF TEST VENUES

Once fifteen (15) minutes from the commencement of the test session have elapsed, no student is allowed into the test venue.

Students may leave the test venue only once forty-five (45) minutes from the commencement of the test session have elapsed.

FORM A: APPLICATION TO WRITE SECTION A OF TEST THREE VORM A: AANSOEK OM AFDELING A VAN TOETS DRIE TE SKRYF This form needs to be completed and signed by the student. Hierdie vorm moet deur die student voltooi en onderteken word.

Student number: Studentenommer:

Surname: Van:

Full names: Volle name:

Cellular phone number: Selfoonnommer:

Email address: E-posadres:

Module codes: Modulekodes:

Dates of Test One Datums van Toets Een

Dates of Test Three Datum van Toets Drie

I hereby declare that all information in this application form and attached documentation is true and correct and that, should any information contained in this application form or documents provided by me to the UFS in support of this application be found untrue or incorrect, I may be subject to disciplinary action, and any concessions or approvals granted on the basis of such incorrect or untrue information will be withdrawn and any marks thus obtained will be forfeited. Hiermee verklaar ek dat alle inligting in hierdie aansoekvorm en die aangehegde dokumente waar en korrek is en sou enige inligting wat in hierdie aansoekvorm of dokumente wat ek ter ondersteuning van hierdie aansoek aan die UV verskaf het, onwaar of foutief bevind word, ek onderhewig kan wees aan dissiplinêre optrede, asook die weerhouding van enige vergunnings of goedkeurings wat op grond van sodanige onwaar inligting toegestaan is, en die verbeuring van enige punte wat weens hierdie goedkeuring verwerf is. ………………………………………….. ……………………….. SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT DATE HANDTEKENING VAN AANSOEKER DATUM

FORM B: MEDICAL REPORT VORM B: MEDIESE VERSLAG This form needs to be completed by a medical doctor or psychologist who is registered with the relevant professional council, AFTER Form A has been completed by the student. Hierdie vorm moet deur ’n mediese dokter of sielkundige wat by die toepaslike professionele raad geregistreer is, voltooi word NADAT die student Vorm A voltooi het.

Surname of student: Student se van:

Full names of student: Volle name van student:

Name of registered medical doctor / psychologist: Naam van geregistreerde mediese dokter / sielkundige:

Identity number: Identiteitsnommer:

Name of the professional council: Naam van professionele raad:

Registration number with this Council: Registrasienommer by hierdie Raad:

Practice number (Compulsory): Praktyknommer (Verpligtend):

Telephone number: Telefoonnommer:

Date on which the above-mentioned student consulted you in connection with the illness mentioned in this medical report / Datum waarop die bogenoemde student u geraadpleeg het in verband met die siekte gemeld in hierdie mediese verslag:

Have you personally examined the student and diagnosed his/her illness? Mark the applicable block): Het u persoonlik die student ondersoek en sy/haar siekte gediagnoseer? (Merk die toepaslike blokkie):

YES/JA NO/NEE

Diagnosis: (Clearly and legibly indicated): Diagnose (Duidelik leesbaar aangedui):

The student could not sit for this test(s) regarding the afore-mentioned module(s) on the specific test date(s) due to the above-mentioned medical condition. Die student kon weens die voorafgemelde mediese toestand nie die toetse in bogenoemde module(s) op die voorafbepaalde datum(s) aflê nie.

YES/JA NO/NEE

According to my knowledge / as I was informed, he/she was unfit to sit for this test from .................................................... up to/including: ............................................... Volgens my kennis / wat ek meegedeel is, was hy/sy onbekwaam om hierdie toets af te lê vanaf ……………………….. tot en met ………………………………………

I have confirmed the identity of the student and signed a copy of his/her identity document. Ek het myself vergewis van die identiteit van die student en het ‘n afskrif van sy / haar identiteitsdokument onderteken.

YES/JA NO/NEE

Additional comments (e.g. about the patient’s medical history, if applicable): Verdere kommentaar (bv. oor die pasiënt se mediese geskiedenis, indien van toepassing):

I confirm that the information supplied in this Section B is true and accurate in every respect. Ek bevestig dat die inligting wat ek in hierdie vorm verskaf het, in elke opsig waar en korrek is.

.……………………………………….. …………….…….. SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER DATE

HANDTEKENING VAN GEREGISTREERDE MEDIESE PRAKTISYN DATUM

Stamp/Stempel