Exam Conflicts and Multiple Exam Situations

A student with examinations/mid-term tests having flexible submission times (i.e., take-home exams/tests, or a longer period of time (greater than 3 hours) to complete an online examination/test outside the stated exam period) cannot request alternative arrangements unless a conflict cannot be avoided. This means two final exams scheduled simultaneously, with the same examination deadline expectation. Please be advised, the scheduled exam date and time posted by the Registrar’s Office will be the exam deadline due date, NOT the exam start time for take-home assessments.

This also applies to “heavy load” conflicts - Multiple Exam Situation:

3 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 3 consecutive periods or 23 hours;
4 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 6 consecutive periods or 47 hours; or
5 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 9 consecutive periods or 71 hours.


Students who have any of these type of conflict(s) (in-person with online or take-home conflict, online conflicts, and take-home conflicts) and who wish to explore alternative scheduling options, should submit an exam conflict through the Student Absence Portal.

To know if you have flexible exam submissions, please confirm with your course instructor.

Students with conflicts and/or a multiple exam situation will be notified by the Office of the Registrar regarding their options for resolution.

December and April exam periods only

By maintaining BOTH a Conflict and a Multiple Exam policy, it is Western University's objective to provide students with a fair exam schedule.  We remain committed to supporting all students during their studies at Western. (Please note that for the purpose of calculations, a Sunday 10:00 a.m. start time is the equivalent of a normal 9:00 a.m. start time).

If you believe you are in a direct exam conflict or a multiple exam situation, you will be contacted via email (to your Western email account). The email will provide details on how to proceed, and appropriate people to contact.

Direct Final Exam Conflict

If you have two FINAL examinations in the same time slot (e.g. two exams scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on the same day), you will receive an email to your Western email account.  The email will provide details on how to proceed and appropriate people to contact.

Direct Mid-Year/Mid-Year or MidYear/Final Conflict

If you are scheduled to write either one final exam and one mid-year test or 2 mid-year tests at the same time during the December or April exam periods, you will be emailed as a courtesy, however, Direct Mid-Year/Mid-Year or Mid-Year/Final Exam conflicts are submitted through the Student Absence Portal.

Multiple Exam Situation

A multiple exam situation is defined as:

3 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 3 consecutive periods* or 23 hours;
4 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 6 consecutive periods* or 47 hours; or
5 or more exams/mid-year tests scheduled within 9 consecutive periods* or 71 hours.

*A period refers to the morning, afternoon, or evening slot on an exam day.

If you are in any of the above listed situations, you will receive an email to your Western account, which will provide details on how to proceed.

Examples of Multiple Exam Situations:

A) Three exams in 23 hours or 3 exams in 3 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:

Exam Period Day 1 Day 2
9:00 a.m.   Exam 3
2:00 p.m. Exam 1  
7:00 p.m. Exam 2  

B) Four exams in 47 hours, or 4 exams in 6 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:

Exam Period Day 1 Day 2
9:00 a.m.  Exam 1
2:00 p.m.  Exam 3
7:00 p.m.  Exam 2  Exam 4

C) Five exams in 71 hours, or 5 exams in 9 consecutive periods could be exams scheduled as follows:

Exam Period Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
9:00 a.m.  Exam 1 Exam 4
2:00 p.m.  Exam 3 Exam 5
7:00 p.m. Exam 2