updated 07/28/26
Fall 2026 Self Scheduled Exam Dates
Calendar View
| September | October | November | December |
| 09/18/2026 — Fri 09/19/2026 — Sat 09/20/2026 — Sun 09/25/2026 — Fri |
10/02/2026 — Fri 10/03/2026 — Sat 10/04/2026 — Sun 10/16/2026 — Fri 10/23/2026 — Fri 10/30/2026 — Fri |
11/06/2026 — Fri 11/07/2026 — Sat 11/08/2026 — Sun 11/13/2026 — Fri 11/20/2026 — Fri
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12/04/2026 — Fri 12/05/2026 — Sat 12/06/2026 — Sun |
Rooms reserved for taking Self-Scheduled Exams
| Open to all, no accommodation requirements, no reservation necessary | Low Distraction, for students with ARC accommodation reservation required. | Private, for students with ARC accommodation reservation required. |
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 Scan for ARC Room Reservations or click on the link above |
For Students |
For Instructors |
For Students
The Academic Integrity Policy applies at all times
Smith students are responsible for upholding their own integrity by adhering to all course policies and properly acknowledging all sources used in preparing academic work. When assignments require students to submit work that is the product of their own intellectual labor, faculty expect that students have neither used unauthorized resources nor engaged in unauthorized collaboration with others. When courses require students to submit work that is the product of intellectual engagement with fellow students, students should follow all of the guidelines set out for collaboration. All submitted coursework of any kind must be the original work of the student(s).
Exam Times & Location
- Days & Times:
- Friday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- We CANNOT distribute exams to students before the official start of the exam period!
- For Fall 2026 exams start Fri September 18. Exams run every weekend through Sun December 6, except Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break. See the full list of dates above.
- Where to Go: Pickup and return all exams in the McConnell Foyer.
- Where to Take Exams: Check the signs posted in the McConnell Foyer or the list above for available rooms in Bass, Burton, McConnell, Sabin Reed, and Young.
How Taking an Exam Works
- Pick Up: Go to McConnell Foyer. A student monitor will check exam-takers’ names on the class list and give students the correct exam.
- Stamp Time: Students use the special time-stamp machines to stamp the date and time on their exam when then pick them up.
- Travel Time: Students get 10 minutes to walk to their exam room, and 10 minutes to walk back after they finish.
- Take the Test: Follow instructor’s directions for how long you have to take the exam, including any allowance of extra time for accommodations, what resources (if any) are allowed, and how to show work/format answers.
- Return: Bring the finished exam back to McConnell Foyer, stamp the return time on it, and place it in the exam drop box.
- Exams must be complete by the end of the exam period (9 pm on Fridays, 6 pm on Saturday or Sunday) unless an instructor has approved additional time for an individual student or class, or there are ARC accommodations that require it.
Note: This procedure is only for Science self-scheduled exams, during the semester. Final self-scheduled exams are administered by the Registrar have different rules.
FAQ
How do I take a Self-Scheduled exam at McConnell?
Coming soon! Video clip with the step by step instructions!
What time does the exam center open/close?
The exam center opens at 3pm on Fridays and 12pm on Saturdays/Sundays.
The exam center closes at 9pm on Fridays and 6pm on Saturdays/Sundays. This means that all exams need to be completed and turned in by these times.* (Students with instructor-approved time extensions or ARC accommodations may submit their exam after these times.)
We CANNOT distribute exams to students before the official start of the exam period!
What if I forgot my student ID or do not attend Smith?
If you forgot your student ID and/or do not attend Smith, you may show your class Moodle page or 5-Colleges student ID. Note that a Smith student ID is needed to unlock academic buildings (including McConnell) after 6pm on Fridays and throughout the weekend. If you cannot get into the building during the testing period, please knock on McConnell’s front door and an exam worker will assist you.
What if I forgot my pencil/pen/calculator?
If you’ve forgotten a writing utensil or calculator, loaner materials may be available for use in the exam center cart. However, please plan ahead as the exam center has limited supplies and the availability of supplies is not guaranteed.
Where can I take my exam? Where can I find a list of all the available exam rooms?
The list of available exam rooms can be found listed above. Additionally, signage that lists all available rooms can be found in the exam pickup area. Students may NOT take exams in the hallways or stairwells or in rooms that are not on the list above. All designated self-scheduled exam rooms have signs posted on the door.
What if I need a low-distraction or private exam room?
If you have ARC accommodations and need a low-distraction or private exam room, you can book your exam room online. You can find the links to book a room at the top of this page. Additionally, you may book your room upon arrival to McConnell via QR codes on the displayed signage.
What if I am a Five College student who needs a low-distraction or private exam room and I can’t login to the room reservation system?
Send an email to cscexams@smith.edu with the date, start time, end time, and course number for each exam you need to take.
What should I do if an available exam room is locked?
If an exam room is locked, please ask a student exam monitor in McConnell Foyer for assistance.
What if I need to take exams for more than one class in the same weekend?
If you need to take multiple exams, we recommend taking them one at a time to ensure you have enough time for each exam.
What should I do if the timestamp machine is not working?
Make sure your exam is fully pushed into the machine’s slot, as the sensor may not have been triggered. If the machine is still not stamping your exam, use a different machine or ask a student exam monitor for assistance.
What should I do if the timestamp machine is behind/ahead?
When taking the exam, make sure you are tracking your time based on the time given by the timestamp machine. It is best to use the same timestamp machine for both your start and end times.
What should I do if I forgot to timestamp my exam?
If you forget to timestamp your exam, please email your professor.
What if I only forgot to timestamp my exam after completing it?
If you only forgot to timestamp the second time & you’re still within the time limit for your exam, you may timestamp and submit a blank piece of paper with your name on it in addition to emailing your professor.
Where are the bathrooms in McConnell?
McConnell Hall bathrooms are located in the basement and 2nd floor. Single stall bathrooms are located on the 2nd floor. There are no bathrooms on the 1st floor of McConnell.
Is this process the same for finals period?
The process is similar but not the same! During finals period, the Registrar’s Office administers self-scheduled exams in Seelye Hall. The exam workers will find, timestamp, and collect your exam for you. Please see the registrar’s office page for more detail.
Who should I contact if I still have questions?
If you still have questions regarding self-scheduled exams, please contact cscexams@smith.edu or ask an available exam worker in McConnell during the exam period.
For Instructors
Preparing Exams
- Sign up to give an exam: Add your exam details to the Self-Scheduled Exam Google Sheet at least one week ahead of time. If you are deciding less than a week ahead or want to give a make-up exam from a previous week, please email cscexams@smith.edu. We have limited capacity to give exams.
- Printing: Print, staple, and proofread your exams before Friday at 3:00 PM. Include a few extra copies, just in case. Any untaken exams will be returned to the secure drop box along with completed exams.
- Beginning this year, we ask that if your exam allows or requires students to use a laptop (or really any internet-enabled device), that exam be printed on yellow paper. Note that some individual students have accommodations that allow them to use a device for any exam; this new practice does NOT apply to exams for those students.
- Exam Cover Page Requirements:
- Course name, number, and section
- Instructor name ( courses with multiple sections may be giving exams at the same time!)
- Space for student name and time stamps
- Time allowed for the exam (with exceptions for accommodations)
- Academic Integrity Policy language on the first page of the exam is recommended. Instructors are also encouraged to remind students of the honor code in class, prior to the exam.
- Class List:
- Provide a printed roster (class list) in alphabetical order by last name, with space for student initials. Please do not include space for time in and time out. This only causes confusion for the students. The time stamp records the pickup and return times.
- Your contact info (the best way for students or monitors to reach you during the exam period).
Where to Drop Off Exams That Are Ready For Distribution:
- Option 1: Burton 115 (Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Friday 9:00-2:45pm)
- Option 2: McConnell Foyer on Friday starting at 2:45 PM.
Picking Up Completed Exams
- Instructors pick up completed exams from the secure drop boxes in McConnell Foyer.
- Email cscexams@smith.edu to get the lock combination. This will also be included in the weekly reminder for instructors.
- Student exam monitors do not have access to the completed exams drop box.
Administrative support
- The Science Center provides the administrative support to
- Make room reservations with College Events and provide way finding signage
- Manage the ARC accommodation self-serve room reservation system
- Hire, manage, and, schedule the student exam monitors
- Collect exams during the week leading up to the exam period
- Monitor exam details provided by instructors in the Self-Scheduled Exam Google Sheet
- Answer questions and troubleshoot problems from instructors and students
- There will be no onsite support from regular administrative staff during the Friday-Sunday exam period. What this means is there is no remedy or backup support if
- The student exam monitors cannot or do not show up for their shifts
- There is a problem with the ARC accommodation self-serve room reservation system
- Available rooms fill up during a given exam period and there aren’t enough seats
- Something else happens that is not within the scope of what the student exam monitors can help with.
What Student Exam Monitors Do (and Don’t Do)
- Monitors DO:
- Set up McConnell Foyer for distribution of exams
- Label exam drop boxes in McConnell foyer for each class
- Check student IDs against the course roster
- Remind students to time-stamp their papers
- Point students to open testing rooms
- Unlock any testing rooms that are locked by mistake
- Secure untaken exams and rosters at the end of exam periods on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Place untaken exams and/or roster to the appropriate completed exam drop box in McConnell Foyer at the end of the exam period Sunday evening
- Call Campus Safety in case of any emergencies, including Facilities related.
- Monitors DO NOT:
- Track individual student exam times
- Manage room reservations
- Fix exam problems or answer exam questions (they will direct students to contact instructors).
- Have access to the drop box where completed exams are kept.
❓ Questions?
Still need help? Contact cscexams@smith.edu.
If you are looking for information regarding self-scheduled FINAL exams, please see the registrar’s office page.