Prohibited materials and cheating

RACS has high expectations that candidates at the examinations will conduct themselves with honesty and integrity, as they would in their professional lives. The usual examination rules apply which prevent any candidate having an unfair and dishonest advantage. If a candidate has any doubts over whether particular items can be taken into an examination or whether a course of action would be considered cheating, they should contact the Examinations Department in the first instance for clarification. 

The following items are a guide to what is not permitted in any examination room, including any pre or post-examination waiting areas (for clinical/viva exams): 

• Personal ear plugs/phones – earplugs are available at the venue.
• Personal watches/timers – your examination is individually timed.
• Food and drink - only in the exception of medical conditions, please contact the examinations department to advise of this prior to the examination.
• Water bottles – you can bring bottled water (without label) into the exam; it must be placed on the water station at the front of the room. No water can be taken to the work station. 
• Notes/books/textbooks or blank paper – other than papers supplied, you cannot bring your own blank paper for notes.
• Pens, pencil cases, calculators, liquid paper and glasses cases.
• Mobile phones and electronic devices such as audio-recording wrist bands, pens, spectacles, mp3 players, iPods and iPads.
• Hats are not to be worn or taken into the examination.

This list is not definitive and candidates must adhere to all reasonable instructions given by invigilators, examiners or RACS staff.

A candidate who takes prohibited equipment or materials into an examination room will be informed that he or she must leave the examination room immediately and will not be permitted to take further part in the examination.

The candidate's result for the examination will not be approved and any examination fees paid will be forfeited. The matter will also be reported to the relevant governing committee for consideration as to whether a misconduct investigation should be conducted.

Cheating is defined as, but is not limited to:

• gaining or attempting to gain access to any materials such as specimens or images, or patients involved in the examination, prior to an examination;
• copying, or allowing another candidate to copy answers during the course of an examination;
• disseminating or making available questions or answers to another candidate or prospective candidate relating to the current examination;
• procuring knowledge of the questions, and their answers, from anyone before the examination.

If a candidate is suspected of cheating, they will not be given extra time at the end of the examination for any reason, including time taken for discussions with the person who has identified the incident.