What you need to know

Whether you are taking an exam, scheduling one, or learning about regulations surrounding exams, the Schedules Office, in accordance with Faculty rules, provides the information and tools to help you navigate exams at MIT.

There are three categories of examinations covered in these pages:

Final examinations

  • We schedule final exams in collaboration with academic departments while adhering to the policies outlined in the Rules & Regulations of the Faculty.
  • The final exam schedule is posted three weeks after the term begins. Additional information can be found on our Final Exam Schedule page.
  • The Schedules Office will notify you of conflicts for final exams and a conflict exam schedule will be posted after Drop Date.
  • Don’t finalize your end-of-term travel plans until after the exam schedule is posted. Faculty may offer conflict exams to accommodate travel, but they are not required to do so.

Core exam and quizzes

  • We work with the Office of the First Year to put together an examination schedule of each term’s first-year core exams.
  • The fall schedule is posted the Thursday before Registration Day. The spring schedule is posted the day after pre-registration closes.

Advanced Standing Examinations (ASEs)

  • Students may petition to take an Advanced Standing Examination to earn credit for MIT subjects in math, physics, chemistry, biology, and/or electrical engineering and computer science.
  • ASEs are offered four times a year.
  • Requests to take an ASE are by petition.