Exams

3 sets of exams

-First semester exams usually start the end of January.
-Second semester exams start end of May.
-Third set of exams are "rattrapages" (aka retakes) for first and second semester exams, usually starting the first week of September.

Exams are in oral or written format. This is a big decision to make, and must be made for both semesters at the very beginning of the year. I believe that you have a small window where you can change the format of the exams, possibly the first week of classes, but I'm not entirely sure. Whatever class you have a TD in, you must take that exam in written form.

Oral vs. Written

Oral exams are shorter, usually lasting 15 minutes. Certain professors are very foreign-student friendly and therefore, taking it oral is a great thing. Others don't care and are awful and will make you cry (not just me folks, many WCLers have cried after an oral exam). Oral exams usually consist of one or two very specific questions. Sometimes you have 10 minutes or so to outline an answer, sometimes you don't. Also, if you aren't the first person that day, you will be preparing while someone else is giving their exam in front of the professor. It can be difficult to concentrate, especially if the person before you is extremely good or extremely bad.

Written exams are usually 3 hours long. One must chose to answer 1 of two possible questions, which are usually extremely broad, touching on many different parts of the course material. Also, you can write "Etudiant(e) Etranger(e)" in BIG letters, so you don't necessarily miss out on the foreign-student pity. You have the right to use an English-French dictionary. Written exams are much better for classes which you understand better in breadth than in depth.

Taking Exams Early

If you are planning on taking BarBri to prepare for the bar exam, you need to take exams early. This has not been a problem in the past, but can be a big hassle. You should talk to your profs relatively early in the semester to warn them, and then remind them more than once as it comes closer to the end of the semester.