Students at German universities can usually ask to inspect their written exam (Klausureinsicht, the review of an exam script). The request is bound to a deadline, and that deadline is set differently at every institution. This guide explains where you should look for it, which office is responsible and how the review usually runs in practice.
Kurz beantwortet: The deadline for requesting an exam review is set by your examination regulation, not by a single national rule. As an example, a guide from the University of Saarland for its psychology bachelor programme sets a deadline of one month after the result is announced, usually submitted in the LSF system. The examination board receives the request. Last updated: November 2026, example taken from a document dated 25 November 2019.
Key points at a glance
- The deadline for the request is stated in your examination regulation or in your university guide.
- As an example, the University of Saarland sets one month after the result is announced.
- In this example, the examination board receives the request and decides on deviating deadlines.
- According to the same guide, the review date itself can fall outside the request period, for example in the lecture-free period.
- Copies and photographs of the exam are not permitted in this example.
- Objections to the grade are also addressed to the examination board.
What is the deadline for an exam review?
There is no universal deadline. State higher education law sets the framework, and universities fill it in through their examination regulations or their own guides. You therefore need to check the deadline at your own university, because a deadline valid at one institution does not automatically apply at another.
The Saarland guide for the psychology bachelor programme names one month as an example. According to it, the request must be made “within one month after the result is announced”, usually in the LSF system. The document is dated 25 November 2019, so it may be outdated. Check the current version on your university website before you rely on it.
Which office is responsible?
In the Saarland example, responsibilities are clearly divided. The examination board receives the request, sets the place and time, decides on deviating deadlines and handles objections. The module coordinator or examiner organises the review itself. The examinations office is responsible for other parts of the examination file.
| Office | Task in the example | Who you contact |
|---|---|---|
| Examination board | Receives the request, sets place and time, handles objections | Written request and objections |
| Module coordinator or examiner | Organises the review | Ask the secretariat or the examiner for a date |
| Examinations office | Access to other parts of the file, overview of dates | Information on further documents and dates |
How does the review usually work?
According to the Saarland example, the examination board sets place and time formally. You learn the dates from the secretariat or directly from the examiner. Sometimes lists are posted where you can sign up. The examiner does not necessarily have to be present, and the supervising person on site decides whether follow-up questions are possible.
In that example, questions about whether a grade is correct are usually not answered. You can, however, voice objections to individual partial marks. If you disagree with the assessment, the objection goes to the examination board.
Why an early request makes sense
The deadline runs from the announcement of the result, not from your preferred date. If you make the request shortly before the deadline, the review may take place later and collide with the start of the semester or other examination dates. The Saarland example points out that the review date itself can fall outside the request period. The request therefore shows that you acted in time, while the review takes place afterwards.
Which details should the request contain?
The Saarland example gives no formal requirements for the request. It refers to the examinations office and to the procedure in the LSF system. Check what your form or online procedure asks for. Note the module name, the examination date and your student ID in advance, so you can complete the request without searching.
Worked example: when does the deadline end?
Assumption: the result is announced on 15 February and your examination regulation sets a deadline of one month after announcement.
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Announcement of the result | 15 February |
| Deadline under the regulation | One month after announcement |
| Last day for the request | In this example, 15 March |
This worked example is an assumption, not a rule. What counts is the wording of your regulation, including whether the day of announcement is counted. If in doubt, ask before you rely on the date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still request an exam review after the deadline?
The Saarland guide says that the examination board decides deviating deadlines in individual cases. A later review is therefore not automatically excluded, but it is not guaranteed either. File the request as early as possible.
Do I have to attend the review in person?
In the example, the module coordinator or examiner organises the review, and dates are announced through the secretariat or the examiner. Whether you must attend in person or another procedure applies is stated in your regulation or in your university guide.
Can I still object after the review?
According to the example, objections to the grade are addressed to the examination board. The deadline for an objection may differ from the deadline for the request, so check both periods separately in your university regulation.
How does this differ from the file inspection in the state examination?
File inspection in the state examination (Staatsexamen) follows its own rules and is a different procedure. If you want to view state examination papers, read the guide on file inspection in the state examination and check the offices named there.
What if I missed the review date?
If you could not attend, ask the secretariat or the examiner directly for a replacement date. Whether you have a claim to one is governed by the examination regulation. Keep evidence if you have reasons you can document.
What you should do now
- Find the deadline for the exam review in your examination regulation or guide.
- Submit the request in time, preferably through the system your university uses.
- Contact the secretariat or the examiner to arrange a review date.
- Write down your questions during the review and put objections in writing.
Practical tips for the review
Prepare your questions before the appointment and write down the exact task or passage you want to discuss. Bring your examination number and the module details, so the supervising person can find your file quickly. Remember that copies and photographs are not permitted in the Saarland example, so take notes by hand and compare them with the grading scheme afterwards. Mark any partial mark you want to challenge while you are still in the room.
Related reading
- Understanding your examination regulation: an overview for students
- False declaration of authorship: possible consequences
- Free attempt in the bachelor: which exams count
- File inspection in the state examination
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
