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Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos and Natural Sciences Tripos, 1999: Notice by the Faculty Board of Biology and the Committee for the Natural Sciences Tripos

The Faculty Board of Biology and the Committee for the Natural Sciences Tripos give notice that the form and conduct of the examinations for the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos and the Natural Sciences Tripos will be changed, with effect from the examinations to be held in 1999, as follows:

Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos, Part Ia

Anatomy

The written paper, which will carry 60 per cent of the total marks, will comprise two sections: Section A will contain questions on human anatomy and Section B will contain questions on veterinary anatomy. Each section will comprise three compulsory parts; candidates are advised to spend approximately one hour on each part. Part 1 will contain fifteen compulsory questions. Parts 2 and 3 will each contain three questions; candidates will be required to answer one question from each part. The questions in part 2, which will require answers in essay format, will examine candidates' ability to integrate structure with function and to construct logical arguments. The questions in part 3 will require candidates to apply their anatomical knowledge to a clinical situation or problem, and to deduce basic clinical implications from first principles.

Physiology

The first part of the practical examination, which is compulsory for all candidates, will be divided into three sections; each section will contain a number of compulsory questions requiring candidates either to provide short answers or to choose the best answer from several alternatives. Section A will consist of questions on the material covered in the experimental physiology classes. Section B will require the analysis and interpretation of data from physiological experiments. Section C will consist of questions on histological material. Candidates will not be allowed to make use of notes or books in the examination.

The second part of the practical examination, which is to be taken only by candidates who fail to submit satisfactory records of practical work undertaken during the course, will involve laboratory experiments.

Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos, Part Ib

General Veterinary Physiology

The written paper, which will carry 75 per cent of the total marks, will contain seven questions on endocrinology, reproductive physiology, and neurophysiology. Candidates will be required to answer question 1 and three other questions. Question 1 will comprise six compulsory sections, each requiring an answer in the form of concise notes; the remaining questions will require answers in essay format.

The practical examination, which will carry 25 per cent of the total marks, will contain questions on the histology and experimental physiology of endocrinology, reproductive physiology, and neurophysiology, and may also cover material from the demonstration classes in Special Veterinary Physiology. The examination may include questions requiring numerical calculations on experimental data.

Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos, Part II (General)

Special Subject: Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology
Special Subject: Pharmacology of Integrated Systems

For details of the examinations in these two Special Subjects see the entry for Pharmacology under Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II, below.

Natural Sciences Tripos, Part Ia

Physiology

For details of the examination in this subject see the entry for Physiology under Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos, Part IA, above.

Natural Sciences Tripos, Part Ib

Advanced Physics

The form of the three papers will be as follows:

Paper 1. Section A: short questions on Electromagnetism, Dynamics, and Optics. Section B: four questions on Electromagnetism, of which candidates must attempt two. Section C: two questions on Dynamics, of which candidates must attempt one. Section D: two questions on Optics, of which candidates must attempt one.

Paper 2. Section A: short questions on Quantum Mechanics, Waves, Thermal Physics, and Condensed Matter Physics. Section B: three questions on Quantum Mechanics, one on Waves, and one covering aspects of both courses, of which candidates must attempt two. Section C: two questions on Thermal Physics, of which candidates must attempt one. Section D: two questions on Condensed Matter Physics, of which candidates must attempt one.

Paper 3. Section A: short questions on Experimental Methods. Section B: seven questions covering all the above courses, of which candidates must attempt three.

In each paper, Section A carries approximately 25 per cent of the total marks.

Fluid Mechanics

Each paper will contain eight questions, instead of nine (six questions in Section A and two in Section B). As in the past, candidates will be required to attempt five questions in each paper.

History and Philosophy of Science

Each paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will contain one general question, which will be compulsory. Section B will contain more specific questions; candidates will be required to answer three questions from this section.

Natural Sciences Tripos, Part II

Biochemistry

The form of Paper 4 will be changed. This paper, which deals with the handling and analysis of biochemical data, will consist of one section only, corresponding to Section B of Paper 4 in previous years.

History and Philosophy of Science

Each paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will contain general questions; Section B will contain more specific questions. Candidates will be required to answer one question from Section A and two from Section B.

Pharmacology

Note. The papers set for the subject Pharmacology in Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos also serve as the papers for the Special Subject Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and the Special Subject Pharmacology of Integrated Systems in Part II (General) of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos.

Candidates for Pharmacology in Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos will take Papers 1-4.

Candidates for the Special Subject Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology in Part II (General) of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos will take Papers 1 and 3.

Candidates for the Special Subject Pharmacology of Integrated Systems in Part II (General) of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos will take Papers 2 and 4.

Paper 1 will contain ten questions on the material in the course designated for the Special Subject Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. Candidates will be required to answer three questions.

Paper 2 will contain ten questions on the material in the course designated for the Special Subject Pharmacology of Integrated Systems. Candidates will be required to answer three questions.

Paper 3 will contain ten questions on the material in the course designated for the Special Subject Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. Candidates will be required to answer two questions.

Paper 4 will contain ten questions on the material in the course designated for the Special Subject Pharmacology of Integrated Systems. Candidates will be required to answer two questions.

Physiology

The form of Paper 3 will be changed; this paper will be set on the same pattern as Paper 2. It will contain seven questions, one on each module; each question may contain two or more alternatives. Candidates will be required to attempt three questions.

Natural Sciences Tripos, Part III

Examinations in Chemistry and in Materials Science and Metallurgy will be held for the first time in 1999. The form of these examinations will be as follows:

Chemistry

Three papers will be set, each of three hours' duration. For each of Papers 1 and 2 candidates will be allowed ten minutes of additional time for reading the question paper.

Paper 1 will contain one question relating to each Part III lecture course; candidates will be required to answer six questions. Each question will comprise two parts, (a) and (b); candidates will have the option of answering either part (a) or part (b).

Paper 2 will contain one question relating to each Part III lecture course; candidates will be required to answer four questions. Each question will comprise two parts, (a) and (b); candidates will have the option of answering either part (a) or part (b).

Paper 3 will cover the five topics in General Chemistry, whose titles have been notified. The paper will comprise five sections, each referring to one of the specified topics; each section will contain two questions. Candidates will be required to answer five questions, each taken from a different section.

For each paper candidates will be provided with a Data Book containing a simple Periodic Table, values of physical constants, certain mathematical formulae and definitions, and selected character tables. The Data Book is identical to those used in Part IB and Part II.

Materials Science and Metallurgy

Three papers will be set, each of three hours' duration.

Paper 1 will consist of three sections. Section A will contain three questions on the core lecture courses for Part III; candidates will be required to answer two of these questions. Section B will contain a series of short questions, one for each of the module courses and two based on the core courses for Part III; candidates will be required to answer six of these questions. Section C will contain five titles for essays on general topics in Materials Science and Metallurgy; candidates will be required to write on one of these titles. Each section will carry one-third of the credit for the paper.

Paper 2 will contain two questions on each of the module courses M1 to M8. Paper 3 will contain two questions on each of the module courses M9 to M16. In each of these papers candidates will be expected to answer five questions, choosing not more than one question on any one module.

Data Books will be provided for each paper.


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Cambridge University Reporter, 2 December 1998
Copyright © 1998 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.