Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6328

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Vol cxliv No 11

pp. 138–155

Form and conduct of examinations, 2014

Notices by Faculty Boards, or other bodies concerned, of changes to the form and conduct of certain examinations to be held in 2014, by comparison with those examinations in 2013, are published below. Complete details of the form and conduct of all examinations are available from the Faculties or Departments concerned.

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos, Parts Ia, Ib, and II, 2014

The Faculty Board of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form of examination for the following papers of the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos will be as specified below:

Part Ia

MES. 3 Persian language

This paper will consist of two parts: an oral exam (30 marks) and a written paper (70 marks). The written paper will consist of three sections: Section A will contain passages of Persian for translation into English (20 marks), Section B will contain a choice of topics for a composition of about 100 words in Persian (30 marks), and Section C will contain questions on Persian grammar (20 marks). The oral exam will consist of three sections: a dictation (10 marks), a presentation (10 marks), and a role play (10 marks).

MES. 5 Hebrew language B

The paper will consist of five questions, all of which must be answered. There is also a compulsory oral. Question 1 will contain a passage of Biblical Hebrew for vocalization (8 marks) and translation into English (7 marks), question 2 will contain three questions on Modern Hebrew grammar (5 marks each), question 3 will contain one unseen passage for translation into English (15 marks), in question 4 candidates will be required to write a short composition in Modern Hebrew (15 marks), and question 5 will contain one seen passage for translation into English and for comment (15 marks: 8 for translation and 7 for comment).

The oral (25 marks) will consist of (1) listening comprehension test (5 marks); (2) reading comprehension test (10 marks); and (3) conversation test (10 marks).

Part Ib

MES. 12 Intermediate Persian

This paper will contain two sections, a three-hour written examination (70 marks) and an oral examination (30 marks). The written examination will contain one passage of Persian on which candidates will be required to answer comprehension questions in Persian (30 marks); one passage of Persian for translation into English (15 marks); and one question requiring a piece of writing of about 200 words of Persian (25 marks). All questions should be attempted.

The oral examination will contain three sections. All timings are approximate and all oral examinations are recorded.

(a)Dictation: Candidates write down an oral dictation from an unprepared passage. (10 marks – 20 minutes)

(b)Listening Comprehension: Candidates listen to a short passage and answer questions on the subject of the passage. (10 marks – 10 minutes)

(c)Presentation: Candidates prepare several presentations on previously agreed topics, of which they are asked to present one. (10 marks – 10 minutes)

MES. 13 Intermediate Hebrew

This paper will be divided into two sections, at least one of which must be answered. Section A (Classical Hebrew) will contain four questions on Hebrew language (15 marks each) and two questions on specified texts (20 marks each). Section B (Modern Hebrew) will contain three questions on Hebrew language (15 marks each). Question 1: unseen Modern Hebrew passage for translation into English. Question 2: summary of a Modern Hebrew unseen passage. Question 3: Composition in Modern Hebrew from a choice of three topics, two questions on specified texts (15 marks each), and an oral (25 marks). Candidates offering one section only must answer all questions. Candidates studying both Classical Hebrew and Modern Hebrew must offer two language questions (15 marks each) and one specified text question (20 marks) from Section A and one language question (15 marks), one specified text question (15 marks) from Section B, and an oral (20 marks)

The oral will consist of (1) translation and interpretation test (5 marks); (2) listening comprehension test (5 marks); (3) general oral ability test (15 marks; 10 marks for candidates offering both Classical and Modern Hebrew).

MES. 15 Literary Persian

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will contain four seen passages of Persian prose and poetry of which candidates will be required to choose two for translation and analysis. Each translation will carry 10 marks and each commentary 15 marks. Section B will contain a choice of essay questions of which candidates must attempt to answer two. Each essay will carry 25 marks.

MES. 18 Topics in Hebrew studies

The paper will contain three sections dealing respectively with (i) introduction to post-Biblical Hebrew poetry, (ii) the history of the Hebrew language, and (iii) modern Hebrew culture (literature-film-history). Each section will contain four questions. Candidates must choose two sections and answer two questions from each. The questions carry equal marks.

Part II

J.O Japanese Oral

The oral examination consists of three parts of equal mark-value, and all oral tests will be recorded.

Form and Conduct

(a)Listening comprehension: Candidates listen to a recorded passage of Japanese and answer questions in Japanese.

(b)Oral précis: Candidates prepare a passage in English with the aid of dictionaries. They then summarize the content in Japanese before the examiners. A short conversation in Japanese on the topic may follow.

(c)Speech: Candidates are asked to submit the title of a speech a week before the examination. The speech itself should last no more than ten minutes; notes are allowed but the speech must not be read aloud. A short conversation may follow.

MES. 31 Advanced Arabic

The examination consists of two parts, a three-hour written examination (70 marks) and an oral examination, which is taken at the beginning of the fourth year (30 marks). The written examination consists of three questions: one passage of Arabic on which candidates will be required to answer questions (25 marks); one passage of Arabic to be translated into English (15 marks); and one question offering a choice of at least four topics for an essay in Arabic of at least 350 words (30 marks). All questions must be attempted.

The oral examination consists of four sections. All timings are approximate and all oral examinations are recorded.

(a)Listening comprehension. Candidates answer questions on one recorded passage, which may be taken from a variety of sources. (8 marks)

(b)Reading aloud. Candidates are required to read aloud an unseen passage with full vocalization. No time is made available for preparation beforehand. (3 marks)

(c)Liaison interpreting. Candidates act as an interpreter for two examiners, one speaking Arabic and one English. (7 marks)

(d)Discussion. Candidates discuss a topic of their choice which has been approved in advance by the examiners (12 marks) (b., c., and d. 30 minutes)

MES. 32 Advanced Persian

The examination consists of two parts, a three-hour written examination (70 marks) and an oral examination which is taken at the beginning of the fourth year (30 marks). The written examination consists of two sections. Section A consists of two unseen passages of modern Persian for translation into English (20 marks each). Section B consists of three topics for an essay of about 400 words in Persian, of which one must be attempted (30 marks).

The oral examination consists of three sections. All timings are approximate and all oral examinations are recorded.

(a)Dictation. Candidates write down an oral dictation from an unprepared passage. (10 marks – 15 minutes)

(b)Listening Comprehension. Candidates listen to a short passage and discuss it with the examiners. (10 marks – 10 minutes)

(c)Discussion. Candidates discuss one topic selected at the time of the examination from a list of three, chosen and provided previously by themselves. (10 marks – 20 minutes)

MES. 33 Advanced Hebrew

The paper will be divided into two sections, at least one of which must be answered. Section A (Pre-Modern Hebrew) will contain three questions on Hebrew language and two questions on specified texts. Section B (Modern Hebrew) will contain two questions on Hebrew language, two questions on specified texts, and an oral. Candidates offering one section only must answer all questions. Candidates studying both Pre-Modern Hebrew and Modern Hebrew must offer one language question and one specified text question from Section A and one language question, one specified text question from Section B, and an oral. Each question, including the oral, is worth 20 marks. The oral will consist of (i) translation and interpretation test (5 marks); (ii) listening comprehension test (5 marks); and (iii) general oral ability test (10 marks).

MES. 35 Themes in Persian literature

This paper will consist of two sections. Section A will consist of four passages of which candidates will be required to choose two for translation and analysis. Section B will consist of four essay questions of which candidates will be required to attempt one. All questions carry equal marks.

MES. 38 History of the modern Middle East

This paper will consist of eight essay questions of which candidates will be required to answer three. All questions will carry equal marks.

Classical Tripos and Preliminary Examinations, 2014

The Faculty Board of Classics give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form of the examination for the following papers for Part Ib of the Classical Tripos will be changed as follows. This is a correction to the Notice published on 27 November 2013 (Reporter, 6327, 2012–13, p. 119).

Part Ib

Papers 5–6.

Each of Papers 5 and 6 will consist of three sections.

Section A (in Paper 5 for candidates offering Paper 1, Greek Translation; in Paper 6 for candidates offering Paper 3, Latin Translation) will contain four passages for discussion, one from each Schedule A group of texts in the four topics available for examination.

Section B (in Paper 5 for candidates offering Paper 2, Alternative Greek Translation; in Paper 6 for candidates offering Paper 4, Alternative Latin Translation) will contain four passages for discussion, one from each pair of texts (1) and (2) in each Schedule A group of texts in the four topics available for examination.

Section C (for all candidates) will contain essay questions and passages for discussion from Schedule B texts (with accompanying translations). Candidates will be required to answer two questions from either Section A or Section B and two questions from Section C.

The consequence of this structure is that, in order to be prepared for the examination, a candidate must have studied two of the four topics in Paper 5 or 6. The minimum number of texts which must be prepared in each paper is:

(i)for Intensive Greek or Intensive Latin candidates, four texts (or groups of texts), chosen as numbers (1) and (2) from each of two of the Schedule A groups of texts.

(ii)for non-Intensive candidates, six texts (or groups of texts), chosen as the complete Schedule A of two separate topics.

Credit will be given for knowledge of Schedule B texts. In each paper each question carries a quarter of the marks.

Geographical Tripos, Part Ib

The Faculty Board of Earth Sciences and Geography give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the open-book essay previously included in the requirements for Paper 1 is replaced with course-work.

Mathematical Tripos, 2014

The Faculty Board of Mathematics give notice that the form of the examinations in 2014 for the Mathematical Tripos will be changed as follows:

Part Ib

CATAM Examination

The maximum credit obtainable for the Computational Projects course will be 160 marks and there will be no alpha or beta quality marks. Credit obtained is added directly to the credit gained in the written examination. The maximum contribution to the final merit mark is thus 160, which is roughly the same (averaging over the alpha weightings) as for a 16-lecture course.

Part II

CATAM Examination

No quality marks (i.e. alphas or betas) will be awarded. Instead the weighting attached to the project marks when they are converted to Tripos marks has been increased by a factor 5/2, so that there are a maximum of 150 Tripos marks available for the Computational Projects course. The maximum contribution to the final merit mark is thus the same as the maximum for a 16-lecture course.

Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos, Part I, 2014

The Faculty Board of Biology give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form of the examination for the following Part I papers will be as follows:

SECTION A

PBS 1: Introduction to psychology

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper, consisting of two sections, A and B. Section A will contain questions pertaining to specific topic areas within the course. Section B will contain questions to assess the ability of candidates to integrate knowledge across topic areas. The following rubric will be used:

Candidates must answer any three questions from Section A, and one question from Section B. One third of the total marks is awarded to Section B.

PBS 2: Psychological enquiry and methods

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper, consisting of three sections. Section A will consist of short questions concerning the material taught throughout the course. Section B will assess the ability to apply mathematical and statistical techniques. Section C will assess the application of knowledge to critically evaluate psychological research. The following rubric will be used:

Answer all questions in Sections A and B, and two questions from Section C. One third of the available marks on the paper will be awarded to each section. Candidates are advised to divide their time accordingly. Calculators are permitted in this examination.

Theological and Religious Studies Tripos

The Faculty Board of Divinity give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form will be changed as follows:

Paper C1.d Advanced Arabic

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to translate one out of two passages from the Qur’an, and three out of four passages from the remaining texts, commenting on specified words and concepts, to point two passages from any of the prescribed passages, to translate one unseen passage from English into Arabic.

Paper D1a. Old Testament

The form of examination will be four gobbets from a choice of seven and three essays from a choice of at least twelve.

Paper D2e. The rise of Pentecostalism, 1900 to the present day

The paper will be assessed by a three-hour written examination, which will take the form of two sections, A and B. Candidates will be required to answer three questions in total. Section A will consist of ten essay-style questions, from which candidates must attempt two. Section B will consist of three unseen passages; candidates must provide a written commentary on any one of these.

Paper D2f. Topics in Christian ethics

The paper will be assessed by two extended essays, each of no more than 5,000 words in length, one to focus chiefly on questions of method. Candidates will choose from each part of a list of topics to be published at the beginning of the academical year.

The Faculty Board of Divinity have confirmed that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2014 will be affected by these changes.

Bachelor of Theology for Ministry

The Faculty Board of Divinity give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form will be changed as follows:

GROUP B

Paper 30. Philosophy of religion

Candidates will be required to sit a three-hour examination and to answer four questions from at least ten.

The Faculty Board of Divinity have confirmed that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2014 will be affected by these changes.

Examination in Economic and Social History for the degree of Master of Philosophy, 2014

The Degree Committee for the Faculty of History give notice that, in the academical year 2013–14, the subjects for examination in Economic and Social History for the M.Phil. Degree will be as listed below.

In accordance with Regulation 1(c) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 518), two written exercises, to be undertaken under conditions specified by the Degree Committee, on each of two subjects on topics chosen by the candidate, subject to the approval of the Degree Committee, from the list below:

(1) British industrialization in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

(2) Institutions and development (a course taught by the M.Phil. in Development Studies)

(3) The origins and spread of financial capitalism

(4) Inequality: a global history

(5) Family, identity, and social change since 1850

(6) Health, politics, and economic growth since 1750

All other parts of the scheme of examination remain unchanged.

Examination in Micro- and Nanotechnology Enterprise for the degree of Master of Philosophy, 2014

The Degree Committee for Physics and Chemistry give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2014, the form of the unseen written examination papers for the Micro-and Nanotechnology Enterprise M.Phil. Degree will be as follows:

Paper 1

Paper 1 will cover Characterization techniques (NE.01), Nanofabrication techniques (NE.04), Nanochemistry (NE.06), and Micro- and Nano-materials for optoelectronics (NE.10).

Paper 2

Paper 2 will cover Nanomaterials (NE.05), Physics at the nanometre-scale (NE.07), Bionanotechnology (NE.08), and Nano self-assembly (NE.11).

Full details of the examinations are in the course handbook at: http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/teaching/mphil/mphil_nanoent_handbook.pdf.

Examination in Modern European History for the degree of Master of Philosophy, 2014

The Degree Committee for the Faculty of History give notice that, in the academical year 2013–14, the subjects for examination in Modern European History for the M.Phil. Degree will be as listed below.

In accordance with Regulation 2(b) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 531), one essay of not more than 4,000 words in length, on a topic chosen by the candidate from the following list of topics specified by the Degree Committee and falling within the following fields covered in the core course:

Controversies in modern European History:

Secularization

The ideology of free trade

The second scientific revolution

Modernization and economic modernity

Masculinity and gender

The Spanish civil war

The ‘Great Terror’

Nazism and the ‘Final Solution’

In accordance with Regulation 4(c), two essays, of not more than 4,000 words in length, on topics chosen from the list of options below:

(1) The German Democratic Republic and its demise

(2) Worlds of diplomacy: culture and power in modern Europe

(3) Russia and the West in the 18th and 19th centuries

(4) French Nationalisms 1770–1914

(5) Cold War Europe

All other parts of the scheme of examination remain unchanged.