Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6451

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Vol cxlvii No 17

pp. 311–321

Form and conduct of examinations

Notices by Faculty Boards, or other bodies concerned, of changes to the form and conduct of certain examinations to be held in 2017, by comparison with those examinations in 2016, are published below. Complete details of the form and conduct of all examinations are available from the Faculties or Departments concerned.

Human, Social, and Political Sciences Tripos, Part II, 2016–17

The Faculty Board of the Human, Social, and Political Science Tripos gives notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2017, the form of the examination for the following papers for the Human, Social, and Political Sciences Tripos will be changed as follows:

Archaeology

ARC4: Akkadian language I

This paper will be assessed solely by a three-hour examination. Candidates must answer all questions. The number of questions may vary from year to year. The relative percentage weight of each question will be specified in the examination paper.

With reference to extracts from set texts and/or unseen passages, candidates may be required to transliterate, and/or translate into English, and/or normalize, and/or answer linguistic or philological questions. Candidates may be asked questions about Akkadian grammar. Candidates may be asked to translate passages or sentences into Old Babylonian.

For the purposes of setting unseens and passages for translation into Akkadian, it will be assumed that candidates are familiar with all the vocabulary and idioms encountered in the set texts.

ARC5: Egyptian language I

This paper is assessed through two in-class tests of two hours each. The first test will take place at the end of week six of Lent Term, while the second test will be conducted at the end of week four of Easter Term.

Each test will consist of the transliteration and translation of selections of unseen passages in hieroglyphic Middle Egyptian, appropriate to the expected level of proficiency of the students at the time of each assessment. In addition to the transliteration and translation, the complete grammatical analysis (parsing) of each Egyptian passage will be required. The use of sign lists and glossaries or dictionaries is permitted, and copies will be supplied to the students for the purposes of the test by the course co-ordinator.

Each test will make up 50% of the total mark awarded for the paper.

ARC6: Archaeological theory and practice

For single track students assessment will consist of an examination (80% of the total mark), a report on the Easter field trip (10% of the total mark), and a training excavation report (10% of the total mark).

For joint track students assessment will consist of an examination (80% of the total mark) and a practical project studying an artefact or group of artefacts. This project is in the form of a 3,000-word written report worth 20% of the final mark.

ARC10: Human evolution and palaeolithic archaeology

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 70% of the overall mark, one project worth 20% of the overall mark, and one practical examination worth 10% of the overall mark.

ARC11: Special topics in palaeolithic archaeology and human evolution

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and one project worth 20% of the overall mark.

ARC18: Society and settlement in Ancient Egypt

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and a project worth 20% of the overall mark.

ARC20: The archaeology of religion in Ancient Egypt

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and a project worth 20% of the overall mark.

ARC22: Mesopotamian archaeology I: prehistory and early states

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and a short notes and images test worth 20% of the overall mark.

ARC25: Mesopotamian culture II: religion and scholarship

This paper will be assessed through four coursework essays of 2,000 words each, on topics specified by the co-ordinator.

ARC29: Ancient India I: the Indus civilization and beyond

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 70% of the overall mark, and two essays each worth 15% of the overall mark.

ARC32: The archaeology of Mesoamerica and North America

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and a project worth 20% of the overall mark.

ARC34: Akkadian language II

The paper will be assessed by a three-hour examination (80%) and by coursework (20%).

The examination: all questions will be compulsory. Their number and relative weighting may vary from year to year. The ‘percentage weight’ of each question will be specified in the paper. Candidates will be required to transliterate, and/or translate, and/or normalize passages from the set texts and/or unseen passages, justifying their translations of difficult words or constructions with notes. Comment and/or parsing may be required for particular forms or constructions.

The coursework: candidates will be required to write 500 words of commentary on the content and/or textual basis of one of the set texts (as specified by the course co-ordinator), and 500 words of philological commentary on one or more extracts from the set texts (as specified by the course co-ordinator).

ARC35: Akkadian language III

The paper will be assessed by a three-hour examination (80%) and by coursework (20%).

The examination: all questions will be compulsory. Their number and relative weighting may vary from year to year. The ‘percentage weight’ of each question will be specified in the paper. Candidates will be required to transliterate, and/or translate, and/or normalize passages from the set texts and/or unseen passages, justifying their translations of difficult words or constructions with notes. Comment and/or parsing may be required for particular forms or constructions, or other linguistic features. Candidates may be required to produce ‘synoptic’ or ‘variorum’ transliterations.

The coursework will consist of 500 words of philological commentary on one or more extracts from the set texts (as specified by the course co-ordinator), and a copy (scale drawing) of an original cuneiform text specified by the course co-ordinator.

ARC36: Sumerian language

The paper will be assessed by a three-hour examination. All questions will be compulsory. Their number and relative weighting may vary from year to year. The ‘percentage weight’ of each question will be specified in the paper. Candidates will be required to transliterate and/or translate passages from the set texts, justifying their translations of difficult words or constructions with notes. Comment and/or parsing may be required for particular forms or constructions. Candidates may also be asked questions about particular aspects of Sumerian language and grammar.

ARC37: Middle Egyptian texts

This paper is assessed through two in-class tests of two hours each. The first test will take place at the end of week six of Lent Term, while the second test will be conducted at the end of week four of Easter Term.

Each test will consist of the transliteration and translation of selections of unseen passages in hieroglyphic Middle Egyptian. In addition to the transliteration and translation, the complete grammatical analysis (parsing) of each Egyptian passage will be required. The use of sign lists and glossaries or dictionaries is permitted, and copies will be supplied to the students for the purposes of the test by the course co-ordinator.

Each test will make up 50% of the total mark awarded for the paper.

ARC38: Old and Late Egyptian texts

This paper is assessed through two in-class tests of two hours each. The first test will take place at the end of week two of Lent Term, while the second test will be conducted at the end of week four of Easter Term.

The first examination (at the end of week two of Lent Term) will consist of the transliteration and translation of selections of unseen passages in hieroglyphic Old Egyptian and will make up 50% of the total mark awarded for the paper. The second examination (at the end of week four of Easter Term) will consist of the transliteration and translation of selections of unseen passages in hieroglyphic Late Egyptian and will likewise make up 50% of the total mark awarded for the paper. In addition to the transliteration and translation, the complete grammatical analysis (parsing) of each Egyptian passage will be required. The use of sign lists and glossaries or dictionaries is permitted for both exams, and copies will be supplied to the students for the purposes of the test by the course co-ordinator.

ARC39: Mesopotamian history I: states and structures

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and a project worth 20% of the overall mark.

Biological Anthropology papers

BAN2: Behavioural ecology

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, which will be worth 50% of the mark. There will also be a project worth 50% of the final mark.

BAN3: Human evolution and palaeolithic archaeology

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 70% of the overall mark, one project worth 20% of the overall mark, and one practical examination worth 10% of the overall mark.

BAN4/5: Theory and practice in biological anthropology

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper worth 100% of the mark.

BAN6: Evolution within our species

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper worth 100% of the mark.

BAN7: Culture and behaviour

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper worth 100% of the mark.

BAN8: Health and disease

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper worth 100% of the mark.

BAN9: Special topics in palaeolithic archaeology and human evolution

The examination for this paper will take the form of a three-hour examination paper, worth 80% of the overall mark, and one project worth 20% of the overall mark.

Politics and International Relations

Part IIa

POL2: International conflict, order, and justice

There will be a three-hour unseen examination paper. Each candidate will be required to answer three questions. The exam will be divided into two sections. The first section will comprise four cross-cutting questions pertaining to the paper as a whole. Students will be required to answer one of these questions. The second section will comprise twelve questions, each associated with one of the modules in the paper. Students will be required to answer two questions from this section.

POL3: International organization

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to answer two questions from a choice of at least ten questions. Each question will be designed to encourage students to draw together material from across the entire course (rather than focus on an individual weekly topic). The paper will be undivided.

Part IIb

POL9: Conceptual issues and texts in politics and international relations

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. There will be ten questions, five of which will be passages and five of which will be general questions. Candidates will be required to answer one question. As a capstone paper, the content of this examination has been broadened to reflect the wider range of taught papers offered at Part IIb. A sample examination paper is available on the Department of Politics and International Studies website (http://www.polis.cam.ac.uk/).

POL12: The politics of the Middle East

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to answer three questions from a choice of at least thirteen, including questions on the politics of the Middle East, the international relations of the Middle East, and the politics of Muslim societies. There will be at least one question on Turkey’s politics and regional policy, at least one question on sectarian politics in Iraq and Syria, and at least one question on violence in Sunni Islamism. The paper will be undivided. A sample examination paper is available on the Department of Politics and International Studies website (http://www.polis.cam.ac.uk/).

POL14: The politics of Asia

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to answer three questions from a choice of sixteen, including questions on state formation and plural societies in South and Southeast Asia. The paper will be undivided.

POL16: Conflict and peacebuilding

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to answer three questions. The examination will be divided into two sections, and candidates must answer at least one question from each section. Section A will consist of at least ten thematic questions on conflict and peacebuilding. Section B will consist of four questions, including one question on the Great Lakes region of Africa, one question on the Kurds in Syria and Iraq, one question on Colombia, and one question relating to the online collaborative assignment.

POL19: China in the international order

The examination will consist of a three-hour written paper. Candidates will be required to answer three questions from a choice of twelve. Students will be expected to apply international relations theories in answering the questions.

Social Anthropology

Part IIa

SAN2: Comparative social analysis

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN3: Anthropological theory and methods

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN4A: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Europe

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN4B: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Pacific

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN4C: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: South Asia

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN4D: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Inner Asia

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN8: Anthropology and development

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

Part IIb

SAN7A: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Europe

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN7B: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Pacific

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN7C: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: South Asia

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN7D: The anthropology of an ethnographic area: Inner Asia

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.

SAN8: Anthropology and development

The examination will consist of a three-hour written examination paper containing between ten and fourteen questions. Candidates are asked to answer three questions. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a range of ethnographic knowledge in their answers, and to show a depth of knowledge of some specific ethnographic examples.