Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER IV
pp. 250–257
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS AND TRIPOS EXAMINATIONS

The Ordinances contained in this Chapter are Ordinances of the General Board

In this section

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS

SPECIAL REGULATIONS

ANGLO-SAXON, NORSE, AND CELTIC

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2011–12, p. 85)

1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part I and for Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos.

Part I

2. The examination shall consist of Papers 1–10 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos, as follows:

 Paper  1.

England before the Norman Conquest

 Paper  2.

Scandinavian history in the Viking Age

 Paper  3.

The Brittonic-speaking peoples from the fourth century to the twelfth

 Paper  4.

The Gaelic-speaking peoples from the fourth century to the twelfth

 Paper  5.

Old English language and literature

 Paper  6.

Old Norse language and literature

 Paper  7.

Medieval Welsh language and literature

 Paper  8.

Medieval Irish language and literature

 Paper  9.

Insular Latin language and literature

 Paper 10.

Palaeography and codicology

3. In order to be classed, a candidate shall offer any four papers.

Part II

4. The examination shall consist of papers 1–10 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos, as listed above.

5. In order to be classed, a candidate shall offer any four papers.

ASIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2011–12, p. 187)

1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part II of the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos.

2. The subjects of examination shall be as follows:

   Chinese with Japanese

   Japanese with Chinese

Each candidate shall offer one subject.

3. There shall be separate examinations for each subject, as specified below:

  1. (a)Chinese with Japanese
  2. Candidates shall offer:
  3. (i)Papers J.1–3 from the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos;
  4. (ii)one paper chosen from Papers J.6, J.9–10, AMES.1, and C.7–8 from the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos;
  5. (iii)an oral examination in Japanese, under conditions set out by the Faculty Board from time to time.
  6. (b)Japanese with Chinese
  7. Candidates shall offer:
  8. (i)Papers C.1–3 from the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos;
  9. (ii)one paper chosen from Papers C.7–8, AMES.1, and J.7–10, from the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos;
  10. (iii)an oral examination in Chinese, under conditions set out by the Faculty Board from time to time.

4. No candidate shall offer a paper he or she has previously offered in any Honours Examination.

5. The Examiners shall be the Examiners for Part Ia and Part Ib of the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos.

CLASSICS

1. There shall be Preliminary Examinations for Part Ia, and for Part II of the Classical Tripos.

Part Ia

2. The examination shall consist of:

(a) Two written papers, each of three hours:

   Paper 1.

Latin texts

   Paper 2.

Latin questions

(b) A portfolio of two essays each of no more than 4,000 words in length, including notes but excluding bibliography, and on a topic approved by the Faculty Board of Classics. Candidates should submit the titles of their essays through their Directors of Studies to the Academic Secretary of the Faculty in time to be considered by the third Monday of Full Easter Term. The essays shall be typewritten, in English, and shall be submitted through the candidate's Director of Studies to the Academic Secretary, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive not later than the seventh Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination takes place. Candidates will be required to declare that the essays are their own work and that they do not contain material already used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose. Where appropriate full and proper acknowledgement must be given to the work of others.

3. In the class-list a mark of distinction may be attached to the name of any candidate whose work in the examination shows special merit.

Part II

4. The papers for this examination shall be taken from among the papers for Part II of the Classical Tripos, and the Examiners shall be the Examiners for that examination. Every candidate shall offer two papers, of which not more than one may be taken from the Schedule of Optional Papers.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS

Part Ia

Paper 1. Latin texts

This paper will be divided into two sections. Section (a) will contain passages in Latin for translation into English from texts prescribed from time to time by the Faculty Board. Section (b) will contain passages for critical discussion taken from the prescribed texts.

Paper 2. Latin questions

This paper will be divided into two sections. Section (a) will contain passages of Latin for unseen translation. Section (b) will contain exercises on the Latin language.

EDUCATION

Part I.

1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part I of the Education Tripos.

2. The Examination shall comprise two sections as set out below. Each candidate shall offer the examination requirements set out in Section I and the examination requirements for a single subject area as set out in Section II. At the discretion of the Examiners the examination may include an oral examination on the course-work submitted under Section I.

Section I. Education studies

Section I consists of two written papers, one of three hours’ duration and one of two hours’ duration, and the submission of course-work, as prescribed by the Faculty Board of Education not later than the beginning of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.

Paper 1

Foundation course in the disciplines of education

Paper 2

Language, communication, and literacy (also serves as Paper 11 of Part I of the Politics, Psychology, and Sociology Tripos)

Course-work

 

Section II. Subject studies

Candidates may offer papers from only one subject area. Where stated, some papers are examined by means other than a single written paper. For papers offered by the Faculty of Education, the Faculty Board of Education shall specify arrangements for the submission of course-work, the sitting of practical examinations, or performances or workshops not later than the beginning of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Some subject areas may restrict the combinations of papers that may be offered.

Biological Sciences

All candidates shall offer:

  1. eitherElementary Mathematics for Biologists (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  2. orMathematical Biology (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  3. and
  4. eitherBiology of Cells (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  5. orEvolution and Behaviour (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  6. orPhysiology of Organisms (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)

Classics

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Latin translation (Paper 3 from Part Ia of the Classical Tripos)
  2. andClassical questions (Paper 6 from Part Ia of the Classical Tripos)

English

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Paper Ed.E1 Literature, drama, film
  2. andPaper Ed.E2 Literary criticism

English and Drama

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Paper Ed.E1 Literature, drama, film
  2. andPaper Ed.D1 Drama production I (performance or workshop and submission of a note-book)

Geography

All candidates shall offer:

  1. eitherHuman geography (Paper 1 from Part Ia of the Geographical Tripos)
  2. orPhysical geography (Paper 2 from Part Ia of the Geographical Tripos)

Each paper from Part Ia of the Geographical Tripos shall count as two papers.

History

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Historical argument and practice (Paper 1 of the Preliminary Examination for Part I of the Historical Tripos)
  2. andone of Papers 2–19 from the Preliminary Examination for Part I of the Historical Tripos.

Modern and Medieval Languages

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Use of the foreign language (Paper B1 from Part Ia of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)
  2. andtranslation from the foreign language (Paper B2 from Part Ia of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)
  3. andoral examination B in the foreign language, providing that both papers and the oral examination are all offered from the same language
  4. andone paper taken from Schedule Ia of the regulations of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos.

Music2

All candidates shall offer two of the following papers from Part Ia of the Music Tripos:

Paper 1

Harmony and counterpoint I

Paper 2

Harmony and counterpoint II

Paper 3

Historical subjects

Paper 4

Historical and cultural studies

Paper 5

Analysis

Physical Sciences

All candidates shall offer:

  1. Mathematics (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  2. and
  3. eitherChemistry (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)
  4. orPhysics (the examination requirements for this subject as set out in the regulations for Part Ia of the Natural Sciences Tripos)

Religious Studies

All candidates shall offer:

  1. eitherWorld religions in comparative perspective (Paper A7 from the Theological and Religious Studies Tripos)
  2. orPhilosophy of religion and ethics (Paper A8 from the Theological and Religious Studies Tripos)
  3. and
  4. eitherJesus and the origins of the Gospel (Paper A3 from the Theological and Religious Studies Tripos)
  5. orChristianity and the transformation of culture (Paper A4 from the Theological and Religious Studies Tripos)

Where, under the regulations for the Theological and Religious Studies Tripos, a paper may be offered in a form of assessment other than a written paper, the paper offered shall be submitted under conditions specified in the regulations for that Tripos.

Part II.

3. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part II of the Education Tripos.

4. The Examination shall comprise four sections, as set out below. Candidates shall offer:

  1. either(a)the examination requirements set out in Section I and Section II;
  2. (b)two further papers taken from the examination requirements set out in Section III, provided that, with the permission of the Faculty Board, a candidate may offer in place of one paper a dissertation, under conditions set out in Regulation 6;
  3. or(a)the examination requirements set out in Section I;
  4. (b)three further papers taken from the examination requirements from Section II, Section III, and Section IV, providing that candidates shall offer no fewer than two papers from Section IV.

Section I. Education studies

Section I consists of two written papers, each of three hours’ duration.

Paper 1

Disciplines of education I

Paper 2

Disciplines of education II

Section II. Globalization, modernity, and education

Section II consists of one written paper of three hours’ duration.

Paper 3

Globalization, modernity, and education

Section III. Special subjects in education

Candidates may offer one special subject in education, which shall count as one paper. The special subjects, and the examination requirements for each special subject, shall be announced by the Faculty Board from time to time, providing that due care is taken to give sufficient notice to all candidates.

Section IV. Subject studies

Candidates may offer two or three papers from only one subject area specified in Schedule 1 to the Education Tripos.3 Where stated, some papers are examined by means other than a single written paper. Some subject areas may restrict the combinations of papers that may be offered.

5. For either Preliminary Examination, no candidate shall offer any paper, dissertation, or other exercise that he or she has previously offered in any University examination.

6. A candidate who intends to submit a dissertation under Regulation 4 shall submit the proposed topic to the Secretary of the Faculty Board through her or his Director of Studies, by a date announced by the Faculty Board not later than the beginning of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. The Secretary shall communicate the approval or rejection of the proposed topic to the candidate no later than the beginning of the Lent Term preceding the examination.

The submitted dissertation shall be of not less than 8,000 words and not more than 10,000 words, inclusive of notes and appendices. Dissertations shall be submitted by candidates through the Undergraduate Office to the Secretary of the Faculty Board by a date specified by the Faculty Board not later than the beginning of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Each dissertation shall be in typescript, unless previous permission has been obtained from the Faculty Board to present it in manuscript; it shall bear the candidate’s examination number and shall be accompanied by a brief synopsis.

Candidates will be required to declare that the dissertation is their own work and that it does not contain material already used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose. At the discretion of the Examiners, a candidate may be examined viva voce on her or his dissertation.

ENGLISH

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2011–12, p. 869)

[1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part II of the English Tripos.

2. The examination shall consist of Papers 1–15 of Part II of the English Tripos. In order to be classed a candidate shall offer (a) Papers 1 and 2 and (b) one paper chosen from Papers 3–15; provided that a candidate who has not previously obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos may, with the leave of the Faculty Board, offer not more than one paper from Part I, as follows:

  1. either(i)Paper 5 of Part I, in place of Paper 2 of Part II;
  2. or(ii)one paper chosen from Papers 1–5 of Part I, in place of the paper required under (b).

3. The Examiners shall be the Examiners for Parts I and II of the Tripos.]4

〈1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part I, and for Part II, of the English Tripos.

2. The Examiners shall be the Examiners for Parts I and II of the Tripos.

3. For the purposes of the Regulations and Supplementary Regulations, ‘English literature’ shall be understood to mean literature written in the English language (including Old English); literature of the British Isles including Ireland (whether written in English, or in other languages such as Latin or French); and works written in Old Norse and the Medieval Celtic languages. It shall be understood to embrace the English language and such philosophical, historical, and other writing as normally comes within the scope of the English Tripos.

4. Candidates must not use the same material twice, either within any given paper or across either examination as a whole.

Part I

5. The papers in the Preliminary Examination for Part I shall be as follows:

Paper A.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550

Paper B.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700

Paper C.

English literature and its contexts, 1660–1870

Paper D1.

English literature and its contexts, 1830–1945

Paper D2.

English literature and its contexts, 1870–present

A candidate shall offer any two papers, provided that a candidate may not offer both Papers D1 and D2. Every paper shall be set for three hours. In all papers candidates shall be required to demonstrate substantial knowledge of the literature of the British Isles (which may include Ireland). Candidates offering any of Papers B, C, D1, and D2 shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of English literature before and after the medial date specified for the paper in question.

Part II

6. The papers in the Preliminary Examination for Part II shall be as follows: Papers 1, 2, and 20 to 25 of Part II of the English Tripos. A candidate shall offer any two papers. Every paper shall be set for three hours except Papers 1 and 21 which shall be set for three and a half hours. In Papers 21 to 25 candidates shall be required to demonstrate substantial knowledge of the literature of the British Isles (which may include Ireland). Candidates offering any of Papers 22, 24, 25A, and 25B shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of English literature before and after the medial date specified for the paper in question.〉4

GEOGRAPHY

1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part II of the Geographical Tripos.

2. The papers for this examination shall be taken from among the papers for Part Ib of the Geographical Tripos and the Examiners shall be the Examiners for that examination.

3. Each candidate shall

  1. (a)offer Paper 1 from Group A of Part Ib of the Geographical Tripos and
  2. (b)offer three papers from Group B of Part Ib of the Geographical Tripos; and
  3. (c)submit to the Examiners, in accordance with arrangements to be specified by the Head of Department of Geography and, by a date or dates to be announced not later than the first quarter of Michaelmas Term, a record of a practical exercise or exercises undertaken by the candidate. All items in section (c) shall be submitted together with a declaration as specified in Regulation 25 of the Geographical Tripos.

HISTORY

Amended by Notices (Reporter, 2011–12, pp. 267 and 755)

1. There shall be Preliminary Examinations for Part I and for Part II of the Historical Tripos.

Part I

2. The examination shall consist of nineteen papers as follows:

Section A

Paper  1.

Historical argument and practice

Section B

British Political and Constitutional History

Paper  2.

British political and constitutional history, 380–1100

Paper  3.

British political and constitutional history, 1050–1509

Paper  4.

British political and constitutional history, 1485–1750

Paper  5.

British political and constitutional history, 1700–1914

Paper  6.

British political and constitutional history, since 1867

Section C

British Economic and Social History

Paper  7.

British economic and social history, 380–1100

Paper  8.

British economic and social history, 1050–c. 1500

Paper  9.

British economic and social history, c. 1500–1750

Paper 10.

British economic and social history, 1700–1914

Paper 11.

British economic and social history, since c. 1870

Section D

European History

Paper 12.

European history, 776 bcad 69

Paper 13.

European history, 31 bcad 900

Paper 14.

European history, 900–c. 1215

Paper 15.

European history, 1200–1520

Paper 16.

European history, 1450–1760

Paper 17.

European history, 1715–1890

Paper 18.

European history, since 1890

Section E

World History

Paper 19.

World history, from 1400

3. In order to be included in the list of successful candidates, a candidate shall offer Paper 1 and two papers from Sections B–E. Only one paper may be offered from each section.

Part II

4. The examination shall consist of Papers 1 and 4–30 of Part II of the Historical Tripos. In order to be classed a candidate shall offer Paper 1 and either two or three papers, provided that no candidate shall offer a paper which he or she would not be permitted to offer as a candidate for the Tripos. A candidate who offers four papers shall be classed on the basis of the best three of those papers. The Examiners shall be the Examiners for Part II of the Tripos.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS

Part I

[Please note, amendments to this section, effective from 19 December 2012, are detailed here]
 

Paper 1. Historical argument and practice

This paper aims to provide an opportunity for candidates to reflect on broad issues of historical argument and practice. The paper is a means of enabling candidates to raise and discuss fundamental questions which relate their specialist knowledge to more general themes of historical inquiry and explanation. The paper will offer a choice of questions, from which candidates will be required to answer one.

Papers 2–19. British, European, and world history

The scope of Papers 2–18 shall be that of the corresponding papers in Part I of the Tripos. The scope of Paper 19 shall be that of Papers 21 and 23 in Part I.

Three questions must be answered but no question shall be specified as compulsory, except that in Papers 17 (European history, 1715–1890) and 18 (European history, since 1890) candidates will be required to answer at least one question from each of sections A and B.

NATURAL SCIENCES

1. There shall be a Preliminary Examination for Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos. The subjects of the examination shall be as follows:

 Chemistry

History and Philosophy of Science

 Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Materials Science

 Geological Sciences

Psychology

2. Each candidate for the examination shall offer one of these subjects and shall satisfy the requirements set out in the regulations below. No candidate may offer a paper which they have previously offered in Part Ib of the Natural Sciences Tripos.

3. The examination in Chemistry shall consist of the examination requirements for the subjects Chemistry A and Chemistry B in Part Ib of the Tripos. The Examiners in Chemistry A and Chemistry B in Part Ib shall be the Examiners in Chemistry in the Preliminary Examination.

4. The examination in Experimental and Theoretical Physics shall consist of:

  1. either(i)the examination requirements for the subjects Physics A and Physics B in Part Ib of the Tripos
  2. or(ii)the examination requirements for the subjects Physics A and Physics B and Mathematics in Part Ib of the Tripos.

The Examiners in the subjects Physics A and Physics B and Mathematics in Part Ib shall, as appropriate, be the Examiners in Experimental and Theoretical Physics in the Preliminary Examination.

5. The examination in Geological Sciences shall consist of the examination requirements for the subjects Geological Sciences A and Geological Sciences B in Part Ib of the Tripos. The Examiners in Geological Sciences A and Geological Sciences B in Part Ib shall, as appropriate, be the Examiners in Geological Sciences in the Preliminary Examination.

6. The examination in History and Philosophy of Science shall consist of:

  1. (a)the papers in History and Philosophy of Science set for Part Ib of the Tripos;
  2. and
  3. (b)three essays, each of not more than 5,000 words in length and on three separate topics approved by the Board of History and Philosophy of Science. Not more than one topic may be chosen from any one field.

The Examiners in History and Philosophy of Science in Part Ib shall be the Examiners in History and Philosophy of Science in the Preliminary Examination.

7. The examination in Materials Science shall consist of the examination requirements for Materials Science in Part Ib of the Tripos and two subjects selected from Chemistry A, Mathematics, Physics A, and Physics B, in Part Ib of the Tripos. The Examiners in Materials Science in Part Ib shall be the Examiners in Materials Science in the Preliminary Examination.

8. The examination in Psychology shall consist of the examination requirements for Experimental Psychology in Part Ib of the Tripos. The Examiners in Experimental Psychology in Part Ib shall be the Examiners in Psychology in the Preliminary Examination.

9. For each subject there shall be published a separate class-list, which shall be signed by the Examiners in that subject. In each list the names of the successful candidates shall be arranged in three classes, of which the second shall be divided into two divisions.

Footnotes

  1. 2. These papers are for the examination in 2011 only.a
  2. 3. See p. 312.a
  3. 4. The regulations in angular brackets will replace the regulations in square brackets with effect from 1 October 2013.a b