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Natural Sciences Tripos, 2002

The Committee of Management for the Natural Sciences Tripos, in consultation with the Faculty Board or comparable authority concerned, give notice that, with effect from the examinations to be held in 2002, the form and the conduct of certain examinations for the Natural Sciences Tripos will be changed as follows:

Part Ia

Elementary Mathematics for Biologists

There will be one written paper of three hours carrying 80% of the total marks, consisting of two sections, A and B. Section A will carry 50% and Section B will carry 30% of the total marks. Within each section, questions will carry an equal number of marks. Candidates should attempt all questions in Section A and three out of six questions in Section B.

During the year, candidates will be required to submit five worked examples sheets for assessment and these together will carry 20% of the total marks.

Physiology of Organisms

The written paper, which will carry 95% of the total marks, will be in three sections, A, B, and C. Section A will carry 35% of the total marks, Section B will carry 20% of the total marks, and Section C will carry 40% of the total marks.

Candidates submitting satisfactory practical notebooks will be allocated 5% of the total marks available.

Part Ib

Chemistry A

There are two three-hour written papers, A1 and A2. Each paper will contain seven questions, of which candidates are required to answer five.

Paper A1 will cover the material presented in the courses Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, Molecular Spectroscopy, and Structure and Bonding. Each question will relate primarily to the material presented in one of these courses, but may draw on material from other courses.

Paper A2 will cover the material presented in the courses Molecular Energy Levels and Thermodynamics and Solids. Each question will relate primarily to the material presented in one of these courses, but may draw on material from other courses.

Chemistry B

There are two three-hour written papers, B1 and B2. Each paper will contain seven questions, of which candidates are required to answer five.

Paper B1 will cover the material presented in the courses Key Organic Reactions, Structure Determination, and Shape and Organic Reactivity. Each question will relate primarily to the material presented in one of these courses, but may draw on material from other courses.

Paper B2 will cover the material presented in the courses Electron Deficient Compounds, Co-ordination Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, and Introduction to Chemical Biology. Each question will relate primarily to the material presented in one of these courses, but may draw on material from other courses. Three of the questions will relate primarily to the course Introduction to Chemical Biology.

Neurobiology

Candidates will be examined by two written papers, each lasting three hours and carrying 40% of the total marks, and by a practical examination lasting ninety minutes and carrying 20% of the total marks. The written papers will require knowledge of cellular, molecular, developmental, sensory, motor, and cognitive neurobiology, as covered by the course.

For the first written paper, candidates will be required to answer four essays from six or more questions covering the whole of the course. The second written paper will be divided into two sections, A and B, carrying equal marks, and all questions will be compulsory. Section A will comprise questions requiring candidates to choose the best question from several alternative answers and will be machine-marked; Section B will comprise questions requiring short answers.

The practical examination will require candidates either to give very short answers, or to choose the best answer from several alternatives, or to plot, draw, mark, or annotate graphs or diagrams.

Physiology

There will be two written papers and one practical examination.

The first written paper, which will carry 40% of the total marks, will last two hours and be in two sections. Section A will cover material which may be taken from any area of the lecture course, will contain a number of compulsory questions and carry 25% of the total marks. The questions will require candidates either to give short answers or to choose the best answer from several alternatives. Candidates should answer all questions. Section B will require the analysis and interpretation of data from physiological experiments similar to those seen in the practical or the lecture course and will carry 15% of the total marks. The questions will require candidates either to show formal solutions to calculation questions, to choose the best answer from several alternatives, or to graph data in accordance with instructions outlined in the question. Candidates should answer all questions.

The second written paper will last three hours and have five or more essay questions of which candidates should answer four. This section will carry 40% of the total marks.

The practical examination will carry 20% of the total marks. This paper will encompass material from both the experimental and histology practicals, and will be taken in the Physiology Department. The questions will require candidates either to give short answers or to choose the best answer from several alternatives. Candidates should answer all questions.

Mathematics

There will be two papers. Each paper will contain ten questions, of which candidates may attempt at most six. Approximately 10% of the examination credit will be offered for the submission of practical computational exercises.

Plant Sciences

There will be two theory papers, each lasting three hours, which will carry equal marks.

There will be a written practical examination, lasting three hours and constituting 25% of the total marks. The format of the exam will consist of a minimum of four questions, of which two should be attempted, one from each of two sections. The paper will contain questions of a 'dry practical' nature, concerning data handling, and will be based on practicals performed during the year.

In order to be eligible to receive a mark for the practical exam, students must hand in twelve practical write-ups (five from each of the Michaelmas and Lent Terms and two from the Easter Term) that are of an acceptable standard. The assessment of the practicals will not contribute to the final mark, although failure to pass twelve practical write-ups will be penalized as follows:

If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student has been unable to submit practical write-ups for assessment, the Examiners will take account of a Tutor's letter in determining the proportion of the practical examination marks to be awarded to the student.

Part II

Biochemistry

The list of subjects announced by the Head of Department for the Prepared Essay in Biochemistry, to be submitted in January 2002, will be limited to three and will have the theme 'Science that affects Society'.

Physiology

Papers 2 and 3 will each contain six questions, one on each module.

Part III

Experimental and Theoretical Physics

In the Minor Topics paper, Advanced Quantum Field Theory may now be offered together with Gauge Field Theory.

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Cambridge University Reporter, 28 November 2001
Copyright © 2001 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.