To:Memo to those who teach or study for the GeographyTripos, Cambridge University
Date:26 February, 2015
From:Bernard Rivers
Subject:Analysis of exam results in the Geography Tripos and other Cambridge Triposes
Today I published “An analysis of how often ‘Firsts’ and other classes are assigned in Cambridge University exams.” The analysis, available at compares the percentages of Cambridge students awarded Firsts and Upper Seconds from Tripos to Tripos and from year to year.
Among my findings regarding the Geography Tripos, as shown in the table and charts below, are:
- 25.7% of final-year (i.e. Part II) Geographystudents in 2014 were awarded a First; this was definitely below the university average of 29.4%. Values for final-year students in other Triposes ranged widely, from 22.2% to 47.1%.
- 93.1% of final-year Geographystudents in 2014 were awarded a First or a 2.1; this was definitely above the university average of 87.9%. Values for other Triposes ranged from 67.2% to 100.0%.
Final-year students in 2014, by Tripos / % of students awarded a
First / First or 2.1
Geography Tripos / 25.7% / 93.1%
Highest-scoring Tripos (among the 22 main ones) / 47.1% / (Education) / 100.0% / (Land Economy)
Average across students in all Triposes / 29.4% / 87.9%
Average across students in all Arts Triposes / 30.0% / 94.0%
Average across students in all Sciences Triposes / 28.7% / 80.6%
Lowest-scoring Tripos (among the 22 main ones) / 22.2% / (Music) / 67.2% / (Chemical Engineering)
Shown on the following pages are four charts. In each chart, the lower group of lines shows, for each year from 2000 through 2014, the percentages of final-year students awarded a First, and the upper group of lines shows, for the same years, the percentages of such students awarded a First or an Upper Second. The charts were generated from a database I have compiled that is based entirely on public data.
One of my findings is that between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of final-year Arts students awarded a First increased from 17% to 30%, and the percentage of such students awarded a First or an Upper-Second increased from 84% to 94%. No significant growth took place among the Sciences Triposes.
Another finding is that during the same period, examiners for the final-year Law Tripos awarded a First to an average of just 17% of their students; examiners for the Mathematics Tripos awarded a First to an average of 32% of their students; while examiners for the finalyear Education Tripos steadily increased the percentage of students to whom they awarded a First from 11% to 47%. Such differences raise questions about what is the true meaning, or value, of a First or an Upper-Second.
A third finding is that in 2014, not one of the 50 Part II students in the Land Economy Tripos and only one of the 149 Part II students in the MML Tripos was awarded a LowerSecond or a Third. Yet that same year, a Lower-Second or a Third was awarded to 26% of the Part II Mathematics and Engineering students.
A copy of this memo is available via as is a spreadsheet containing all exam data relevant to the GeographyTripos.
Sincerely,
Bernard Rivers ()
(Visiting fellow at Cambridge University during 2013-14)
PO Box 5295-80401, Diani Beach, Kenya. +254-736-280702
PO Box 54, Cornwallville, NY 12418, USA. +1-518-239-4598
Chart A: First-year students
Black –GeographyTripos. Green – averageacross all Arts Triposes. Red – average across all Sciences Triposes. Blue – average across all Arts plus Sciences Triposes.
Chart B: Second-year students
Black – Geography Tripos. Green – average across all Arts Triposes. Red – average across all Sciences Triposes. Blue – average across all Arts plus Sciences Triposes.
Chart C1: Final-year students
Black – Geography Tripos. Green – average across all Arts Triposes. Red – average across all Sciences Triposes. Blue – average across all Arts plus Sciences Triposes
Chart C2: Final-year students
Black – Geography Tripos. Green lines – individual Arts Triposes. Red lines – Individual Sciences Triposes. Blue – average across all Arts plus Sciences Triposes.