From: Dr Eric Eve
Chairman of Board of Moderators
To: All candidates, Preliminary Examination, March 2016
2 February 2016
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION FOR THEOLOGY 2016
1. EXAMINATION TIMETABLE
Candidates should have received their individual timetables from the Examinations Schools. Copies of the published timetable are available online at this website:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/exams/timetables/
2. DISPLAY OF UNIVERSITY CARD IN THE EXAMINATION
The Proctors’ Administrative Regulations for Candidates in Examinations read: ‘During every written paper, each candidate shall display his or her University Card face up on the desk at which he or she is writing.’ Candidates are also reminded that ‘Persistent failure to produce a University Card will result in the candidate being summoned to the Proctors’ Office’.
3. LEGIBILITY OF SCRIPTS
Please ensure that you write all your answers legibly. The Moderators reserve the right to require all illegible scripts to be typed at the candidates’ expense before marking them. Partially legible scripts (those that are not so bad as to require typing) may lose marks where markers are unable to make out what you wrote. If you have difficulty writing clearly, it may aid legibility if you write on alternate lines.
4. USE OF ANSWER BOOKS
Candidates must write their candidate number but NOT their name or college on their answer book(s).
Please start each question on a new page, and please do not write in the space on the front of booklets marked ‘For Examiners’ Use Only’.
5. ADVICE IN RELATION TO ATTEMPTING ALL QUESTIONS
It is stressed that candidates should attempt to answer the required number of questions for each paper as set out in that paper’s rubric (see item 6 below). The Moderators will rigorously apply the penalties for Short Weight and/or Rubric Failure outlined in the Grade Descriptors and Marking Conventions (see below).
6. INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO INDIVIDUAL PAPERS
The rubrics that will be printed on individual examination papers are repeated here for your information:
Paper A10290W1 NTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
This paper contains three sections: Logic; General Philosophy; and Moral Philosophy. Candidates should answer four questions, and must answer at least one question from each section. The fourth question may be chosen from any section.
Paper A10294W1 THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF CREATION
Candidates should answer three questions including at least one from each section.
Paper A10295W1 STUDY OF OLD TESTAMENT SET TEXTS: GENESIS 1-11 AND AMOS
Candidates are required to attempt both questions in each section.
Paper A10301W1 INTRODUCING THE NEW TESTAMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Candidates should attempt questions 1 and 2 and two others.
Paper A10296W1 THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH FROM NERO TO CONSTANTINE
Candidates should answer three questions.
Paper A10297W1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
Candidates should attempt three questions.
Paper A10298W1 NEW TESTAMENT GREEK
Candidates should attempt all questions.
When parsing, remember also to provide the lexical form (i.e. the dictionary form) and the English meaning.
Paper A10299W1 BIBLICAL HEBREW
Candidates should attempt all questions.
Paper A10302W1 SANSKRIT
Candidates should attempt all questions.
Paper A10303W1 QUR’ANIC ARABIC
Candidates should attempt all questions.
Paper A10300W1 PALI
Candidates should attempt all questions
MARKING CONVENTIONS AND GRADE DESCRIPTORS
Candidates may enter for 3 or 4 papers. A pass in three papers is necessary to pass the examination. The maximum on the marking scale is 100.
Rounding of marks: At the discretion of the Moderators, fractions of marks (e.g. n.4, n.7) will be rounded up where the mark is n.5 and higher, and rounded down where the mark is n.4 and lower.
Pass mark: 40 or above in three papers (failure in a fourth paper will not result in overall failure of the examinations).
Distinction marks: 2 marks at 70 or above; none below 57
or 3 marks at 69 or above.
or 1 mark at 75 or above, 1 at 69 or above, 1 at 64 or above
or an average of 69 or above from all three papers, with no mark below 67.
Failed papers: To pass the examination, a candidate who passes in two papers but fails a third must resit the failed paper. In the case of failure in two out of three papers (or three papers out of four), a candidate must resit at least three papers.
Short Weight:
a) where four answers are required, the mark will be reduced by 8 points for one missing answer, by 16 points for two missing answers, and by 26 points for three missing answers;
b) where three answers are required, the mark will be reduced by 10 points for one missing answer, and by 21 points for two missing answers;
c) in either case, candidates offering just one answer should normally expect to fail.
Rubric failure: Where it is unambiguously clear that a rubric has not been obeyed, the mark will be lowered by at least 5 points.
Grade Descriptors:
Distinction: 70% or above
An answer to the question which is coherent and perceptive, rigorously argued, well-structured, making good use of primary and secondary sources, covering the main issues, showing powers of analysis and good judgement based on careful evaluation of the evidence. Signs of independent or original thought would contribute to Distinction quality.
Pass: 40% to 69%
In order to achieve a pass, answers must show some knowledge of relevant material with an attempt to address the question. In the lower range of marks (40–49) the answer may display limited understanding or evidence of judgment, may be poorly structured and possibly contain some errors of fact or interpretation. An answer in the 50-59 range will, in addition to the bare pass requirement, show some awareness of the secondary literature and will be reasonably well-structured. Answers in the range 60-69 will be well-presented and clearly structured, show understanding of the arguments discussed and make use of primary and/or secondary sources to support the ideas advanced. There will be few linguistic or factual errors.
Fail: 39% and below
A feeble response to the question that reveals little understanding of what it is about, inadequate knowledge of the issues, serious factual errors, very weak argument, and very poor structure.
For further details about the course and the examination process, the Moderators ask you to consult the undergraduate handbooks which were sent to you at the beginning of the year, and which may also be viewed at
https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/access/content/group/theofac/Handbooks/Preliminary%20Examination/Prelims%202016.pdf
I wish you every success.
Dr Eric Eve, Chair of Moderators
Preliminary Examination in Theology
cc. Prof. Brian Leftow, Senior Nominator, Faculty of Theology and Religion
The Junior Proctor
Moderators and Assessors
Senior Tutors
College Tutors in Theology
Internal Examiners:Dr William Wood
Dr Katherine Southwood
Dr Jan Westerhoff
Dr William Mander
If you have a query not covered by this circular, please ask your college tutor, who will contact me if necessary. You must NOT contact me or any other examiner directly.
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