Finalists angered by late exam change
A discrepancy between two exam guideline booklets led to the error
Theology finalists have been outraged by a change in examination regulations just three weeks prior to the first exam, with students now expected to revise twice as much material for one of their core papers. Candidates taking the core Gospels and Jesus paper were informed at the end of last week that in two sections of the paper they will now have to comment on two Biblical extracts instead of one. Theology students will now have just two weeks to learn the extra material before the exam.
The error resulted from an inconsistency between the University Examinations regulations and the red Theology handbook. Theology Chairman of Examiners Dr E. Eve admitted that the situation was a “cock up”. “We decided to introduce a new paper this year, as the old one was viewed by students as unsatisfactory. This paper was originally intended to set two gobbets for each of the two passages, one on Mathew and one on John. This is what is stated in the red handbook.
“Then we noticed the discrepancy in the grey book [of Examination Regulations]. There it is stated that only one gobbet would be set for each of the passages. I made the decision to follow the grey book regulations, as that is what I am obliged to do as Chairman of Examiners.” The discrepancy was noticed eighteen month ago. The Faculty informed both the single and joint-honours school students that the grey book guidelines would override the information given in the Theology red handbook.
However, the examiners were unaware that the central guidelines given for Philosophy and Theology students differed from those given for Single Honours. Here the grey book guidelines tallied with the red book in directing Joint Honours students to answer two questions per section. “I hadn’t spotted this further discrepancy; I have to say that it’s my fault”, Dr Eve said.
Joint Honours School staff members emailed the Junior Proctors to complain that their students had been given conflicting advice. After a meeting with Dr Eve, the Junior Proctors took the decision to override the grey book guidelines for both Single and Joint Honours candidates, resulting in last week’s email advising students of the new regulations. Students are frustrated by the last minute alterations.
Theology finalist Fleur Harris called the situation “a big fuck up” and complained about the extra revision students must now do to prepare for the exams. “Now many of us have to do a close textual analysis of an extra twenty or so chapters of the gospels with hardly any time left to revise. It makes a complete mockery of our whole revision programme. We were sent a rude email with no real apology, we are all extremely angry about it.
In addition to the exam regulation problems, the theology faculty also failed to tell Joint Honours Schools of the latest changes. Keble Philosophy and Theology finalist Alex Keenan told The Oxford Student, “We have been messed around by the changing of our exam twice in the run up to it. If it were not for the fact that the people doing Theology in my college forwarding me the emails, I would still have been blissfully unaware.
A spokesperson for the Educational Policy and Standards Committee stated, “All regulations have to be published in the Oxford Gazette a year in advance of the exams unless there are exceptional circumstances.” But Dr Eve said, “It was the Proctors’ ruling. If colleges complain, the Proctors will simply explain that they made the decision due to x, y and z. I do understand that students must feel messed around.
A spokesman for the Theology Faculty denied any responsibility for either error. “I am sure that the draft for the grey book was sent off as it should have been, and the changes made are not that big anyway. Joint Honours students are looked after by the Philosophy faculty, it is not our duty to contact them.” A spokeswoman from Oxford University said, “There appears to have been a lack of communication about changes between the grey book people and the red book.
However, this issue will be addressed once the grey book goes online and is searchable, because those compiling the red book and advising students will be able to quickly and easily find the relevant passages of the grey book to check against. “It can be unsettling to know something different is happening in the exam. Students who feel they have been disadvantaged should apply through their college (the Senior Tutor) to the Proctors to ask whether this can be taken into account when marking.
The Junior Proctor made this clear to the Chair of Examiners, who will be sending a note to students to this effect.”
11th May 2006