Examinations

Examinations are held in the final three weeks of each semester on the completed units, and each module must be passed to gain the relevant credits.

You will be given a total mark for each physics module. This mark is composed of individual marks from the main examination, if there is one, and the various items of continuous assessment, including marked tutorial problems, problem class work, laboratory experiments, homework and so on.

The purpose of the examination is to test your knowledge of the material taught in the lectures, and your ability to apply your knowledge in solving problems. Please note that you will be given a sheet of physical constants and mathematical formulae, but you are expected to remember the physical formulae and definitions you have learned in the lectures. These are part of the language of physics, and you need to know them just as a student of French needs to know French vocabulary.

In answering examination questions, you should bear in mind the following general advice:

• Read the instructions, and plan accordingly: if you are asked to answer three questions from each section, do not answer two from A and four from B, because the extra question from B will not count.
• Do the easy questions first: this is the most effective use of your limited time.
• Read the question, and make sure you understand what you are being asked to do.
• Answer the question: do not waste time writing down lots of information that is not asked for, but conversely do not lose marks by failing to write down something that is asked for (e.g. if asked to "explain" something, do not simply describe it).
• Look at the marks: this will tell you how much detail is likely to be required, especially in descriptive questions. Do not write one sentence for something that is worth half a question – but also, do not write two pages for a one-mark point.

Awarding grades

If you fail to submit a compulsory piece of assessed work without extenuating circumstances and fail to attend the examination you will be awarded a grade of NC ("not completed"); if there are extenuating circumstances, you will be awarded NA ("not assessed").

Obtaining 40 or above will result in the award of the relevant credits for that unit. The grades will be communicated to students and can be used as a record of achievement. The grades obtained in the second and subsequent years are combined to give the final degree classification, normally in the ratio 1:2 for a BSc and 1:2:2 for an MPhys.

Calculators

It is important to note that only calculators approved by the University can be taken into examinations. To avoid problems it is essential to check that your calculator is on the approved list, and have it stamped at the SSiD (Student Services Information Desk) in the student union.

Passing the first year

In order to progress automatically to level 2, students must pass all units of study and therefore obtain the full 120 level 1 credits. If a student has obtained at least 100 credits, including all modules which are pre-requisites for level 2, and the marks in the failed module(s) are at least 30, the Department may award a "conceded pass" and allow the student to proceed to level 2.

Note that this is a concession and not an automatic right. Students on the Year Abroad programmes MPhys Physics with Study in North America/ Australasia must obtain a mean grade of at least 54.5 in order to continue on these degree programmes. This is because your placement relies on your first year grades (placements are allocated in January of your second year, before any level 2 grades are available), and a poor performance will not be acceptable to our exchange partners. If your grade average is below the threshold, you will be transferred to the Single Honours degree programme.

Students doing Theoretical Physics must obtain a mean grade of at least 59.5 in order to continue on these degree programmes. This reflects the difficulty of the theoretical physics programme in years 3 and 4. If your grade average is below the threshold, you will be transferred to the Single Honours degree programme. Notification of Results

Once results have been finalised by the Faculty of Science they will be sent to students through MUSE. Provisional results for Autumn semester are usually posted on departmental noticeboards as soon as they have been ratified by the Department’s Examiners’ Meetings.

Resit examination

Students who fail to satisfy the criteria for passing level 1 will be allowed to take a resit examination in August for any taught module where they obtained less than 40. Guidance will be given by the department. The timetable for the re-sit exams is not made available by the University until the end of July, so you should not make any commitments, e.g. holiday bookings, for the resit period (usually the second and third weeks of August). Note that the nature of the laboratory-based modules PHY113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118 is such that resits are not possible for these modules. It is therefore essential that you pass these at the first attempt if you wish to proceed to level 2 on schedule.

Failure of modules after resits

Students who fail the year following re-sits have various options dependent on individual circumstances. They may be allowed:

• To repeat failed modules the following year as an external candidate (without attendance).
• To repeat failed modules the following year, with attendance (part time).
• To repeat the entire year with attendance (full time) – note that if this option is chosen all module marks are scrapped, including any that you may have passed.
• To withdraw from the University.
• to transfer to another degree programme more suited to the student’s strengths.
• In cases where students have failed multiple modules, we strongly recommend either withdrawal or transfer. Our experience is that students who repeat the first year very seldom complete their degree programme successfully. Note that it is not possible to repeat the laboratory-based modules as an external candidate: the nature of these modules is such that attendance is required.