Preliminary Examination in History and Modern Languages
Differences from 2020/21 to 2023/24
A
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1. The Preliminary Examination in History and Modern Languages shall be under the joint supervision of the Boards of the Faculties of History and Medieval and Modern Languages and shall consist of such subjects as they shall jointly by regulation prescribe.
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2. The chairs of the examiners for the Preliminary Examination in History and for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages shall respectively designate such of their number as may be required for History and for Modern Languages in this examination.
B
Candidates are required to offer History and any one of the languages that may be offered in the Honour School of Modern Languages. The examination shall be in two parts, as follows:
Part 1
Each candidate shall offer the following two subjects in the language:
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1. Language papers (one paper of three hours and two papers each of one and a half hours including certification of attendance and participation in oral classes, as specified for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages).
As specified for papers I, IIA, and IIB in the regulations for the Preliminary Examination for Modern Languages.
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2. Literature papers (two papers, each of three hours).
As specified for papers III and IV in the regulations for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages.
Part 2
Each candidate shall offer subject 3 and any one of the subdivisions of subject 4. The lists of papers available will be published by the beginning of Trinity Term prior to candidates beginning their studies for the examination.
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3. European and World History: any one of the periods specified for the Preliminary Examination in History.
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4. Any one of the following, as specified for the Preliminary Examination in History:
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(a) A paper in The History of the British Isles;
(b) An Optional Subject;
(c) Approaches to History or Historiography: Tacitus to Weber or Foreign Texts.
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Candidates who have satisfied the Examiners in both parts shall be deemed to have passed the examination. The Examiners may award distinctions in either or both parts to candidates who have done work of special merit in the part or parts concerned. A candidate receiving distinction in both parts of their examination may receive an overall distinction.
Candidates who fail one or both subjects of part 1 may resit that subject or those subjects at a subsequent examination. Candidates who fail one or two subjects of part 2 may resit that subject or subjects at a subsequent examination.