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Preliminary Examination in Classics and Modern Languages

A 

1. The Preliminary Examination in Classics and Modern Languages shall be under the joint supervision of the Boards of the Faculties of Classics and Medieval and Modern Languages and shall consist of such subjects as they shall jointly by regulation prescribe. 

B 

Any candidate whose first language is not English may bring a bilingual (first language to English) dictionary for use in any examination paper where candidates are required to translate Ancient Greek and/or Latin texts into English. 

(i) Candidates taking Classics and Modern Languages with Beginners' Latin or Greek shall be required: 

(a) during Trinity Term of their first year of study to offer two papers that shall be examined by written examination: 

    1. Greek or Latin Texts: translation and comment and 
    2. Greek or Latin Language: unseen translation and language questions

In order to proceed to year two, candidates must pass both papers. Candidates who fail either or both of papers 1 and 2 may resit the failed paper(s) at a subsequent examination in the Long Vacation following their first year of study.  

(b) during their second year of study, to offer Papers 1-7 as set out below. 

(ii) Candidates taking Classics and Modern Languages shall be required to offer papers 1-7 as set out below 

Papers 1-7 shall be examined by a written examination unless otherwise specified: 

1-4. Papers I, II, III, IV in the candidate’s modern language, as prescribed under the regulations for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages. Paper II will be in two parts (IIA and IIB). 

5. Unseen translation from Greek and Latin.  Candidates may offer either Latin or Greek or both. 

6. Greek and Latin Literature: Essay Questions 

7. Greek and Latin Literature: Translation and Comment 

Details of the prescribed texts and editions will be published in the course handbook.  

Candidates who fail between one and three of papers 1-7 may resit the failed paper(s) at a subsequent examination. Candidates who fail four or more papers will be required to resit the entire examination.