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Preliminary Examination in European and Middle Eastern Languages

A

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

  • 2. Candidates in this Preliminary Examination shall be examined (a) in one language from among those which may be offered in the Honour School of Modern Languages, and (b) in Arabic or in Hebrew or in Persian or in Turkish.

  • 3. It shall be the duty (a) of the Chair of the Examiners for the Preliminary Examination for Modern Languages to designate such of their number as may be required for European Languages in the Preliminary Examination in European and Middle Eastern Languages, and when this has been done the number of examiners in European Languages shall be deemed to be complete; and (b) of the Chair of the Examiners for the Preliminary Examinations in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies to designate such of their number as may be required for Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish in the Preliminary Examination in European and Middle Eastern Languages, and when this has been done the number of examiners in Middle Eastern Languages shall be deemed to be complete.

B

There shall be two subjects in the examination.

  • (1) The European Language

    Candidates will be required to offer:

  • (i) Language papers in the European Language (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.

  • (ii) Literature paper in the European Language (one paper of three hours).

    As specified either for Paper III or for Paper IV in the regulations for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages (Candidates offering French must offer Paper IV).

  • (2) Language papers in the Middle Eastern Language

    Candidates will be required to offer two three-hour papers and, in the case of Arabic, an oral/aural examination.

Arabic

  • (i) Translation and precis into English.

  • (ii) Comprehension, composition, and grammar.

  • (iii) Oral/aural examination.

Hebrew

  • (i) Biblical and Modern Texts (copies of texts made available electronically).

  • (ii) Grammar and Translation into Hebrew.

Persian

  • (i) Translation from Persian and reading comprehension.

  • (ii) Translation into Persian and essay.

Turkish

  • (i) Prepared texts and unseen translation from Turkish. (The list of texts to be prepared is published in the current issue of the Islamic Studies handbook.)

  • (ii) Turkish grammar and translation into Turkish.

Candidates shall be deemed to have passed the examination if they shall have satisfied the examiners in subject (1) (The European Language) and subject (2) (Language papers in the Middle Eastern Language).

The examiners may award distinctions in either or both subjects to candidates who have done work of special merit in the subject or subjects concerned. A candidate receiving distinction in both parts of their examination may receive an overall distinction.

A candidate who has failed (i) or (ii) of subject (1) may resit the paper or papers at a subsequent examination in accordance with the regulations for the Preliminary Examination in Modern Languages. A candidate who has failed a paper or papers in subject (2) may resit that paper or papers at a subsequent examination.