Preliminary Examination in History of Art

A

The Preliminary Examination in History of Art shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of History. The subjects of the examination, the syllabus, and the number of papers shall be as prescribed by regulation from time to time by the Board of the Faculty of History.

B

Each candidate shall offer four papers as follows:

• I. Introduction to the History of Art

  Candidates will be examined by unseen written examination.

• II. Challenging Antiquities
  

  Candidates will be examined by unseen written examination.

• III. Art, Design, Architecture: Meaning and Interpretation
  

• Candidates will be examined by unseen written examination.

• IV. Objects, Images and Buildings in Oxford

Candidates will be examined by a 5,000 word essay, including footnotes but excluding bibliography. A candidate may propose to study any object, but this object must be approved by the appointed extended essay adviser, and the Preliminary Extended Essay Co-ordinator. Essays must be submitted using the University approved assessment platform by noon on Monday of sixth week of the Trinity Term of the candidate's first year.

The Examiners may award a distinction in the examination to any candidate, according to the published classification conventions.

Candidates who fail one or two of papers I, II, III, or IV above may resit only that paper or papers at a subsequent examination. Candidates who fail three of papers I, II, III, or IV above will be asked to resit all papers, including the one they passed, unless the paper they passed is the essay, in which case they will resit only the three written examination papers. Candidates who fail all four of papers I, II, III, and IV will be required to resit all four at a subsequent examination. In the case of failure to reach the required standard in the Preliminary Extended Essay, candidates must resubmit the essay by Monday of noughth week of Michaelmas Term of the second year.