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Preliminary Examinations in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

A

  • 1. The examination in these schools shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. 

  • 2. A candidate shall be deemed to have passed the examination when they shall have satisfied the Moderators in all the papers associated with one of the languages specified in the regulations.

  • 3. Candidates must offer all subjects at one examination provided that: (i) in languages for which four papers are required, a candidate who fails in one or two papers may offer those subjects at one subsequent examination, and a candidate who fails three or four papers must offer all four subjects at one subsequent examination; and (ii) in languages for which three papers are required, a candidate who fails in one paper may offer that subject at one subsequent examination, and a candidate who fails two or three papers must offer all three subjects at one subsequent examination.

  • 4. In the case of candidates who have satisfied the Moderators in all the papers at a single examination, the Moderators may award a distinction to those of special merit.

B

The awards which may be offered will be in Arabic, Chinese, Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew, Japanese, Persian, Sanskrit, and Turkish.

Arabic

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations (papers (i), (ii), and (iv) below), plus an oral/aural examination as specified under (iii) below.

  • (i) Translation and precis into English.

  • (ii) Comprehension, composition, and grammar.

  • (iii) Oral/aural examination 

  • (iv) Islamic history and culture.

Chinese

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations.

  • (i) Modern.

  • (ii) Classical.

  • (iii) East Asia Survey: China.

Egyptology, and Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies

Candidates offering Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies are required to offer four written examinations

For the examination in Egyptology: 

  • (i) Egyptian texts

  • (ii) Egyptian grammar and unprepared translation.

  • (iii) Civilizations of the Ancient Near East and Egypt.

  • (iv) History of the Near East and Egypt to 30 BCE.

For the examination in Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies: 

  • Either (i) Akkadian texts; and
  • (ii) Akkadian grammar and unprepared translation. 
  •  
  • Or (i) Egyptian texts; and 
  •      (ii) Egyptian grammar and unprepared translation.  
  •  
  • (iii) Civilizations of the Ancient Near East and Egypt.
  •  
  • (iv) History of the Near East and Egypt to 30 BCE.

Hebrew and Jewish Studies

Candidates will be required to offer four written examinations.

  • (i) Hebrew Texts I: Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew.

  • (ii) Hebrew Texts II: Medieval and Modern Hebrew.

  • (iii) Grammar and Translation into Hebrew.

  • (iv) General Paper.

Japanese

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations.

  • (i) Modern Japanese I.

  • (ii) Modern Japanese II.

  • (iii) East Asia Survey: Japan.

Persian

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations.

  • (i) Translation from Persian and reading comprehension.

  • (ii) Translation into Persian and essay.

  • (iii) Islamic History and Culture.

Sanskrit

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations.

  • (i) Sanskrit I: Texts.

  • (ii) Sanskrit II: Grammar.

  • (iii) Sanskrit III: General paper.

Turkish

Candidates will be required to offer three written examinations.

  • (i) Prepared texts and unseen translation from Turkish. 

  • (ii) Turkish grammar and translation into Turkish.

  • (iii) Islamic history and culture.