EXAMINATIONS BEGIN SOON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 10

EXAMINATIONS BEGIN SOON

Preparations At University

The University of Canterbury is ready to cope with the biggest examination job in its history. Not only are student numbers up; but also the number of subjects being taken and the numbers of separate papers in those subjects. Examinations are also being concentrated so that, on one hectic half day, there will be examinations in 31 subjects. And the task is not as simple as presenting the supervisors with bundles of papers for 31 rooms. As reported early in the year, some subjects have such big enrolments that lecturers and laboratory classes have had to be repeated up to four times each. Examinations can not be repeated so candidates in such subjects will have to be spread over a number of rooms —say A to E, F to I, and so bn. On the 31-subjects half day, all available accommodation will be in use as there will be a record of 650 students taking these tests. ' Examinations conducted by the University of Canterbury itself will begin (perhaps significantly) the day after Labour Day and end on November 16. From then until November 25 the university will conduct for the University of New Zealand examinations in law, accountancy, architecture, and banking. With the advanced state of devolution, most subjects are now under the control of the former colleges. Lectures End Today

Lectures will end today. Examinations do not begin for a fortnight. What happens in the interim?

Not many years ago, this period was called “relax,” and students did, in fact, relax. Official and unofficial functions, somewhat reminiscent of capping week, were organised on a wide scale and most students took some part. Now the only official ceremony is the “relax” ball and the organisers are not certain that this will be fully supported—although they hope students will see some merit in relaxing for one evening. Some reasons for this change in attitude are:—

(1) Students have been told plainly that .those who do not “make satisfactory progress” are liable to be excluded from certain classes.

(2) They know that entry to some other classes next year may depend on a good record. (3) They know that failure is not regarded as sympathetically as in the past. (4) They know that, with accommodation taxed to the limit and numbers still on the increase, the university will have little hesitation in firm action.

(5) Apart from the university’s reservation of rights to restrict entries, standards are tending to be stiffer and subjects (especially science) more complex and changeable so that really hard work is required. (6) Competition for graduates is keener and a student who has “wasted” his university years starts behind his fellows. “I hate to remind the public of our assertion six months ago that capping week is the one time we let our hair down,” said one student leader. ‘.‘lf the public could see us now, they would have no doubt that we are in earnest about our work.”