MATRICULATION EXAMINATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 17

MATRICULATION EXAMINATION

Sir,—Owing to the dissatisfaction caused over the announced results and to the universal belief that the markers of papers take upon themselves the responsibility of awarding marks according to their individual ideas of the value of %ach question answered correctly, I am writing with a view to eliciting if possible what use it is the University Senate or whoever is responsible selecting and setting questions considered suitable for the standard required if they allow themselves to be over-ruled by the markers of papers as is universally understood to be the case. Under this system, or rather lack of svstem, it must be possible for a candidate answering every question correctly not to be awarded 100 per cent marks and one answering half the questions correctly to be awarded marks anything short of 45 per cent, the required percentage for a pass,thereby making the marking throughout inequitable. Apart from any question of fallibility and in the interest of education itself, also to satisfy the dissatisfied candidates who consider their work worthy of much higher marks than awarded, I consider it is only right that, all papers written should be sent to the candidates through their respective schools, colleges, etc., to enable revision of errors in answers to benefit the pupils making them, thereby preventing a recurrence of mistakes. If this system was adopted there is not the least doubt that a pupil would learn more in one hour than in a month otherwise. I trust this matter will be taken up by the authorities concerned and a explicit reply given which would be greatly appreciated by the parents and candidates of this much discussed examination. R. L. Preston.