of the Mathematical Studies of the University, the Board beg leave to add the following recommendations : (1) Taking into consideration the great number of subjects which now occupy the attention of the candidates, and the doubt which exists as to the range of subjects from which questions may be proposed, the Board recommend that the Mathematical Theories of Electricity, Magnetism, and Heat, be not admitted as subjects of examination. (2) It has appeared from statements in the former part of this Report, that while the total number of hours of examination has gradually been increased, the time allotted to the solution of Problems has not been altered in the same proportion*. As this arrangement, which could hardly be avoided on account of the large addition to the number of subjects, had the effect of inducing the candidates to neglect examples and problems, it seemed highly desirable to counteract this tendency. Partly with this view and partly to obtain a surer test of the acquaintance of the candidates with the subjects of their reading, examples and deductions have been attached to many of the propositions from books. The Board, however, having had before them an analysis of the answers to the * The following table exhibits in one view the principal changes in the regulations for conducting the examination which have been mentioned in the course of the Report, together with the average proportion in the successive intervals over which the changes extended, of the number of candidates that obtained Honours, to the whole number of Questionists admitted to the B.A. degree. questions proposed in 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849, find that the number of answers to the examples and deductions has fallen below the amount which it is desirable to secure. They are of opinion that such a result may in a great measure be prevented by diminishing the number of questions, and they have agreed to recommend, that the Papers containing the questions from books be shortened, in order to enable the candidates to give more time to Examples and Deductions. 66 (3) Some uncertainty having been expressed as to the kind of answers the candidates are allowed to give to questions in Optics on the first three days of examination, the Board feel called upon to state, that they understand the term “ geometrically" in the Schedule, to mean in a strictly geometrical manner, such, for instance, as that employed in Wood's Optics. At the same time, taking into consideration that the attention of the candidates to geometrical reasoning is sufficiently secured by other subjects of examination on the first three days, they are of opinion, that with reference to Optics, the restriction "geometrically" may with advantage be omitted, and that the questions should be so framed as not necessarily to require any particular kind of demonstration. They, therefore, suggest that it would be desirable to offer to the Senate a Grace for omitting the words "treated geometrically" in the Schedule. J. CHALLIS, Plumian Professor. R. WILLIS, Jacksonian Professor. W. C. MATHISON. H. GOODWIN, Junior Moderator. G. G. STOKES. J. SYKES. J. C. ADAMS. W. B. HOPKINS, Senior Moderator. C. OCTAVUS BUDD. S. PARKINSON. May 17, 1849. A Grace passed the Senate May 23, to omit the words "treated geometrically" (so far as they relate to Optics) in the Schedule which constitutes the third clause of the Regulations for the Examination of Questionists who are Candidates for Honours, approved by Grace of the Senate, May 13, 1846. XIII. SOME REASONS against the expediency of instituting a PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF STUDENTS previous to their Residence in the University. 1 THE duty as well as the privilege of each College is to admit such Students as it considers likely to derive benefit from attending its lectures; that of the University is to see that the Students are duly qualified at the Examinations previous to conferring its degrees. Some Colleges may, by greater attention bestowed on its Students, or by a different style of lectures, or from the smallness of their numbers, or other reasons, be able to prepare a class of young men for the University Examinations, different from that which another College is able or willing to do. I see no necessity for the standard of admission at all Colleges being the same; in fact, the very difference has its advantages. The mode of lecturing is not likely to be the same at all Colleges, neither is it desirable to have entire uniformity. If any one thinks that in consequence of the want of an admission examination by the University "the standard of the College Lecture-rooms is so low, that a young man going from the top of a public school will be nearly losing his time by attending them," he can have very little acquaintance with the Lectures of some of the larger Colleges. Instances not unfrequently occur, of Students, who having been considered unlikely to profit by the Lectures of one College, have gone to another, and by their own steady application, and the pains bestowed upon them, have eventually obtained a degree with credit. 2 It is said that the plan has been tried at Trinity College and found to succeed, and that the principle is the same in the case of the University. The plan tried at that College is a private examination, conducted by its own officers in conformity with its statutes. "Nemo admittatur nisi a Decano seniore et Lectore Primario examinatus; et si ab his habilis ad lectiones audiendas reperiatur, a Magistro admittatur; sin minus, omnino rejiciatur." And this examination has been made efficient for some years by laying down definite books and subjects of examination. The great advantage obtained is, that it secures a little more knowledge of Latin and Greek in the inferior candidates for admission, but especially an acquaintance with one or two books of Euclid, and Arithmetic, and the first elements of Algebra; which enables the Lecturers to commence systematically their Lectures to a large class, without being obliged to wait for some days (as used to be the case formerly) till all the Students had provided themselves with a Euclid, and looked at the definitions; whereby the whole class would be retarded, or the unprepared left hopelessly behind from the first. When this Examination was first instituted, the most sanguine approvers of the scheme thought that henceforth Trinity College would have very few, if any, men in the second Class at the Previous Examination, and that a case of a 'not approved' Candidate would be almost unheard of. It will be found on inquiry that these expectations have not been altogether realized, though much advantage and convenience of another kind has ensued. I certainly think that Trinity College would lose by substituting a public for a private examination. Their private examination they can easily alter as they find advisable; a public one would in many respects not give the same satisfaction, nor answer the end proposed. 3 The details of any such scheme will be found to be attended with many difficulties. The first is, the very great number of Candidates who would attend the Examination in October; for of late years the Matriculations in that term have exceeded 400. At least four Examiners would be required, and there must be an Examination in every term, possibly two in each term. And though three-fourths of the men would pro bably pass with ease, the remainder would require much care and delicate consideration. The Examiners would, I presume, be chosen according to the cycle of Proctors; and I need hardly say that great jealousy between the Tutors of the different Colleges and the Examiners would probably arise, at the rejection of Students, of whom the Tutors, from private information, or personal knowledge, may have had reason to think well. It is also to be remembered, that on the first entrance to the University, many would be much at a loss how to proceed in an examination conducted mainly on paper, and that rejection, even for a time, at a Public Examination would be felt to be a very serious concern; so much so, that I think the Examination would shortly become little more than a matter of form, from the odium excited by refusing a certificate of admission. 4 Lastly, when we consider the nature of our University, and that it is the ordinary channel of admission to Holy Orders, great care must be taken not to exclude deserving persons, who, though ill-prepared at first, may probably by diligence and attention sufficiently improve themselves, and so attain an object of great importance, to be debarred from which for a year or two longer might be attended with extreme disadvantage. It is this class of men who would, I fear, be more likely to fail at an entrance examination, than those who come from our public and private schools with very little information and knowledge, though sufficient to pass, and who frequently turn out much less satisfactorily at the Final Examination for the B.A. Degree than the others. TRINITY COLLEGE, |