students better directed in their reading; the studies of the University become more fixed and definite; and an opportunity be afforded of seeing that all the subjects were duly introduced. The vivá voce part was to contain only propositions contained in the mathematical works commonly in use in the University, or simple examples and explanations of such propositions. Examination papers were not to contain more than can be done in the time. There was added a Table of Times: the Table of Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, dividing the Examinations of the Four Classes among the two Moderators and Two Examiners. Wednesday, Vacant. Thursday, "as at present." Friday, Brackets. The Report was signed as follows: CH. WORDSWORTH, V.C. W. FRENCH. J. TOMKYNS, Senior Proctor. S. POPE, Junior Proctor. R. GWATKIN. W. WHEWELL. T. CHEVALLIER. HENRY CODDINGTON. 220 1828. March 5. The Bishop of Lincoln, Dr Wordsworth, Dr Turton, Mr Coddington, Mr Maddy, were added to former Syndicate. May 21. Report on Examination for Ordinary Degrees: that is, those of the Polloi :-the Examination to commence the same day as the Examination for Honours: The Examiners' provinces divided: Examination of two equal divisions at separate times. Subjects, Euclid, Arithmetic and Algebra. Homer, Virgil, Paley, Locke: The Examination to be by papers: The Questions to be elementary : Euclid papers to contain twelve propositions 221 each Trigonometry and Natural Philosophy Further alterations were soon made. 1831. Mar. 18. "Placeat vobis ut Ds Procancellarius, Dr French, Dr Graham, Prof. Whewell, Mr J. Brown, Mr Gwatkin, Mr King, Mr Cape (Clar.), Mr Bowstead, Mr Hall, Mr Challis, Mr Hanson, Mr Miller, Syndici vestri constituantur, qui consilium ineant et deliberent utrum aliquid in modo Questionistas examinandi qui Academicos honores ambiunt mutari debeat necne, quique ante 26 Maii ad vos referant." June 1. The Syndicate was re-appointed, to report by the end of next term. Nov. 16. Mr Martin was added to the Syndicate. Dec. 6. The time was extended to end of next term, 1832. April 6. Their Report confirmed: The Exa 222 1836. mination for Honours in Mathematics to be "Placeat vobis ut Ds Procancellarius, Dr French, Dr Graham, Mr Peacock, Mr Whewell, Mr Hughes (Joh.), Mr Bowstead, Mr Smith (Caius), Mr Philpott, Mr Phillips, Syndici vestri constituantur qui inter se consulant utrum expediat immutare aliquid in Examinationibus Sophistarum Juniorum et Quæstionistarum." 1836. July 2. The Syndicate was re-appointed, to report by the end of next term. ་ 1837. Feb. 22. Their Report confirmed:-Subjects for Ordinary Degrees: The Acts: one of the Greek and one of the Latin Classics: Paley's Moral Philosophy: and Mathematics according to a Schedule: previous Notice of the Classical Subjects to be given: the Examinations to commence on the Wednesday preceding the first Monday in Lent Term: a Schedule given of Arithmetic, Algebra, Euclid; Mechanics; Hydrostatics: Four Examiners to be elected in October for Classics, The Acts, and Paley: The Moderators of the next but one preceding year to be Examiners in Mathematics. 223 New alterations were made. 1838. May 16. "Placeat vobis ut Ds Procancellarius, Dr French, Dr Graham, Prof. Peacock, Prof. Miller, Mr Whewell, Mr Hymers, Mr Hopkins, Mr Philpott, Mr Thurtell, Mr Phillips, Mr Steventon, Mr Mills, Syndici vestri constituantur qui consilium ineant et deliberent utrum expediat aliquid immutare in modo Quæstionistas examinandi qui honores Academicos ambiunt:" to report before division. May 30. Their Report confirmed: A Sixth day added: the Examinations to commence on the Monday preceding the first Monday in Lent Term : the previous Classes to be discontinued: the same questions to be proposed "to all whom the Moderators shall judge, from the public exercises in the Schools, to be qualified for examination as Candidates for Mathematical Honours." The same rules as before are enjoined respecting the easier subjects on the earlier days, and the number of questions in each paper. The result to be published on the Friday; and if any doubt exists, re-examination to take place. 224 The Examinations have since been administered as thus constituted. But still, some dissatisfaction arose in the University respecting the Elementary part of the examination. It was conceived that the portions of Mathematics which have in England commonly been called "Natural Philosophy," were too much superseded by now the more favourite analysis. Hence the following Grace was passed. 1840. Mar. 18. The former Syndicate re-appointed "quo consilium ineant utrum expediat leges accuratiores præscribere de parte examinationis elementarià et præsertim de numero et naturâ questionum e partibus Philosophiæ Naturalis simplicioribus selingendarum:"-to report by May 16. This Syndicate did not report by May 16. On May 20, a Grace was proposed for extending the time to June 1, but was refused in the Caput, on the ground that the Syndicate was extinct. 225 It will be seen, that from 1827 to 1838, these acts of the University made a series of changes, all in the same direction. The previous Classes, which had been framed merely upon the performances of the Disputants in the Schools, and which were subject to different examinations, were gradually abolished. In 1827, these Classes were reduced from six to four; and the examiners were enabled, when they thought fit, to give the same examination to all. In 1832, the examination for the first four days was ordered to be the same for all, and the Classes were divided only on the fifth day. In 1838 the Classes were discontinued, and the same questions were to be proposed to all the candidates. 226 A great ground of the disposition to abolish these Classes was the difficulty which was experienced in doing justice to the different Classes, in comparison with one another. The Examiners, in giving different questions to different Classes, endeavoured to proportion the difficulty of the questions to the attainments of the Class; and again, to proportion the credit to the difficulty, in judging the answer. The credit was generally estimated in marks, and a certain scale of marks allowed to each class. If the questions proposed to the lower Classes were proportionably too easy, the members of those Classes obtained more marks than those who, being in the higher Classes, had probably read higher parts of mathematics than they had. And undoubtedly it must always be difficult to combine, into one arrangement, the result of different examinations. An examination such as that which was finally established, in which the same questions were proposed to all the candidates, has, in that respect a very great advantage, as a means of forming a just list of merit. 227 Another series of changes which took place was, that the length of the examination was gradually increased. In 1779, as we have seen, a fourth day was added to the examinations. In 1808, a fifth. In 1827, two days more were added; making the days for the Mathematical Examinations the Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding the final Friday, on which the Brackets were to appear. In 1832, five days, instead of four, were appointed for the Mathematical Examination; and in 1838, a sixth day was added to this part of the examination; and so stands the law and the practice at the present time. The length of the examination, however, on each day was diminished in the course of the changes. for 228 While more time was assigned to the Candidates to write, more time was also required for the Examiners to read what was written. From 1808 to 1827, when the examinees were set to write during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, on an average six hours a day; and the Examiners had, besides attending at the times of examination, to read and judge the whole mass of answers, so as to bring out the Brackets on Friday morning, their labour was very [PT. I.] 14 |