can any current students explain how assessments and exams work at glasgow plz?

[jasmin_101]

hey,

I am a postgrad starting medicine at glasgow in september. Was wondering how exams and assessments work. Do we have exams only in the summer or do we get exams each term?are the exams modular or synoptic?what type of questions are we asked (eg short questions, extended matching items, multiple choice). Whats the pass mark?do we get graded or is it pass/fail?

do we hav to hand in any essays or other assessments and do they contribute to our end of yr marks?what kinda of timetable do 1st/2nd yrs have? jus interested in how it all works?!

any1 with any ideas plz comment!

jasmin

[heed]

i explained all this on another thread somehwere in more detail but heres a quick overview:

in first year:

5 Coursework Assignments (3 essays and two group projects) one every five weeks. You have to pass them all (Graded from an A to a F - anything less than D is a fail).

MILE Exam (24 hour case - you get 24 hours to write a report on a specific scenario given to you. Its an open-book test and is graded A-F). You need to pass it.

MBChB1 professional exams: these are in june and cover anything from year one (labs, medical sciences, clinical medicine, ethics, law etc etc). Two papers consisting of short answer questions, essays and a critical review (of medical research/article). Again, graded A-F and you need to get a D to pass. Usually you need about 60% to get a D in first year and above 90% to get an A - but this changes year to year.

If you fail any part of the course (coursework, MILE, exams) then you need to resit the part you failed. If you then dont pass - well then you may be allowed to resit the year or you may be chucked off.

hope that helps.

[sumina13]

hey jasmin,
here is a link to the thread (in case it doesn't work, the title is "Help" under Glasgow University, just a few pages back from current topics, heed's mentioned review is on page 1)
Help

[CaptainRubberKingsize]

Jeez, 90% for an A sounds crazy to get. Is it common?

[scohoust]

It happens, but its not common. Most people who leave do so on their own and those who resit the year usually had some unusual circumstances which caused it to happen.

[sumina13]

for those who take a year off on their own, how they manage to return? is financial problems part of the reason, or simply wanting to take a year off good enough of a reason to leave the program?
also, if you take a year off, say right after year 2, when you come back, do you start at year 3 (granted you come back when year 3 starts)?

thanks

[scohoust]

I was referring to people who drop out completely, perhaps because they decided medicine wasn't for them. I'm not sure how taking a year out would go so I can't really help you there. This article might be an insight.

[sumina13]

thanks scohoust! i checked the blog.
just wonder if the dean at glasgow would look upon leaving for 1 year in a positive light. someone already mentioned that there might be the opportunity to do so for a master's degree.
i don't plan on leaving the program but it would be nice to know whether one can. i guess each case would be treated individually.

[heed]

In first year its not that common for people to fail the exam - and if they do its even less common for them to fail the resit exam and have to resit the year.

[jasmin_101]

thanks for the response guys.

any idea how many people get A,B,C etc?the course sounds really full on!do u feel ur always busy with essays,deadlines and PBLs?

if u follow the learning objectives would that b enough to score highly or is it only those that do extra reading, journals etc that get the As?

i know in some unis when u do well ur givrn an excellent pass, merit pass and if u jus pass then just a pass.is there anything similar at glasgow?

any advice for 1st yrs?apologies for the number of questions!