Somerville College Admissions Oral Test for GEM

[Scrutiny]

There are three columns on the Somerville College oral test form: (1) Questions, (2) Maximum Score (per question), (3) Candidate’s Score (per question). Each of 4 sections carry 10 marks (total = 40). Somerville uses a cut-off of 30/40 to reject candidates (see notes on other thread). Some questions carry no marks!

The details of the unauthorised, non-standard, mal-administered, and mal-scored test should be made available, as Somerville do not tell candidates that they are conducting an unauthorised oral test, which they do not conducted under exam conditions and do not standardised across candidates, and as ‘independent marking criteria’ has been prohibited by the GEM Committee, and as NO other GEM College uses this unauthorised non-standard oral test, and as Somerville have cheated some candidates by rejecting them on the basis of this test – even where the candidate has been assessed as fulfilling the ‘published official selection criteria’ to the highest standard.

By doing so, hopefully Somerville College will get in line with other GEM colleges – stop using independent marking criteria – stop using this independent marking criteria to reject some candidates whilst offering places to candidates having not used the same criteria – and stop cheating people out of places who have otherwise fulfilled the ‘published official selection criteria’ to the highest standard – as assessed at interview!

Obviously, all details are subject to change by Somerville College for 2006 entry!!

Section 1: Nucleic acid chemistry
(1) What is a nucleic acid? What types are there? Maximum Score = 0
(WARNING! Dr. Wood may not ask you this question in this way – but he will still want the answer to the question he has not asked!! He may instead ask you “How many different types of acid are there in the body?” Obviously, this is not the same question as above. The answer he is looking for from the question "how many different types of acid are there in the body?" (!!) is 'DNA and RNA' (!!!!!).
(2) What is an acid? Max Score = 1
(3) How do double strand bind together? Hydrogen bonds? Max Score = 1
(4) Two dsRNA strands A and B cleave A` and B`: comment on figure 1. Max Score = 2
(5) Both strands used separately; comment on Figure. Max Score = 2
(6) Strand A and B slightly modified; comment on modification and on Figure? Max Score = 2
(7) Hypotheses; conclusions; bonus mark for speed. Max Score = 2
Sub-total = 10

Section 2: Blood film
(1) What do you think this is? Max Score = 1
(2) Accurate description; 4 different cell types shown. Max Score = 2
(3) Abnormal film; comment on this. Differences. Max Score = 2
(4) Another abnormal film; again comment on this. Max Score = 2
(5) Hypotheses, explanations. Max Score = 2
(6) Consequences for function of different blood types. Max Score = 1
Sub-total = 10

Section 3: Image of Face or MRI of head/hand
(1) What do you think it is? Max Score = 0
(WARNING!! Despite this question carrying no marks whatsoever (zero), you may find that Professor Vincent spends two/three minutes (out of the five allocated!!) stringing you along with a discussion about what you think the diagnosis should be!! Obviously, you would have not known that by engaging in such a discussions you were then not scoring points and would have not known that Professor Vincent and Dr. Wood would then reject you on the basis of the points you have not scored!!!)
(2) Accurate description. Max Score = 2
(3) Difference between patient and control. Max Score = 2
(WARNING!! It may be that you are not shown a control for comparison!)
(4) Interpretation of differences seen. Max Score = 2
(WARNING!! If you have not been shown a control, you cannot possibly be asked this question!)
(5) What could cause the muscle wasting? Max Score = 2
(WARNING!! This question can only apply to one specific patient presentation, thus cannot be asked for all possible presentations, and may not be asked at all in any event!)
(6) Bonus for clear logical thinking. Max Score = 2
Sub-total = 10

Section 4: Cell heart paper (or TSH bone paper)
(1) Heart pictures: 1 for accurate description; 1 bonus for hypotheses and questions. Max Score = 2
(2) Graph: 1 for correct interpretation of data/onset of abnormality/good guess at age of hearts in photo; 1 bonus for speed and other questions. Max Score = 2
(3) Table data: 1 for correct interpretation; 1 bonus for speed/hypotheses/interpretation. Max Score = 2
(4) EM: 1 for accurate description; 1 bonus for speed/interpretation/hypotheses about abnormal image/how this helps to explain other data. Max Score = 2
(5) 1 for possible causes and hypotheses. Max Score = 1
(6) 1 for how to investigate and further experiments. Max Score = 1
Sub-total = 10
(WARNING!! Some candidates – subsequently admitted – have stated that they were ‘talked through’ the questions – others will not be!)

(Bottom of the form)
Other comments: Demeanour, communication, speed of thought and analytical skills.


Good luck!